Frequently Asked Questions
Date comment/feedback received: February 9th, 2023
Status of comment/feedback: Resolved
Q: Why is Castlepoint Numa interested in building a Farm Cooperative?
A: Castlepoint Numa is a value-based development company with a focus on delivering resilient communities. Thornbury Acres presents a practical vision for encouraging a strong connection between families and farming while conforming to the Grey County Official Plan policy.
Date comment/feedback received: February 9th, 2023
Status of comment/feedback: Resolved
Q: Was the site approved for the Thornbury Golf Course?
A: Prior to Castlepoint Numa owning the Subject Lands, the site was approved for an 18-hole executive golf course with a clubhouse and ancillary buildings. The Thornbury Golf Course was approved by the Ontario Municipal Board in 2002.
Learn more about the Ontario Municipal Board Ruling here.
Date comment/feedback received: February 9th, 2023
Status of comment/feedback: Resolved
Q: What is the designation of the Thornbury Acres lands?
A: The Subject Lands are primarily designated Rural, Agricultural, and Special Agricultural. See the site description map here for further details.
Date comment/feedback received: February 9th, 2023
Status of comment/feedback: Resolved
Q: How does Thornbury Acres conform to Grey County Official Plan?
A: Grey County Official Plan, Policy 5.4.2.8 identifies that innovative forms of rural development, including residential farm co-operatives on large lots, which meet Ontario Building Code and servicing requirements, may be considered for approval.
It is our opinion that the proposal represents an innovative form of rural development contemplated by the County Official Plan for the following reasons:
The proposal will be developed by way of vacant land condominium under the Condominium Act;
The “residential” component of the farm co-operative is permitted as contemplated;
The “co-operative” will be governed by a condominium tenure which, by its very nature, permits common facilities, uses or infrastructure to be held in an appropriate legal framework as is being proposed;
The condominium owners of each homestead will utilize agricultural and recreational common elements, including farm facilities and trail networks. Each homestead will be responsible for their proportionate share of the above-noted common elements and will be restricted by the Condominium Declaration and other legal mechanisms from removing themselves from this arrangement.
The proposal maintains a significant amount of the land in a rural landscape condition, either through the maintenance of natural heritage features, agriculture production or recreational features.
Date comment/feedback received: February 9th, 2023
Status of comment/feedback: Resolved
Q: What percentage of the original land holding will remain for primary agriculture or recreational use?
A: Approximately 60% of the original land holding will remain available for active agricultural and passive recreational uses and fully respects and expands upon the Special Agricultural designation.
Agricultural Lands: 52.1 acres (34.4%)
Recreational Lands: 38.8 acres (25.6%)
Agricultural / Recreational Lands: 91 acres (60%)
Date comment/feedback received: February 9th, 2023
Status of comment/feedback: Resolved
Q: How will the Special Agricultural portion of Thornbury Acres be protected?
A: The portion of Special Agricultural on part of the former Houghton Family Orchard would continue to be used for agricultural purposes, and no change of zoning would be required to meet the proposed Thornbury Acres program.
Learn more about Kathleen Houghton’s letter to Council here.
Date comment/feedback received: February 9th, 2023
Status of comment/feedback: Resolved
Q: How do we know the agricultural component won’t just be changed to create more homes by the developer in the future?
A: Thornbury Acres provides legal protection on agricultural lands. This cannot be undone by the homestead owners and/or the condo board. Any change to these lands would require approval from both the County and the Town of The Blue Mountains.
Date comment/feedback received: February 9th, 2023
Status of comment/feedback: Resolved
Q: What is a homestead?
A: The homesteads of Thornbury Acres is a unit of land (1.2ac-1.5ac), legally registered as a vacant land condominium on a block plan of condominium.
Date comment/feedback received: February 9th, 2023
Status of comment/feedback: Resolved
Q: What is a vacant land condominium?
A: Vacant land condominium is a permitted form of condominium that doesn’t require units to be constructed at the time of registration. The agricultural and passive recreational lands will be registered as condo blocks tied to the vacant land condominium through a POTL (piece of tied land) structure.
Date comment/feedback received: February 9th, 2023
Status of comment/feedback: Resolved
Q: What is the Thornbury Acres business model?
A: The agricultural component of Thornbury Acres is fully financed and supported by the required annual condominium fees paid by each homestead. Revenue generated by the farm will be used to offset the annual fees.
Date comment/feedback received: February 9th, 2023
Status of comment/feedback: Resolved
Q: How do the residents of Thornbury Acres connect with the Farm?
A: Residents of Thornbury Acres will have full access, participation, and benefit of the 52 acres of agriculture, including assigned market beds. A full time Farm Manager will coordinate and execute the communities annual farm program.
Date comment/feedback received: February 9th, 2023
Status of comment/feedback: Resolved
Q: Who is the Farm Manager?
A: Thornbury Acres Farm Manager is a qualified individual with experience in regenerative farming. Following approvals of Thornbury Acres, in the coming months, Castlepoint Numa with the assistance of its Agricultural team will begin the process of reviving farm activity on the site, fallow since a candidate search will be launched in securing the position.
Date comment/feedback received: February 9th, 2023
Status of comment/feedback: Resolved
Q: What are the sizes of the homesteads intended for Thornbury Acres?
A: The scale of the homesteads has not been designed. Part of a Functional Servicing Report, Tatham Engineering has plotted homesteads up to 3500 square ft on the average lot size to support the submission. The eventual homestead scale will be a decision of the unit holder and their family’s needs.
Date comment/feedback received: February 9th, 2023
Status of comment/feedback: Resolved
Q: How will the Homesteads be serviced?
A: The homesteads of Thornbury Acres will be serviced by private well and septic. This has been evaluated by on-site testing and supported by lab results. A complete Functional Servicing Report, in addition to D-5-3 Servicing Options Statement, was issued by Tatham Engineering as part of the submission.
Date comment/feedback received: February 9th, 2023
Status of comment/feedback: Resolved
Q: What is the timeline for the delivery of Thornbury Acres?
A: Thornbury Acres is anticipated to be delivered 18 months following County and Municipal approvals.
Date comment/feedback received: February 9th, 2023
Status of comment/feedback: Resolved
Q: How much land is designated Special Agriculture today?
A: Across the 152 acres site, 20 acres are designated Special Agriculture today. Thornbury Acres expands the agricultural lands by more than x2, creating a 52-acre farm program.
