Background – The Corporation of the Town of Cobourg purchased the land, known locally as the former CDCI West High School football field, and initiated an application for a Zoning By-law Amendment under Section 34 of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990 c.P. 13, as amended.
The Zoning By-law Amendment Application proposes to introduce residential uses to the subject lands to provide guidance for future development proposals. The zone will place emphasis on medium and high density residential uses to facilitate a mix of housing types. Any future development will be subject to additional Planning Act approvals to implement the proposal.
Letter to Council from Cobourg woman opposed to rezoning of Durham Street.
Letter to Council from Jennifer Darrell
Unfortunately, I was unable to attend in person and have only just today had an opportunity to listen to the recording of the above committee meeting. I have a number comments to make and concerns to express based on the discussion I heard. Please insure that this e-mail is treated as a matter of public record.
1)I may have misunderstood his intentions but Mayor Cleveland’s comments early in the discussion around the rezoning of 117 Durham Street, seemed to suggest (or imply) that anyone living in the neighbourhood of the school football field has a conflict of interest.
I hope that this is a misunderstanding on my part since otherwise it would seem to suggest that anyone owning property (or living) in the vicinity has a conflict of interest and is thus not entitled to make comments and express concerns about proposals for the area. I find this extremely disturbing.
When people have an investment in an area they are surely entitled to express views on what happens in and is proposed for an area.
I can certainly appreciate why a voting member of Council with a material interest in an area may need to excuse themselves for voting on relevant proposals but hopefully that does not extend to a member of the general public (who is not voting on or making a decision on the matter) expressing concerns.
I hasten to add that, while I have certainly expressed opinions on and concerns about the proposed bylaw for this property, I personally do not live anywhere near the property, nor do many others who have expressed concerns. (We are clearly not NIMBYs as the Mayor on another occasion speculated that many of the objectors are.)
I, and many others, am expressing my concerns as a Town taxpayer and resident – as I would expect any taxpayer and resident should be allowed to do.
2) There seemed to be a suggestion that misinformation about the site and the Town’s intentions for it were being expressed. I would appreciate some elaboration of what exactly is the misinformation that is being expressed.
I would respectfully suggest that there is no “misinformation” but rather, more likely a “misinterpretation” on the part of some members of Council as to the objections and concerns that are being expressed by the public. Most of us are fully aware that the protection of the board walk and surrounding area are mandates/priorities of the Council.
What we are more concerned about is the effect that high density development of the northern (major) part of this site, along with the “Doubling, monster development” on the Legion Village lands (to use the Mayor’s words as I heard them on the recording) that are proposed will have on a residential, heritage neighbourhood and on a narrow, dead-end road and where site conditions may also not be conducive to development.
3) At the meeting there was also the suggestion that the development of this site might assist with the significant infrastructure improvement costs that could be required to develop the Legion Village expansion through a shared expense.
If I heard the Mayor correctly, he also suggested that it might be that the significant costs could be identified after the principle of development has been approved on the site.
This is exactly one of the things we are concerned about – that the costs of developing this site have not been given due consideration and that, once they are identified, a request will come in to ask for even higher density to “justify” the development expenses, after a developer has already committed significant dollars towards the purchase of the property (i.e. that ” thin edge of the wedge” that I alluded to in my presentation at the February 25th public meeting).
We understand that there are a number of significant constraints which would need to be overcome in developing the site – many of which have been outlined in the numerous e-mails Council has received about the proposal and which may also include possible soil contamination.
It is also not beyond the realm of possibility that the developer/new owner could initiate a suit claiming that he was misled by the Town in its favourable zoning of the property.
Town after all, in this instance, is the current owner of the site – the vendor – doing its best to make a profitable sale to a buyer.
4) If I heard correctly, the Mayor also made reference to the Legion Village expansion serving a need for seniors’ housing.
Do correct me if I am wrong but I understood that the Legion Village expansion is no longer restricted to residences for seniors.
While many seniors (including myself) do drive and own cars, many more non-seniors do so this could mean an even greater number of cars coming into the area. If even 1/2 of the new residences at the Legion Village expansion own a car, imagine the increase in traffic and demand for parking that will occur from an already approved development, without more from that which would occur from the rezoning of the school football field.
5) I believe I heard the Mayor also say something about a widening of Durham Street required before the development of this site and the Legion Village development can take place.
Please tell me how that narrow road (which has a number of residences along the west side, and the Barracks and a heritage residence on the east side), can possibly be developed to the width necessary for development of this density and resulting traffic?
This is a yet another reason why we feel it is premature to proceed with rezoning and sale of this property before basic, preliminary studies and costs analyses are conducted to assess the wisdom and practicality of development of the site.
Then there is the concern about firetrucks and other emergency vehicles needing to make calls, heaven forbid, in the case of a fire or other medical emergency occurring in the neighbourhood.
In closing, I would appreciate being advised if I have in any way “misinformed” anyone or have misrepresented anything with any of the concerns I have expressed above.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
