Worse than red washer fluid

There is a traditional assumption that small town people are resistant to change… any kind of change. As it turns out, residents of Kemptville have had many opportunities to be “resistant” in the last few years. Change is coming quickly, frequently, and in full force. I am not only talking about new residential developments, I am also referring to other projects or potential projects, such as the 4100 County Road 43 “tourism venue” (Thee Farm) idea, and more recently, the proposal by the Ferguson Forest Centre for the Municipality to sell some land on which FFC operates. 

When it comes to the handling of Thee Farm, I am driven to ask “what makes this Council tick?” Public figures are often vilified and, in fact, politicians at all levels of government are subject to far more smear campaigns than suggestions for “how to improve”. In the case of the current North Grenville Mayor and Council, my senses say that they absolutely have the best interests of the NG community in mind. One issue that we seem to forget, however, is that opinions will always vary on what is best for the community. The current Council seems very “growth focused”, specifically for the town of Kemptville. Disagreement on what is best for North Grenville does not equal “corruption”, though many seem to think otherwise. 

Anyone who has moved to Kemptville in the last 10-15 years can’t honestly say that they expected to live in a quiet farming town forever. Kemptville is growing and will continue to grow. Kemptville is becoming an urbanized space and has been for quite some time – it is the “hub” for the rest of North Grenville… a place of commerce and recreation that features the necessities of everyday life, nestled between fields and trees. With increasing demand from community members to have tax dollars pay for greater and greater nearby amenities (which is environmentally conscious as well, since it cuts down on driving), Kemptville is going to keep growing. And this isn’t Manhattan – growth here is wide, not tall. 

What does this have to do with Council? The job of Council is to ratify the will of the majority, as is the same with all levels of government (some do it better than others). Many people don’t like the speed at which Kemptville is growing – that is abundantly clear to anyone who has ever watched a Council meeting. However, the angriest often speak the loudest. Just because 10 people show up at a Council meeting to fight a zoning by-law amendment does not necessarily mean that they hold the majority opinion. In any given case, perhaps Council members received 200 emails in support of the project as well. This is where transparency would go a long way. Perhaps North Grenville residents would have more trust in Council if major decisions came with a statement of reasons for the decision, provided by each member of Council. 

Without knowing, and only speculating (I am cautious to do this as I have recently been called an “out of touch non-resident”), I think that the silent majority in Kemptville really does want more amenities and more development. Thee Farm, for example, would bring in countless tourists and wedding guests who would undoubtedly bolster the local economy. If I lived in downtown Kemptville, I wouldn’t give a second thought when asked if I thought it would be great to have such a venue nearby, it would be an easy “yes”. But it’s very straightforward to understand the strong opposition from residents of the Maplestone community. My parents’ property that they have owned for nearly 30 years backs onto a wide open field, with County Road 43 on the opposite side. Years ago, there were talks of a construction business building their headquarters in the field. Of course, my parents didn’t like the idea, but if the will of the community is for more local industry and jobs, then it is not only up to neighbouring property owners to sway the decision. “Just not my backyard”, as the saying goes. 

The question remains – are North Grenville residents simply afraid of change, or is Kemptville growing too fast? Small town folks don’t like change, to the point that it is often the butt of jokes. The classic Canadian show, Corner Gas, makes fun of this in multiple episodes. One example that comes to mind is when gas station owner Brent is vilified as an outsider partially because he receives a shipment of red windshield washer fluid, instead of the blue stuff that the residents of the fictional Dog River are accustomed to. But wait, before I am called “out of touch” again, allow me to clarify my keen awareness that a hotel and wedding venue is far worse than red washer fluid, for those who dislike change. It was meant as humour, not an analogy.  

A petition has now been started by residents opposed to the land sale proposed by the FFC for the 13 acres of property on the north side of County Road 43 in Kemptville town limits. The elephant in the room: if sold, it wouldn’t be long before the north side of the highway looks like what the south side currently does – booming with business and commercial space. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? It depends on who you ask. And ask we must. Council will never make decisions that please everyone at once, but transparency and representation are things that citizens demand from all three levels of government. Growth and change are not always bad, but it pays to remember it’s possible to have too much of a good thing.