DEVELOPERS AND LANDOWNERS
I WILL NOT knowingly vote in favour of putting the best interest of a developer or a landowner ahead of what is best for our Wasaga Beach community.
In this term of council, I have voted in opposition to a number of decisions where in my opinion there were alternative options that would have provided far greater benefit to our community. I will not go into detail in this document but here are some of the decisions:
I have opposed, as they did not appear to optimize economic benefit or they greatly diminished our opportunity to secure government funding.
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Location of the casino & how the major downsizing of the casino was approved by council
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Closure of the walk-in clinic pilot project in this term of council
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Location and configuration of the library/double pad arena and proceeding with the $60 million-plus build without Provincial & Federal grant funding
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Dismantling of the Main Street Market and destruction of the kiosks
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The $300,000.00 plus renovations to town hall
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Finalizing a purchase of sale agreement for tax payer owned Beach 1 lands before my concerns and recommendations have been addressed
I do want to point out that developers and landowners have rights and there have certainly been cases where they have followed all provincial legislation, municipal policies and bylaws but residents or groups of residents do not like the proposed utilization of their land. In these cases where all rules have been followed council may not have the authority or ability to stop or revise a development, even when they are in agreement with residents concerns.
When I talk about putting a developer’s or landowner’s interest ahead of the greater good of the community it is where council clearly had the option and authority to make an alternative decision.