Clearview Township councillors urged to close public access to this road
A road straddling the boundary between Clearview and Melancthon townships — that has been a bane to a neighbourhood — should be closed.
That’s the opinion of resident Allan Wargon, who has lived on the road for more than 50 years, though it’s not an opinion shared by the staff of both townships, as well as Simcoe County.
“It’s a nuisance to have the road open,” Wargon told Clearview Township councillors.
Councillors, at their July 30 meeting, deferred a recommendation from staff to stay status quo on a road that’s typically only accessible during the summer.
“To say that we would never need the road for utility or a trail … you could restrict traffic, and people would come to the edge of wherever it’s restricted and park there,” said chief administrative officer Steve Sage.
Wargon, along with other residents of the road — running from County Road 124 east to the municipal boundary of Mulmur and Melancthon, and Garden of Eden Road — have been asking both municipalities for measures to control parking. The road is used as a point to access nearby Lavender Falls, which is located on Wargon’s property.
Nearby residents have complained repeatedly of aggressive trespassers, vandalism and dumping.
In a report to council, the township’s general manager of transportation and drainage, Gerry LeMay, stated closing the road would not be in the best interest of the township.
“A road closure is a more permanent feature that is very difficult, if not impossible, to reverse in the future (if) the township and county decide they require this road open,” he wrote.
Councillors voted to defer the decision until municipal staff had further discussions with Wargon.
“It offers little benefit to the public,” said Ward 5 Coun. Thom Paterson.
