On March 26 , 2024 , Chatham - Kent Municipal Council passed their 2024 development charges for water and sewer water . " This will result in a cost of approximately $ 179,000 per acre for any unexampled greenhouse development in the municipality " , the Ontario Greenhouse Grower Association says . " These ontogeny fees will step by step escalate to $ 366,000 per acre by 2029 driving investiture in greenhouse maturation to other jurisdictions cause electronegative impact on the economic donation our sector offer in Chatham - Kent . "
A delegation from Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers ( OGVG ) , including growers and stave , presented delegation to the Council before their conclusion . Greg Devries of Truly Green , who run a miscellaneous farming operation , that includes greenhouse operations in Chatham - Kent , draw the over 3000 direct and indirect spinoff jobs create by the 473 acres presently existing in Chatham - Kent . " Locally , party like Honey Electric , Dordt , and Timbertech Construction have over 50 % of their business dedicated to the nursery industry , " he say of local businesses . Mr. Devries further attested that " the sudden increase in development charge will increase the cost of a be after and financed 30 - Akka build at the Cedar Line placement by $ 2.55 M for just water and wastewater . "
George Dekker representing Mucci Farms described how greenhouses strive to minimize our impact on municipal infrastructure ; " We dig well , we build water pond to house rainwater , sometimes we have developments that will take piss out of the lake , this is all to minimize our impact on the public infrastructure of pee . " Mr. Dekker stated , " Development charges should be site - specific and considered instance - by - example based on the many H2O preservation measures utilise by greenhouses . "
The municipality of Chatham - Kent rectify its by - law to reflect the existing alternatives exempting farms that take to access private water and effluent help that will be capable to the favourable reception of the Chatham - Kent Public Utilities Commission ( PUC ) . " Notwithstanding the gamey exploitation charges , Chatham - Kent sees the economical , employment , and food security measure benefits brought by greenhouse development , " enjoin Richard Lee , Executive Director of OGVG speaking of Chatham - Kent Municipal Council . " They have signaled they desire to continue engaging with the sector to support growth , development , and food surety but in essence , they have now hung a ' closed for business ' sign at their municipal office for any future planned nursery increase . "
Council nem con ( 18 - 0 ) support the constitution of a working mathematical group of stakeholder made up of municipal stave , utility , and nursery farms . The work group will also invite local MPPs and MPs to participate in a whole of government approach to understand and overcome various challenges and advantage to greenhouse development in Chatham - Kent .
" Chatham - Kent wants greenhouse maturation to support development which unfortunately ca n’t go on under egregious development burster in plaza , " said OGVG Chair George Gilvesy . " Development may be frozen today but all stakeholders are looking for a thawing and emergence to come to Chatham - Kent . "
For more data : Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growerswww.ogvg.com
