Photo Karen Graham.
What would you say defines the village of Millbrook? The strong sense of community, of course, a friendly place where people say hello to one another when they pass on the street.
But what also defines our community is its heritage buildings and green spaces – the mill, the pond, the dam, the Old Millbrook School and our beautiful trails system. Not one of those things would still be here in Millbrook today if it was not for community involvement.
At the time of the formal establishment of the Millbrook Valley Trail system in May 1998 there was a strip of publicly held land running from the village pond to the Zion (4th) Line that was “identified” as a route for a trail. But the reason that strip of land was even owned by the municipality in the first place was all thanks to the work of one individual with a vision.
Back in 1990 Millbrook artist George Raab became aware that there was a lot in the woods beyond the top of Main Street up for sale for tax arrears to the municipality. The lot was part of a subdivision plan called CP 101 that wrapped around the bends of Baxter Creek all the way to the 4th Line. George’s research found that over the years some lots had sold and some were even given mortgages by banks. But both banks and purchasers alike were duped by the fancy subdivision plans on paper, assuming that a building permit would be issued. However none of these lots were buildable as all lay in the flood plain of Baxter Creek, so eventually some lots were abandoned and the properties came up for purchase simply for taxes owing.
George became determined to have the Township acquire and keep the property as parkland. He started his first of many colour-coded charts and maps showing who owned what, along with how to get in touch with the owners. He then approached the Cavan Council with his hopes for the property.
However he had also found out that most of the lots and road allowances were now owned by the original developer’s son, who was also a land developer living in Toronto. George called him on the phone and set up a meeting at his office. George brought in Tom Robinson, a friend of his who was an urban planner. Tom wrote a compelling case for the township acquiring the property.
“Tom suggested things like buying back the lots when the Township put them up for tax sale,” remembers George, “and pointed out to Council how the property tied in with the Medd’s Mountain property, already with a rudimentary trail system to the north east, and the provincial fishing ponds property just to the south across the Zion Line.”
George arranged for Vic Norman, Cavan Township Reeve at the time, the township CEO, and Tom Robinson to take a road trip to Toronto to visit the developer’s office in the Colonnade Building on Bloor Street. The son had inherited large bits and pieces of land not just around Millbrook, but also around Mount Pleasant and Ida, and armed with this knowledge George and Tom had developed a strategy.
Things turned out well at the meeting. Everyone’s requests were put on the table and a deal was hammered out. The developer and his father had had bad experiences with previous councils so it was a coup of sorts to have him come to the table in the first place. It was agreed that some of his lands would be rezoned for residential building in exchange for his deeding over all of his CP 101 lots to Cavan Township.
As a result of these negotiations, with the other lots obtained in exchange for paying the back taxes, virtually all the lands bordering Baxter Creek from Millbrook to the Zion Line came to be owned by Cavan Township. George’s vision had preserved this beautiful pristine environment for all to enjoy as part of what would come to be known as the Millbrook Valley Trails system.
By Bill Slavin
