More people, more jobs and more housing.
That is what the region is facing over the next three decades and Essex County is one step closer to addressing the growth through its new Official Plan.
Five public presentations were made to council recently which indicated there needs to be some changes to the document that is being drafted and could act as a blueprint up to 2051 when it comes to where to build both housing and places to work.
“There is an incredible amount of growth coming our way,” said Warden Hilda MacDonald.
A public meeting was held in June in McGregor which gave the public a chance to come and view the plan as well as make comments. Approximately 60 people attended.
“These comments have been reviewed and considered,” said the county’s manager of planning services Rebecca Belanger.
Mary Lou Tanner and the firm she is with, NPG Solutions, have been hired as consultants to create the new official plan and she said the population by 2051 in the county could be as high as 315,000 which would also translate into 124,200 and as many jobs.
“This is growth that has not be experienced recently in the county,” said Tanner.
Of the five public presentations made, four of those, including one by John DeMarco of Kingsville, strongly opposed the draft plan as presented. He said that he came to council last year but could not make his comments known as it was disrupted and canceled due to a large audience who were protesting the perceived 15-minute city notion.
There was a heightened sense of security last week at the county building in Essex.
On Thursday DeMarco said he still sees giant houses popping up on farmlands which he says should not be happening.
“There are some major gaps in the process and the content,” he said of the plan. “I would say the draft is not ready for adoption.”
He wants to see more greenspace in the new plan and that was a point that Amherstburg Mayor Michael Prue strongly agreed with.
“I go back to my time in the Legislature when the whole greenbelt around Toronto was debated,” said Prue.
The mayor and other members of council were not initially allowed to comment on the presentations, however, Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy pushed the fact that they needed to make their voices heard prior to the adoption of the plan on October 16.
“If we don’t put that kind of greenspace in there, farmland will be at risk,” said Prue.
He noted that Ontario loses 300 acres of farmland every year and some of that is in Essex County.
Giovanni Abati was another presenter and he said that the public did not have enough availability to view the draft plan. He also highlighted the effects of environment if the plan is passed.
“Our natural environment, our wetlands and woodlots are 8.6 per cent of Essex County. That is a disgrace in my opinion.”
By Fred Groves
Comments