Another Late Night.

Home half an hour before midnight again last night. The meeting wasn't over when I left. It didn't end until 1a.m.

The Mayor's good friend Gordon Barnes, who lives in the old town, presented a video slide show at ten-forty-five p.m. The Mayor said he could take all the time he wanted. They were much entertained. Councillor Gaertner hooted with laughter.

Mr Barnes commented he had attended many of the three dozen or so meetings already held on the O.P.Five Year Revision, the Promenade Study and the 2C lands O.P A. He told the crowd they were supposed to be two hours long but lasted five .He clearly found that commendable.

Last night's meeting started past the appointed time. The Council Chamber was full. Council members were in their chairs. The Mayor sallied forth at eight minutes past seven, arranged papers and pens and jingle bob before her on the desk and announced the meeting" will start momentarily"A further several minutes went past before it did.

Committee members were introduced and the erroneous claim was repeated that all Councillors who wanted to participate in the exercise had done so. .

When asked by the Mayor before the exercise started if I would be interested in participating I said I would.

I never received the call.

But I have to admit, after Mr.Barnes told us the meetings lasted five hours instead of two, I was not sorry.

I've attended two meetings now, listened to people's concerns, responses from consultants and staff when they get a word in edgewise. but mostly we have heard from the Mayor.

Current expectation is the three plans will be approved by Council on September 28th, the last meeting of the term.

The Region has final authority over the Municipal Plan. It must conform to the Regional Plan.

The Region is unlikely to deal with the Town's Bylaw until March,2011. Fortunately. It means in the event we elect a new Aurora Council , there will be an opportunity for the plan to be reviewed.

It's a good thing.

A matrix has been created to record concerns of property owners who have engaged in the process.

I have concerns.

I commend Councillors for the time they spent in the process. It was obviously a true feat of endurance.

At the same time, I do not believe five hour meetings indicate efficiency nor productivity. The Mayor was chair of everything . We all know how that goes.

Property owners in the central area are opposed to their neighbourhood being the target area for intensification.

Owners on the perimeter feel their neighborhood lends itself well to intensification.

I think probably some here and some there ,small parcels small buildings, wherever a site lends itself, is probably the ideal.

If a person wants to downsize but loves their neighborhood, why should they not be able to stay?

The Mayor feels legalising basement apartments is taking care of the need for affordable housing. I don't think so. We have received no reports to indicate an increase in below ground accommodation.

One speaker last night spoke of the importance of protecting green space. The Mayor was proud to say the plan provides fifty per cent of the geographic area of the town be green.

It's probably eighty per cent if we factor in back-yards and front yards and two acre estate lots of which we have an abundance and landscaping in front of commercial and industrial buildings.

When I look down my street all I see are trees. I can't see the houses behind either because of my cedar hedge.

My point is, we are an urban municipality. Restricting development means less assessment and higher taxes. It means Aurora becomes a town for the well-heeled . The rest of us can keep on moving on out.

We know there are Aurora residents who want the town to stop building. We know the Mayor and Councillor Mac Eachern are in favour of that. Ever higher taxes are not a concern to them. They even buy culture for us on the taxpayers' dime.

So people going out to vote just have to figure the sector to which they belong.

I am not of the well-heeled variety. I saw a calculation by a senior recently to indicate taxes for municipal services are $80 a day. I don't have that kind of money.

Speaking of which; I am re-cycling signs from the last election.I don't have enough to use on the boulevards. I'm having four big ones made by Sunbeam  Signs of Aurora for the main entrances to the town. I would be very pleased to hear from supporters who might be willing to have a lawn sign on their property.