Shelburne Council looks at street names for new subdivision

Written By Peter Richardson

Local Journalism Initative Reporter

The municipality's Town Planner, Steve Wever presented a report to Council regarding the proposed street names in the Fieldgate Development on the eastern edge of town. 

Shelburne's Street naming and Addressing Policy, #2018-14 establishes a uniform and logical street naming system for new streets in town and assists with naming streets in a way that recognizes and promotes the heritage and identity of Shelburne, as well as emergency or safety considerations and significant contributions by organizations or individuals. 

The policy provides for street names in a development to be based upon a particular theme and that all names be consistent with that theme. 

The Fieldgate theme is natural heritage and the names are to reflect local flora and fauna found surrounding woodlots and wetlands. However, the company had one special request for a street name – Leanne Lane, which was significant to the company. The name reflects that of the late wife of the architect who designed the homes in the subdivision.

The street naming policy also provides direction for names to reflect a sense of continuity and belonging, long standing local area identification and/or recognition, or to celebrate local history, places, events or culture, so Council directed Town staff to work with Fieldgate to create inclusive street names, acknowledging the region's Black and Indigenous community history.

Several indigenous names were offered for inclusion and as a result, Fieldgate revised their original proposal to include, Anishinaabe Drive, Ojibway Road, Potawatomi Crescent, White Oak Avenue, Red Elm Road, Black Cherry Cresent, Hemlock Place, Leanne Lane, Trillium Court, Chippewa Avenue and Limestone Lane.

The report noted that street names, which advertise the developer, are not allowed, but this wasn't an issue for Fieldgate's special request of Leanne Lane.It went on to say that no objections had been received from any of the organizations approached to review the names, including the County, Canada Post and various indigenous groups. 

The Town is proposing to name the park in the subdivision, now being marketed as Emerald Crossing, after William and Mary Ghant, two prominent early Black settlers to Dufferin County.

Council approved the names suggested.

In other news, Councillor Benotto brought up the issue of the sidewalks in Shelburne being icy and difficult to walk on, especially up near the Arena, where he walks frequently. He asked if Public Works was planning to sand them soon and if there was a problem. Director Jim Moss responded, saying that during the holidays, there had been some equipment failures regarding sidewalk maintenance and that currently only one machine was operational. 

He added that first thing Tuesday (Jan. 19), he would send a crew up to evaluate the situation and deal with it as best as possible.

Meanwhile, Council approved a motion by Deputy Mayor Steve Anderson, in his ongoing crusade for inclusivity and diversity within the Town, to establish a Diversity and Inclusion Committee, as per the recommendations of the Anti Racism Task Force. 

This committee would consist of eight to 10 community members plus two or three councillors and was fashioned after the similar Dufferin County Committee.

The community members on the new committee would be selected, perhaps by application, and the three councillors would guide them in their deliberations, again similar to the County template.

Finally, two new nominations were put forward by Deputy Mayor Anderson for the Community Excellence Awards. 

Mike Mackely was nominated for his many years of dedicated community service, along with Mr. Yehya Soliman for his services to the community. Theses awards along with the others will be presented virtually later in the year.