- by Anne Finlay-Stewart, Editor
Thank you to Denis Langlois of the Owen Sound Sun Times who confirmed that the pictured property on 17th Street East has been cleared of “homeless habitat”.
In his article today, Langlois said he spoke with a spokesperson for the owner, White Owl, who said they were asked by the City to do something about the homeless people on their property, and this was their solution.
City staff confirmed that the City’s Bylaw Division had been working with the property owner to address unspecified concerns. Most of the trees removed were ash, willows and Manitoba maples and the lands are not identified as significant woodland in the Grey County Official Plan.
Signs on the property said No Trespassing, Miller Group. White Owl is a private family investment firm, named for the late Leo McArthur's favourite cigars. McArthur bought Miller Paving in 1976 with his partner John Carrick, and E C King Contracting was a later acquisition.
The owner's spokesperson told Langlois that there were plans to remove the tank from the property, but no immediate plans for development. There are survey stakes and some new utility locate flags on the property.
In 2014, Miller sought a zoning change from the city for that site to allow open bulk storage of more than 250 truckloads a week of gravel to be driven down unspecified city roads to the harbour from May to August. The proposal met with considerable public opposition at the time, particularly from their neighbours at Public Health and the Inn on the Bay.