Hello everyone

Our posting last time was about the fact that the Lakeshore neighbourhood has no current Secondary Plan developed through the necessary community input process.

Harbourtown (Waverly Woods) which has 237 units isn’t the only project impacted by the lack of a Lakeshore Neighbourhood Plan: Waverly Beach Condominium 672 Helena (28 units); and Erie Landing Subdivision at the corner of Bardol and Dominion (approximately 60 units). This adds up to approximately 335 units. If you know the Lakeshore neighbourhood, this will increase the population by a significant percentage of units.

According to the Town of Fort Erie Official Plan Section 4 - 22 4.7.4.1. Policies. I. The Town will develop a Neighbourhood Plan for each neighbourhood prior to considering large scale development applications that may have a significant impact on the neighbourhood in which it is intended to develop.

So how do you define a large scale development?

At a Fort Erie Town Council meeting about Harbourtown on March 19, 2018, when Councillor Lubberts asked how this development is being considered without a neighbourhood plan, Rick Brady, Director, Planning and Development Services replied that this is the last remaining developable parcel in this particular area (see above). He mentioned that he viewed it as being a Neighbourhood Plan because it provides for all the components that they would look for. Mr. Brady failed to mention the lack of public involvement. The idea of the development becoming the Neighbourhood Plan was not mentioned in either the newspaper advertisements or the letters sent out.  In fact, the community didn’t know that this was to be considered a Neighbourhood Plan until the discussion on March 19, 2018. Why didn’t all the residents of the Lakeshore Neighbourhood have an opportunity to participate, and why didn’t they know this would be the Neighbourhood Plan until it was too late for public comments?

At another Town Hall meeting on February 4, 2019, the question of major development was again raised by Councillor Lubberts.  He asked the Planning Department to supply Council with their definition of a large scale development and when the clause about it being a requirement for a Neighbourhood Plan would apply.  Was that ever supplied to Council? Mayor Redekop remarked at this point that 327 units may not be large in Toronto, but he was pretty sure it is large for Fort Erie. Then Mayor Redekop asked Mr. Kernahan, Senior Development Planner, whether or not the Harbourtown development is in an area where there is a Neighbourhood Plan? Mr. Matt Kernahan replied that the Harbourtown development is in the Lakeshore Neighbourhood and there is not a Neighbourhood Plan for that particular development.

For anyone who lives in an area without a Neighbourhood Plan or Secondary Plan this should be of concern to you. It is also interesting to note that town staff is interpreting the Official Plan. Isn't that a duty of town council? 

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