On Monday night, Council heard about the 100th anniversary of the Holland Marsh and the 2023 Accessibility Status Report. Council also passed expanded services with Vaughan Animal Control, approved street names, and conduct and video surveillance policies, plus Zoning By-law Amendments for Keele Street and Doctors Lane.
See below for an update on the illegal land use on King Rd.
You can watch the video here but the link will only be live for two weeks.
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Christmas in King is on and Fire Emergency Services are collecting gifts for children in need. There is a need for items for older kids 12-18. Gift ideas board/card games, puzzles, speakers headphones, anything electronic. Items can be dropped off at King City Fire Station until Dec. 16th. Christmasinking@gmail.com
Host your holiday party at one of the many King Township venues. See the list at king.ca/bookafacility
The Winter Recreation Guide is out. The interactive winter guide will be published on Wed Nov. 27th at www.king.ca/recreation. This is the first time you can register your child for indoor swimming lessons in King. Programs start the week of Jan. 13th and earlier swim assessments will be offered at the new Zancor Centre in January for parents unsure what level to register child for swim lessons.
King is looking for residents who are passionate about King's sporting history to help induct the class of 2026 in the inaugural King Township Sports Hall of Fame. Applicants must be aged 16 years or older and will be required to attend in-person monthly meetings, starting January 2025. Click here for more.
King’s 2025 Waste Calendar is online. Christmas tree collection are the weeks of January 6th and 13th. www.king.ca/waste
100th Anniversary of the Holland Marsh
Art Janse, who has been a commissioner on the Drainage Commission for 40 years, made a presentation of the Holland Marsh which is celebrating 100 years.
The Holland Marsh is named for Captain Samuel Holland, a surveyor. Holland entered the Dutch army as a cadet in 1745 when the skill of mapping was in demand. Later he was encouraged to join the British army leaving behind his native land and his wife. Among his accomplishments was surveying PEI, setting the borders of Nova Scotia, and the boundaries between Upper and Lower Canada (Ontario and Quebec, respectively) that still stand today.
Later in his career, he surveyed the Holland River into Lake Simcoe. This work laid the foundation for the area to become the highway for commerce and settlement that allowed central Ontario to develop. His friend, Lieutenant Governor John Simcoe named the river for Holland. Many other local places such as the marsh, schools, streets, etc. also now bear the Holland name as a tribute to his work.
When the original municipal boundaries were laid out, what is now known as Highway 9 was the dividing line between West Gwillimbury and King Township. Due to the swamp land at the south end of the township, the decision was made in 1852 that the Holland River would be divided between the two municipalities instead of Hwy. 9. As a result, West Gwillimbury gave the portion of land from Highway 9 to the Holland River to King Township which is now home to 59% of the Holland Marsh.
In 1910, West Gwillimbury received the first petition for a draining scheme for the marsh. The town awarded $25 for the cost of an engineer to map the concept with the distinct understanding that they incur no further liability. In 1911, King Councillor Al Gibson made a presentation to West Gwillimbury about the marshland drainage area and noted that the proposed drainage scheme would elevate property values in both townships as land that was assessed at $1/acre would then be worth $40-50/acre.
West Gwillimbury wanted the work to be done by private funds rather than under the Drainage Act. In 1924, the owners of the properties in the marsh made another petition to West Gwillimbury asking the township to appoint an engineer to survey the lands and establish a cost of the drainage work. The motion was passed and later that same year, a 30 page report was presented to council that included specs for the construction of the steam powered dredge cut and embankment along with plans for the construction of pump house, steam plant, and pumps. The estimated cost was $130,770. While King appealed the report to the Drainage referee, the appeal was dismissed and the by-law was passed.
In 1925 a contract was awarded with the understanding that the work creating the 17.5 kilometer long main drain would be completed within three years, which it was.
A calendar was produced by Historic Society of West Gwillimbury to commemorate the beginning of the Holland Marsh 100 years ago. Purchase your copy of the calendar for $20 by contacting Art Janse 905-853-2006 or Mikki Nanowski 905-868-2447.
Animal Services Enhancement
The Animal Services Agreement with the City of Vaughan was amended to include pet licensing services and the inclusion of the Administrative Monetary Penalty enforcement for Animal Control. Their services will also include investigation services pursuant to the Ontario Wildlife Damage Compensation Program for the Protection of Livestock and Poultry from Dogs Act.
Public Conduct & Video Surveillance Policies
Council approved a public conduct policy to assist Staff and Council with addressing unreasonable behaviour by empowering King Senior Leadership Team to impose restrictions on individuals found in violation of the policy. Appeals will be heard by the Town Clerk.
Council also approved a video surveillance policy for municipally owned facilities to monitor the safety and security of people and property and to assist in identifying individuals who break the law. Signage will make the public aware of the surveillance and unrequested footage will be erased after 30 days and records used for law enforcement are retained for one year.
Joseph Hollingshead Lane & Margaret Coburn Place
Council approved the assignment of municipal street names for two private roads within the Sunny Communities Condominium Development in Schomberg.
2023 Accessibility Status Report
The 2018-2025 Multi-Year Accessibility Plan update for 2023 was presented. Activities included:
• Promoted the AODA Applicant checklist that is handed out to applicants along with building and planning permits to assist them in considering accessible items/features during the design/construction process.
• Reviewed plans and provided recommendations to staff on 22 planning applications.
• Participated in the 2023 York Region Accessibility Advisory Committee Professional Development Forum
• Audited the Pottageville Pavillion and Schomberg Community Hall
Zoning By-Law Amendment Application for 12734 & 12750 Keele St.
Council approved a site-specific Core Area - King City Exception Zone to facilitate the development of a 6-storey residential apartment building to contain 144 units (with 158 parking spaces) in close proximity to the GO Station.
Zoning By-Law Amendment Application for 20 Doctors Lane
Council also approved this amendment he proposes a three-storey addition to the existing building, including the addition of four residential units (on floors 3-4) and clinic uses on the basement, first and second floor levels with a gross floor area of 1,405.0 square metres which includes an expansion of the ground floor area and footprint of the building.
Illegal Land Use Update:
Township of King staff were alerted to concerns about activities being undertaken at the property located at 7305 King Road in October 2024. The Township has been investigating activities at the site since that time.
As a result of those investigations, the Township is seeking orders from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, that would restrain the owners, tenants, and occupants of the property from contravening the Township’s Zoning, Site Alteration, and Clean Yards By-Laws. The Township, as part of that Application, is also asking the Court to issue an interim injunction that would address the situation and remain in effect until the Application itself can be heard.
The Application and interim injunction are being sought pursuant to section 440 of the Municipal Act, 2001. The Application bears Court File No. 00-24-0000-5164-0000.
Township staff encourage residents to report suspected illegal land uses whenever they see them. In such cases, residents can call Service King @ 905-833-5321 or email serviceking@king.ca.
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