Editor,
In my recent correspondence to Meaford Municipal Councillor Ross Kentner expressing my concerns about the proposed development called “The Loon Call”, he responded with the following – “People in Meaford are so accustomed to waiting for any development that they are pretty much sleepwalking through a pending tsunami of growth. It’s really unfortunate that there was no informed comment or probing questions at the public meeting.”
Beyond legitimate concerns about the TCE proposal, there are a number of other proposed projects coming our way in the not so distant future. More specifically, with respect to SkyDev’s recent Zoom presentation to Meaford on their proposed harbour front development, here are my thoughts.
Like many in Meaford, we’re excited by the prospect of new development and are hopeful that it will breathe life into our lovely but struggling town. While we warmly welcome the investment of thoughtful good planning and vision, we hope the community’s keenness for something, anything, doesn’t blindside or sabotage what could be an extraordinary development. Let’s not be too eager.
I’m not familiar with SkyDev, but the impression I got from their website and presentation on Zoom last week, as well as their response to the Q&A, is that they have been primarily a commercial and industrial developer and are more recently pursuing residential. Likely this business model change is a result in part to COVID and its impact on their future business opportunities. Their lack of experience in the residential space seemed quite evident in the presentation.
I’m concerned about the scale of the proposed development given the size of the property, the parking and traffic issues this will create, the limited green space on site for such densification and frankly the lack of architectural design imagination for this prime piece of real estate on the waterfront near the Harbour. As was said by the SkyDev representative regarding this proposal, “It has more of an industrial urban feel.” Is that right for our harbour town? I think not.
Realistically, no hotel/spa worth having would invest in the middle of a low income housing development. Imagine purchasing one of the inside condos or freehold townhomes with a view of the high rise rental centrepiece towering above as the primary view and balconies littered with all the tenant’s belongings that couldn’t fit in their under-sized dwellings. Trees and plantings in their professional rendering publicly presented that reflect 20 or 30 year maturity, softening the hardscape, not the spindly new plantings that will inevitably adorn this over-built development for the next several years.
They say the appeal is to attract families who need attainable housing but the size of the proposed units would be absurd for any Canadian family to live in and when asked they weren’t prepared to reveal cost point so how can they qualify that these units are “attainable”?
Surely they have some estimated numbers for their development offerings as part of their own due diligence. People, particularly families whatever their income strata, need ample space inside and outside their homes.
A healthy community thrives on a good balance of demographics to support the infrastructure. When one drives around Meaford it already feels very heavily weighted on low income appeal. If everything is focused on “attainable densification” which seems to be the case, that changes the appeal, economy, demography and geography of the community and usually not for the better.
We are not Guelph, or London, or the GTA. Why can’t this development be uniquely sensitive to the needs and character of a small community by Georgian Bay that has attracted so many here, rather than trying to urbanize, cookie cutter style, like every town in Ontario?
Clearly SkyDev has the capital to take this project on. This reminds me of another pending development, “The Loon Call”, which under the banner of “attainable densification” crams people together in dwellings like army barracks creating future ghettos, rather than communities. I lived in the GTA for the past 40 years and have seen this pattern repeated over and over again. Tragic really.
I trust that the good folk of Meaford will take SkyDev’s invitation to input constructive response to this proposal and that SkyDev is truly open to rethinking their proposal with respect to that input.
Change is coming. I hope our Mayor and leaders will thoughtfully lead that change rather than like so many small communities have the change lead them. Again, while I understand that Meaford is starving for an economic infusion let’s not be too quick to court any opportunity that comes our way, especially if it threatens the inherent lifestyle and natural attributes that attract so many to its established charm.
A quote from yet another pending developer, “Meaford Haven’s” website says it best on their homepage:
“Meaford Haven will be part of the little town of Meaford, on Georgian Bay, a place that’s remained unspoiled by development excesses. The town will grow, of course, but in a manner that’s respectful of its history and all the good reasons why people who live in Meaford like it here.”
In these two sentences a summary of what I think most folk in this town really want, whether they’re long-standing or new members of the community, whatever their economic status. We want to thrive, not just survive.
How will our leadership ensure that all decisions that move us forward align with this vision?
Ric Riordon, Meaford
