"Bucking" the trend

As reported by Doug Draper's in his article NiagaraAtLarge an international effort is under way to insure public access to our Great Lakes shoreline and
“to take back into public ownership waterfront properties along the Great Lakes as they become available to ensure public access for future generations.”
From the mouth of the St. Lawrence to the big lake they call "Gitchigumi" citizens and government leaders are joined in making great strides in maximizing these possibilities.
There is of course one place where that this is simply not the case. In fact, a majority of Fort Erie's elected officials, supported by Town Staff are in favour of allowing ownership of a substantial portion of an existing, public, waterfront park to be transferred to a private developer.
Somehow, proponents of the "Crystal Beach Gateway Project" are advocating that construction of a 12 story condo at the Bay Beach entrance is actually a step in "improving the beach experience" and, in time, will allow for increased public access as well as be a catalyst for more public ownership of waterfront lands.

Come on...whose kidding who?

When you look at how private ownership of waterfront has played out over the years, I'm reminded of an old saying...


"Someone is pissing in my ear and they're telling me it's raining"


Q tip anyone?

Response to an abuse

Link to Buffalo News article by Margaret Sullivan: Buffalo News Editor
Without accountability... what is an opinion?
     

Fair enough

I received a “heads up” informing me that my reference to  “the majority of residents” in my June 8, 2010 post was being rightfully challenged. Here is the direct quote from me:

“What of their “due diligence” to the majority of residents that oppose this development?”

In the absence of any official, scientific, independent survey, I am basing the “majority” conclusion on two things: 

1)     1)  Personal conversation with Fort Erie residents such as neighbours, beach patrons, fellow shoppers, folks sitting at the bar, business owners & employees, fellow property owners, officers & members of service groups, officers & members of youth sports organizations, Fire Fighters, Police Officers, Town employees, Fishermen, Tradesmen and others.

2)    2)   The number of presentations to Town Council in opposition to the plan as opposed to the number presenting in support of it.

Therefor it’s an opinion. Just as it is an opinion that a majority of residents support the plan.

So, if I may ?

Given the difference in opinion, might it not be helpful to ask voters, before we go any further, if they support the existing plan or not?

Respectfully,

John

Parachuting (golden) before the plane crash?

http://forterietimes.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2623865

As long as taxpayers are ONLY footing up to $100,000 and it's OK with the rest of the guys...

Well then...SURE...what the heck...why not ?


I mean sometimes you budget things and sometimes you don't and it might be more or, then again, it might be less and well... you know, usually on "behalf of the process" towns just pay it but this will probably take longer so... you know we'll try our darnedest to cap our exposure by declaring a $100K deductible for our partner but...
well... I mean... it's kind of like... umm...you know...ahhh....... don't  ya ?

From Toronto...a new paradigm

Click here to watch this video and

Listen to the words of the speakers!!!

Notice the sense of purpose, excitement and UNITY as Toronto realizes the importance of an open, public waterfront as the center piece of a community.
One can only wonder how they would weigh in on constructing a 12 story condo in the middle of an existing public park like Bay Beach.

When you look, objectively, at Marcy Woods, Pt. Abino Light House, Crystal Beach Tennis & Yacht Club you have to ask...How many times are we going to repeat the same mistakes?

An interesting choice of a word

"A purchase and sale agreement between a developer and the Town of Fort Erie is being drafted, but will not be executed until after an as yet-to-be-scheduled OMB hearing and decision is made". 

Niagara Falls Review Link

And from todays Fort Erie Times we read

"Once executed by both the Town and the Molinaro Group, the agreement of purchase and sale is a binding legal agreement to transfer the ownership of the property. However, the completion of the transaction is conditional on three things taking place first. If the by-law for the land purchase agreement is amended after an appeal through the Ontario Municipal Board or any other legal setting, either party can terminate the agreement if not satisfied with the outcome. The transaction moving ahead will also be determined by whether or not the ministry of natural resources issues a permit pursuant to the endangered species act with conditions deemed acceptable by both parties by the end of 2012. The execution of the community benefit agreement also needs to take place before the land purchase agreement can move ahead." FE Times Link

So, in my opinion, nothing has changed.

