Developer's Paradise

It's bad enough that the Town Council in Paradise claims that it's "hands are tied" when it comes to the development along Neil's Pond. The trees around the pond are cut to the edge of the trail and it's a complete eyesore. The same is scheduled to happen along parts of the trail around Octagon Pond. But how can the town council say one thing and turn around and do another, especially when it comes to developments that adversely affect its residents? Here's a copy of a story from the VOCM website that details - for the umpteen time - how the council and townhall has reneged on a promise.

Some residents in Paradise are upset with the way a subdivision expansion is going at Karwood Estates. The Bennett family live on nearby Goldfinch Drive, and say that when they built their home in 2003, the Paradise Town Council told them they could only fill their land a limited distance, to protect a wetland.

Today, Bill Bennett says, there is a wall of fill at the edge of his backyard that's about 15 feet high, and he's worried about the height and steep angle of the fill, as well as contamination, mud slides and wildlife habitat. He says they seem to change their mind on a whim in Paradise without consultation. He believes the town council is bowing to the developer.

Rodney Cumby is the chief administrative officer of the town. Cumby says from what he can gather, the wall is not 15 feet high, and that as far as he knows the expansion has happened within approved regulations. Cumby says council always works with the developer and the residents.

"Works with the residents" my ass. You know it's time to turn this up a notch. As residents, we have rights. And in the next municipal election we should exercise these rights and vote out the entire group. They have shown nothing but contempt for residents with the "It's all we can do" defence and bowing to the whim of developments - all in search of the tax dollar. Enough is enough.

A new slate of councillors may at least have the decency to show some respect and work with the town residents.

Urban Sprawl

Yesterday, I went for a walk around Neil’s Pond, which is part of the East Coast Trail Grand Concourse Authority. It was sunny and about 3 degrees with very little wind – a nice day to get outdoors. The pond is located close to Topsail Road but has a wonderful trail that cuts through the woods and winds along the water. It has a couple of boardwalks, picnic tables, a boathouse and is home to scores of ducks. It’s a nice, peaceful trek – good for the body and the soul.

However, I was shocked to see that a new housing development has encroached on one side of the trail to the point that one area has been clear cut leaving rocks and boulders bordering sections of the trail. There’s no buffer of woods – just ugly, grey rocks. These will soon be replaced with houses of course, but the houses will back directly onto the trail, almost to the pond really.

I have spoken out against this kind of development in Paradise for many years and have and written about it publicly. I was particularly vocal and critical during the last municipal election and was promised by candidates that things would change and the pace of development would slow down. So much for promises.

I fear that Neil’s Pond will become another Adam’s Pond or Brazil’s Pond, both of which are located in town and both of which are completely surrounded by high-density subdivisions. Both complete eyesores.

Today I will be contacting members of council and the mayor to ask why such a development was allowed to take place. I am willing to bet that this is the only section along the hundreds of miles of the East Coast Trail where trees are being clear cut for new housing developments. What our council won’t do for the almighty tax dollar.

I’ll keep you posted as to which councillors respond and what they say. I’ll also post some photos of the area.

Update #1 Councillor Dan Bobbett has contacted me regarding the trail. He said the it was put on land that the developer owned so there was little council could do. He says he’s as upset about it as other residents. I neglected to ask him if council could have rejected the developer’s proposal or failing that, expropriate that section of the land. It’s been done before in Paradise, just not to developers with deep pockets.

Also, one of our councillors must be vacationing in Edmonton. The hits from there are through the roof. More later.

Update #2 Councillors English, Laurie and Mayor Wiseman have also kindly responded. All state what Councillor Bobbett did, that the developer owns the land and the trail had to be moved. However, I still had some questions and posed them in my reply as stated below:

(via email)
Thanks for the update. Councillor Bobbett stated the same. One question I had however is why the development was allowed in the first place. Also, I understand that it's his land, but doesn’t council have a say in how it's classified e.g. low density, commercial, etc? Could they have rejected the application? Could expropriation of that parcel been an option?

I'm not familiar with the legal ins and outs, but were any of these options considered? Just thinking out loud here.

Update #3 Councillor Willis and the mayor replied (no word from Councillors Burton or Quilty) and it seems that expropriation was not an option due to cost. The mayor stated that the land couldn’t be rezoned and, if council were to try, public hearings would have to be held. Still unsure why this can’t happen for the land that is due to be destroyed for the new developments. As well, the town has a 30 metre buffer between houses and any ponds and streams. I’m fairly certain that the land has been cleared to less than 30 metres of the pond. (If not, it's very close.)

One thing that is apparent is that no matter who I talk to on council, it appears their collective hands are tied and many are frustrated. But with all due respect to those on council, it’s not very reassuring when it appears that landowners and developers can do as they please. This was a contentious issue during the last election campaign and changes were promised. Less development and more green space. And if members of council are frustrated, imagine how frustrated town residents are when they see green space disappearing and are powerless to stop it. If council can’t do anything, what chance does an ordinary citizen have? From what I’m gathering about this situation and the many others facing our town, people are fed up. I suspect, to enact any changes, residents will have to resort to the ballot box come next election.