Special Projects
From time to time, public and private sector clients approach EcoVue to provide specialized services. These projects are diverse in their purpose and scope. Applying our expertise in planning and development, EcoVue has been successful in delivering reports that address the specific interests and concerns of our clients.
To illustrate this point, the following are examples of special projects undertaken by EcoVue:
In the fall of 2017, EcoVue was approached by the Township of Otonobee-South Monaghan to assist in the preparation for provincial funding under the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs’ Rural Economic Development (RED) program. The project involves an evaluation of existing municipal policies and regulations in the context of five farm-based businesses. The intent is to enable these businesses to take advantage of opportunities within the marketplace, while addressing weaknesses and minimizing threats. The study will identify the need for improvements to the local planning process which will enable on-farm diversified businesses within this municipality and elsewhere to strengthen their participation in the rural economy.
EcoVue was retained by the Ministry of Transportation Ontario (MTO) in 2016 to conduct a Highest and Best Use Analysis of a vacant parcel of land proposed for development. The analysis will be used by the Ministry to determine the market value of the land. 
The parcel can no longer be developed given its proximity to a proposed reconfiguration of the adjacent provincial highway and intersection.
The National Capital Commission recently retained EcoVue to review circumstances involving the discharge of waste water from adjacent industrial use onto NCC lands. Using records and licenses available from the Provincial Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, EcoVue is preparing a report and recommendation to the NCC to address its concerns.
The Township of Cavan Monaghan’s mapping of Cultural Heritage Resources, using the County of Peterborough’s GIS platform, was completed in 2012. The project involved a review of available historic documents, interview with long-time residents of the community and public workshops. The result was a searchable map, providing specific information about built heritage resources and landscapes of value to the municipality and its residents and visitors.
As part of the development of a Secondary Plan for the Village of Fenelon Falls, EcoVue worked with the City of Kawartha Lakes to prepare a site-specific policy for the village’s waterfront. The policies provided for an innovative approach to developing the interface between private and public lands along the store of Cameron Lake and the Trent Severn Waterway lock.
In the fall of 2017 Curve Lake First Nation retained EcoVue to assist in the review of an application for a Waste Nuclear Substance Licence for the Young’s Creek Area of the Deloro Mine Site. In completing this assignment, EcoVue undertook a desktop review of information provided to CLFN by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission. In addition, EcoVue undertook a search of other information available on-line to establish a reasonable understanding of the history of the Deloro Mine Site and the efforts of the Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change in completing a Remediation Project for the site. The review identified areas of weakness in the Crown’s consultation process involving CLFN and provided recommendations to improve the consultation process in the future.
In each of these varied projects EcoVue has drawn upon of extensive experience in land use, planning and applied research and innovative approach to address a specific concern raised by our clients. We continue to work with provincial ministries, municipal governments, agencies, First Nations and others to find solutions to their varied challenges.
