Agricultural Society granted okay to replace clubhouse
By Bruce Haire

The Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority (LSRCA) has bent its rules enough to allow the Schomberg Agricultural Society to replace its clubhouse.

A staff recommendation was to refuse the application because it could not meet Authority policies.

The current building is in the middle of the Schomberg Fairgrounds, in part of the Schomberg River floodplain. Staff had advised the replacement needs to be subject to less than a metre of flooding.

However, after a hearing at the Conservation Authority Friday morning, the agricultural society was given the green light to build the replacement structure in the same location of the current one.

Mike Walters, director of watershed management at LSRCA, explained the land could be subject to 1.7 metres of flooding if there was another Hurricane Hazel. Under current regulations, a building could be allowed if there was danger of less than one metre of flooding under similar circumstances, and the structure was flood-proofed.

The biggest danger is that a height of water could knock the building off its foundation, thus making it mobile, Walters warned. They would have to get around the possibility of it becoming "a boat" and creating a danger to others.

However, there were several people from Schomberg present to make the case for the importance of the Fair to the agricultural community.

Councillor Jack Rupke, York Region's representative on LSRCA, talked about "participating in the Schomberg Fair since I was a small boy," urging his colleagues to allow the building with the use of "breakaway panels so it doesn't become a boat."

Society General manager Andy MacPherson said there has been a building on that spot for 98 years.

Schomberg area engineer Henry Verbruggen said there were no other locations available, adding the current building is in the right spot.

Councillor Bill Cober talked about the need for the agricultural society to have a place to "showcase their corporate" clients. He said the current floor is like "a fun house" and Mayor Margaret Black was there to speak in favour too.

Mayor Robert Grossi of Georgina motioned to permit the clubhouse, on the conditions that it never be a residential structure, that there is an engineering design acceptable to staff, that there would be a "save harmless" agreement for the conservation authority and engineering so that the building could not be knocked off its structure.

That motion received the near unanimous support, and will staff will bring forth new regulations affecting building in floodplains.