For once, Hamlet is not a tragedy, but a good news story.
The Hamlet of Massie is going to be able to keep its designation after being threatened to be downgraded by Grey County Planning Department in the revised official plan.
Spokesman for the Massie residents Marilyn Bergman says they are thrilled with the decision by the Planning committee to allow them to keep their Hamlet designation.
The next step in this David vs Goliath battle is getting the approval of the full County Council next month.
Bergman is confident council will support keeping the status quo for Massie.
She says losing the designation would have effectively sterilized the community as it would fall under the jurisdiction of the Niagara Escarpment Commission.
Bergman says that would halt any future development including additions to homes or new home construction.
She says she still doesn’t understand why the Planners wanted to change Massie’s designation in the first place.
Bergman says while there is no building boom underway in Massie, three are several people who want to build their retirement homes in the community and others who want to add extensions to their homes.
If they lost their Hamlet designation, that would have not been allowed.