Essa calls for NVCA role change
By Richard Blanchard

Essa council is asking Simcoe County municipalities to support changes to the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority's planning role.

Council passed a resolution last week which asks for the NVCA to end its duplication of planning services between the upper tier municipality (the county) and local conservation authorities.

Deputy mayor Terry Dowdall said that he felt that the growth in planning activities by the NVCA seemed more designed to raise operating funds for the authority than to improve planning throughout the NVCA's jurisdiction.

"We see three planning departments dealing with the same application and we end up with the same work being done at the county and at the NVCA. The property owner has to play for two sets of fees for the same work," said mayor Dave Guergis.

"It just seems the perfect case where governments are duplicating services. Somebody,whose property may border a flood-plain, needs approval for his deck from both the municipality and the conservation authority."

In addition to being sent to local municipalities in the county, the resolution will also be issued to local MPs and MPPs.