Editor,
A lot of people were disappointed with the Ontario Land Tribunal ruling on the Avrance Georgian Harbour Condominium proposal – a decision that raises serious questions. How could this monstrosity fit into our Heritage Conservation District? Isn’t that why a previous Council passed the Meaford Heritage Conservation District Plan?
This building is a Canadian football field in length and four times the mass of the next largest building in the District. It will dominate our downtown, one of our most valued resources.
Citizens should know that this development proposal does not have the required Heritage Permit to proceed yet Avrance is already pre-selling the units. This seems a trifle premature. Avrance’s spokesperson compared Meaford’s residents to children. Still, we citizens have a voice and that voice can be heard during the yet-to-be scheduled public Heritage Permit process with the Meaford Heritage Committee.
A well advertised Heritage Permit public meeting about this development is a must. Prior to the Tribunal hearing, there was no public meeting allowing residents to voice their opinions on this proposal. Despite this proposal being in the Heritage District, there has been no opportunity for the Meaford Heritage Committee to offer advice to Council showing how this proposal conflicts with the Meaford Heritage Conservation District Plan. Principles and Objectives of the Plan must be met and if there is a conflict between a bylaw (like the OLT ruling bylaw), the Plan prevails (Ontario Heritage Act Sect 41.1 2).
I am hoping that Meaford residents will have an opportunity to speak up about this development and confront a developer who has said we don’t know what’s good for us. This arrogance is precisely why we need a public meeting regarding the Heritage Permit. We must protect and respect the civic rights a previous Council enacted to safeguard our Meaford heritage and our downtown.
Jim Sullivan, Meaford
