Further to Thursday night's 1st electronic Oshawa Public Planning meeting: Of the presentations on 3 different matters, 2nd on the list was the Minto/Sorbara developers' application to change Oshawa's Official Plan Land Use Plan for the Kedron Part II Plan "to permit alternative land use designations in the COMMUNITY PARK designation if the Community Park is RELOCATED OR OTHERWISE NOT NEEDED, IN WHOLE OR IN PART".
I quote that from the application, as spelled out on the signage at 2644 Harmony Rd. N. and on the meeting Agenda, because some listening to the questions I asked and who, like me, didn't hear a clear answer, might think some were avoiding that this in fact was the developer's 'ask'.
Naturally I didn't consider what I was asking to be me 'making a production' as the meeting Chair described it. Interesting that I received an email the next morning from someone I don't know, have no connection to whatsoever, who was listening in, and said they were cheering me on to get the answer to what I was asking.
Imo it was a most extraordinary Public Planning meeting
Public Planning meetings are held under the Provincial Planning Act and are part of the public process that is set up to ensure planning decisions, which determine the future of communities, "are fair by making them open, accessible, timely and efficient".
The meetings have an established framework under the Planning Act with proposals presented to the public and any comments or questions received from the public and elected members of Council. No recommendation or decision on the applications are made the meeting. A staff recommendation report is prepared at a later date and then considered by Committee and Council a later date.
It was very encouraging that seven Oshawa residents took the time to send in correspondence to the Clerk on this issue! Their emails are well written about their concern. (see copies below)
The question is how a planned 27 acre Community Park, at this late stage when sales pavilions for Kedron Part II are about to open, is at risk of not being advanced, as promised for many years, and will Council just not say No to the developer's request?
Community spirit is strong. It is something wonderful when residents are aware and engaged on local issues! Below are copies of the letters, which were added to the June 25, 2020 meeting agenda.
I quote that from the application, as spelled out on the signage at 2644 Harmony Rd. N. and on the meeting Agenda, because some listening to the questions I asked and who, like me, didn't hear a clear answer, might think some were avoiding that this in fact was the developer's 'ask'.
Naturally I didn't consider what I was asking to be me 'making a production' as the meeting Chair described it. Interesting that I received an email the next morning from someone I don't know, have no connection to whatsoever, who was listening in, and said they were cheering me on to get the answer to what I was asking.
Imo it was a most extraordinary Public Planning meeting
Public Planning meetings are held under the Provincial Planning Act and are part of the public process that is set up to ensure planning decisions, which determine the future of communities, "are fair by making them open, accessible, timely and efficient".
The meetings have an established framework under the Planning Act with proposals presented to the public and any comments or questions received from the public and elected members of Council. No recommendation or decision on the applications are made the meeting. A staff recommendation report is prepared at a later date and then considered by Committee and Council a later date.
It was very encouraging that seven Oshawa residents took the time to send in correspondence to the Clerk on this issue! Their emails are well written about their concern. (see copies below)
The question is how a planned 27 acre Community Park, at this late stage when sales pavilions for Kedron Part II are about to open, is at risk of not being advanced, as promised for many years, and will Council just not say No to the developer's request?
Community spirit is strong. It is something wonderful when residents are aware and engaged on local issues! Below are copies of the letters, which were added to the June 25, 2020 meeting agenda.
By the way, I asked staff to provide me with a map of the Minto lands (purchased in 2016) to show what portion are in the Kedron Part II Plan and what portion are outside and still designated agricultural. Hopefully this helps to understand better what Minto's ask involves: relocating the Community Park to their lands outside the urban boundary and wait for a Region Official Plan comprehensive review(which then has to be approved by the Province)... by the way the 5 Ha to the west of Minto's 6.5 Ha is owned by Sorbara (just purchased 6 months ago). As I said previously, they want to take the community park off the City's Official Plan Kedron Part II plan, approved by Oshawa Council in 2014, but take it off the calendar to some unknown future date.