Unless a number of scientific issues can be resolved within a short time, Amaranth Township could be facing a 10-day Ontario Municipal Board hearing into zoning for two residential subdivisions.

Hearings into Valleygrove and Hamount subdivisions, generally north of Greenwood Cemetery (on Lot 3) to a point more or less opposite where Hansen Blvd. would extend to Veteran's Way, are tentatively scheduled for July 9 at the township hall.

The other OMB hearing, into Canadian Hydro Developers' Melancthon II wind farm project, gets under way at a different location on July 30. (Although the July 30 hearing involves the Melancthon portion of the wind farm, Amaranth is a party to it. The wind-farm hearing for the Amaranth portion is to start Sept. 11.)

In the subdivision hearing, the proponents have appealed Amaranth's delay in processing their applications. Orangeville has appealed against any decision being taken until all hydrogeological issues have been resolved, and the proponents are also appealing delays in decisions by the ministry of municipal affairs and housing.

Orangeville's concern, says planning director James Stiver, is that the proposed subdivisions are "over the catchment area of two (town) wells. We are concerned that any (approval) is premature."

But appeals are to the design of the subdivision as well. At Amaranth Tuesday, the township planner was reluctant to discuss the number or type of residences because of the appeals. There have been several site-plan changes since the original concept was filed several years ago.

Mr. Stiver indicated that Orangeville's principal concern is protection of the water resource.

In fact, Hearing Officer D. Granger appears to have found that to be the case, as he had ordered that "all hydrogeology experts to be relied upon will meet by mid April 2007. They will formulate an agreed statement of fact and detail those issues remaining in dispute for presentation to the parties and Board in advance of the pre-hearing."

(Several pre-hearing conferences were held prior to the order. The pre-hearing reference in the order was to a pre-hearing by way of a conference call among the parties on May 11.)

Parties to the hearing include Hamount Investments Ltd. and Valleygrove Investments Inc. (jointly), Amaranth Township, Town of Orangeville, Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and Credit Valley Conservation. All are represented by lawyers.