I'm sure Councilors Lockwood, Whitfield, Annunziata and Shular, as well as Mayor Martin will speak of how this latest agreement was part of their “due diligence” in the deal making process with The Molinaro Group and I would have to say they would be correct.  

But therein lies the rub.

What of their “due diligence” to the majority of residents that oppose this development?

One answer might be…

That was “executed” months ago.

Closed Doors (Closed Minds?)

In regards to the proposed “Crystal Beach Gateway Plan” I wonder what exactly has Town Council and Staff gotten us into? Is it an intricate public/private partnership “business deal” or drawn out, unpopular, money draining legal quagmire?

Despite assurances of complete transparency and full public involvement during the decision making process we have before us a “special closed door session” of Town Council, scheduled June 7, with the expressed purpose of discussing a transfer of what is currently a publicly owned, waterfront park to a private developer. Keep in mind it was in two other previous “closed sessions” that the Molinaro Group was selected and the 12 story condo plan was ultimately favoured.

While for some this certainly seems to minimize the notion of transparency, with open and public consultation during the entire process, I for one, find it difficult to believe that Mayor Martin would renege on his word that a decision on any land transfer would be reached before a final outcome through OMB proceedings. Respectfully, I remind everyone of the following:

“Town politicians have decided no more decisions on town-owned land at Bay Beach should be made pending the outcome of Ontario Municipal Board hearings which will help decide the fate of a condominium project slated to be built on the Crystal Beach waterfront”. (April 29,2010 NiagaraThisWeek)

And this direct quote from Mayor Doug Martin:

"A purchase and sale agreement between a developer and the Town of Fort Erie is being drafted, but will not be executed until after an as yet-to-be-scheduled OMB hearing and decision is made". (Niagara Falls Review Article# 1112869)

This brings me back to my opening questions and perhaps what really is the topic of Monday night’s meeting … the wisdom of a proposed project that lacks public support, is rift with controversy and is open to expensive legal challenges.

My two questions then really become one. Is this project the BEST option available?

John McCarthy

  

On April 29, 2010 they said...

Council holds firm on lands at Bay Beach

No rezoning will be considered until after OMB decision rendered

Town politicians have decided no more decisions on town-owned land at Bay Beach should be made pending the outcome of Ontario Municipal Board hearings which will help decide the fate of a condominium project slated to be built on the Crystal Beach waterfront.

For Entire NiagaraThisWeek Article Click Here

And remember this NF Review piece 
Mayor Doug Martin is adamant the municipality will not transfer any public land at Bay Beach into private hands before an Ontario Municipal Board hearing.
"A purchase and sale agreement between a developer and the Town of Fort Erie is being drafted, but will not be executed until after an as yet-to-be-scheduled OMB hearing and decision is made", Martin told The Niagara Falls Review Friday.
Makes one wonder what happened ?

While not "in office"... He's taken the lead

Niagara Falls Review Article 

Article By RAY SPITERI , REVIEW STAFF WRITER

In my humble opinion it seems that Wayne Redekop has managed to get WAY out in front and become the the public leader on this extremely important issue. While current Fort Erie Mayor Doug Martin now recites "provincial policy statements" as justification for Bay Beach development and Councilor Sandy Annunziata refers to a "fiduciary responsibility" to the Molinaro Group I find it fascinating that a former political leader, now a private citizen, has stepped up to the plate and let it be known that the Mayor & Councilor have lost touch with the desires of their collective constituents.
With ALL due respect to Mayor Martin I have to ask... Mr. Mayor can't you see the contradiction when you invoke Ontario's stated policy of controlling urban sprawl by using it to justify handing over an existing public, waterfront park for private development?
To Councilor (and friend) Sandy Annunziata I respectfully suggest you hold the expressed desires of so many Fort Erie Residents and Taxpayers on equal footing with the principles of honourable negotiation.
To suggest that the existing Bay Beach development plan is the only reasonable option is simply a failure of imagination and a denial of reality.

John McCarthy
Crystal Beach

Upon further "review" by the replay official...

The question is...why would staff recommend otherwise?

Link to NF Review article

Photo taken this summer at Town garage.

