What did happen to the Ecco-Park Evelyn? You were still on council at the time.
Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 18 April 2016 at 19:57
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On behalf of the proponent, Frank Stronach, Steve Hinder made a presentation to Council.
A Natural Wilderness area, education centre, a restaurant, a gift shop everything one might wish for In a spectacularly beautiful unspoiled area , including a foundation with funds to manage and finance the project was offered to the town.
A trail system was included I believe.
I applauded the offer and Inquired when might we see it become a reality
It was forwarded to the Citizens Environmental Advisory Committee.
Months went by. The delegation returned .The plan was altered. Retail features had been withdrawn.
Again no decision to accept. Instead a referral to the Citizens Environmental Advisory Committee for
STUDY.
Once more the committee reported and recommended against approval until the final rendition was presented for their approval.
I believe trail location was the bugaboo.
Also, a wilderness park elsewhere in the community , at the expense of the town, the special project of a committee member, had been in the planning stages for years.
I pointed out, if the committee report was endorsed ,in effect the gift was being refused unless it met an advisory committee approval
The comittee's report was endorsed.
The Wilderness Park, to be created for the enjoyment of the community ,as a gift ,never returned to the Council table.
No further communication was received.
In the proposed location an enviornmental acessment would have been a must.
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ReplyDeleteThat has been the Business As Usual. One has to assume that Stronach was put off, to put it mildly, by something.
5:30
ReplyDeleteAnd Stronach would've known that and had the very best people do it.
Something must have turned him right off.
What an embarrassment.
ReplyDeleteit will be interesting to see what becomes of that land. It could go for up-scale development but I don't think there is any will for a legacy project.
ReplyDeleteThe legacy will be the DC money that will be handed over to the Town and Region when the homes/condos come in.
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