Huron County Council has approved a severance that challenges the Provincial Policy Statement.
In fact the severance goes against North Huron's Official Plan and the County's Official Plan as well as the Provincial Policy Statement.
County council approved the severance of three acres of empty land that is designated and agricultural area.
And that's the issue because the land itself is not designated agriculture and has never been farmed. It's designated natural environment.
Councillor Jim Ginn argues that in a situation like this where the severance benefits the community by creating a new dwelling and doesn't result in the loss of agricultural land it might be time to change the law that prohibits the severance.
It's a situation the county has run up against in the past and the majority of Councillors felt if the county is going to challenge the Provincial Policy Statement this might be a good test case.
Ginn also pointed out that rural Ontario needs more homes to attract more people as well as assessment so anytime that can be accomplished without sacrificing farmland it should be encouraged.