Bay Beach...signed, sealed, delivered.

Attention EVERYBODY

from The Herald Online

A girl practicing her athletics Monday evening narrowly avoided serious injury when she found two steak knives buried in the long jump pit at Ridgeway Crystal Beach High School.

Niagara Regional Police say she was practicing with her mother around 6 p.m. at Pride Field when the knives pointed upward were found after her first jump.

“It’s apparent this was a deliberate act that created a very dangerous situation,” stated Detective Sergeant Scott Kruasher.

Police will be conducting increased checks of local schools and playgrounds as a result of this incident.

Residents are warned to inspect playground areas before allowing their children to use the equipment and to report suspicious activity.

Anyone with information about this act is asked to call police at 905-871-2300 ext. 2300.

Mike Cloutier

Whom to believe ?

From: March 10-2010

http://www.forterietimes.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?archive=true&e=2473359

Ward 4 Coun. Tim Whitfield said he is bothered by the amount of "misinformation" distributed around town from a campaign that voiced its opposition during the entire process. He thinks people should realize that the Town does not intend to enter into more partnerships with developers and build all along the waterfront. In fact, he said somewhere down the road the local government should inquire into buying a portion of the private beach and make it accessible for the public and retain as much waterfront property as possible.

From: December 19-2009

http://www.forteriecanada.com/news_events/pdf/FETIM_1219.pdf

Partnership Key To Rejuvenation

The Crystal Beach Gateway project will be a model

for growth on the lakeside properties westward which will

reduce the per capita costs to provide

services for the very loosely,

and seasonally, populated cottage

neighbourhood on Erie Road. 

“I have every confidence the

new development will be successful,”

Mayor Martin said. “Because it’s in the private sector

and they are investing their dollars to make it work and in

their experience they think this is a good place to invest

and that it will grow.”

Marina proposal offers world-class resort

“This is an innovative venture partnership that is

sustainable and shared and helps implement our vision

for tourism and recreation,” said Jim Thibert, general

manager of the Fort Erie Economic Development and

Tourism Corporation.

Well done Mr. Brokaw !!!

We from Buffalo, know this. Now so does the rest of The United States

I guess this is where the lawyers come in...

Link to Buffalo News

A must read...

NiagaraAtLarge

Another View From Port Dalhousie On The Battle Over A Condo Tower Plan For Crystal Beach

Niagara At Large

By David Serafino

Section B Wednesday, Feb. 10

Buffalo News City & Region Front Page

Front Page Sunday Feb. 7

The Buffalo News

Enough Said

Well Gang:

Barring any unforeseen “developments” (pun fully intended) I think it’s pretty safe to say “The Preliminaries” are over!

With a clear majority of Council in favour of the existing “Crystal Beach Gateway Project”, it certainly appears they will make their commitment official, sometime in March, with the rezoning ruling.

Whether you support the existing plan or not, I think we can agree that “next up” would be O.M.B. hearings ?

While I currently don’t have any involvement or “special insight”  in any such action, like you, I do know that some organizations and individuals, have in fact, started in that direction. Frankly, some of you reading this, more likely than not, possess more knowledge on the matter than I so my commenting on either the concept or mechanics of the issue would be ridiculous.

There are  a couple of instances when I KNOW  I should keep my mouth shut.

1)  When I don’t know what I’m talking about.
2) When I do know what I’m talking about but it simply will not make a difference.

A check of these particular criteria has led me to conclude that it’s time to shut this “bad boy” down.

After witnessing Monday night’s shameless display of disrespect, dysfunction and deceit and working on the assumption that the Bay Beach issue will in fact go to the O.M.B. (and yes it is an assumption)

I suspect attitudes, positions, and arguments, will become much, much more extreme. So much so that managing a reasonably “open & friendly” forum like this one will become impossible (at least for me).

Conversely, contemplating the possibility that the issue, as it stands, does NOT go before the O.M.B. leads me to consider that perhaps I’ve made a very serious error in the selection of where my wife and I would eventually retire to.

As they say…”live and learn”

To those of you who have read the comments on this weblog…

I THANK YOU for your time !!!

To those who have contributed …

I THANK YOU for your words !!!

Sincerely,

John