GuelphToday has received the following letter from representatives of five local conservancy organizations concerned with proposed plans to develop the Clair-Maltby area
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Dear Editor,
As reported in local media this past week, Mike Marcolongo - co-Chair of the Protect Our Moraine coalition, was "called out" by Mayor Cam Guthrie at the Council meeting on June 25th. He was challenged by Mayor Guthrie for questioning the Clair-Maltby Secondary Plan study including the process that led to the preferred Community Structure Plan. Marcolongo had questioned City staff's willingness to genuinely build trust because as he pointed out - there seems to be apprehension to make the Community Working Group meetings public or to post the outcomes of those meetings on the Clair-Maltby website.
By using the City of Hamilton's Elfrida Growth Area Study as an example, Mike Marcolongo demonstrated that Guelph's bureaucrats only presented one major option for the urban structure for Clair-Maltby. The only urban structure option is now being referred to as Gordon Street's future "Condo Canyon". On June 25th, Council voted to approve the sole option presented to Council and Guelph residents: 14-16 storey of high rises along Guelph's main entranceway.
Marcolongo reminded Council that its role includes ensuring that a range of City-building options are proposed for the Clair-Malty Secondary Plan. Generally speaking, if bureaucrats do not provide a range of options for residents and politicians - the limited scope should be explained. Over the last eight months, Council neither challenged the lack of options presented to them, nor asked staff why the full spectrum of options was not available.
The Clair-Maltby secondary plan will be Guelph's largest expansion of its urban form, as it could accomodate upwards of 25,000 people. This is a significant exercise in City building - and one that could have significant repercussions on Guelph's future drinking water. The Protect Our Moraine Coalition has had a very simple message for Council: proceed carefully to accommodate this significant expansion.
As members of Protect Our Moraine, we stand by Mike Marcolongo whose family is providing our community with Guelph's first publicly accessible Cultural Heritage Landscape - a significant contribution that will be cherished by generations of future Guelphites.
As members of Protect Our Moraine, we also want to thank Council for taking concrete steps to enhance public engagement in the next phase of the Clair-Maltby Secondary Plan study. By recognizing that residents need to have a stronger voice in the Clair-Maltby planning decisions, you are signalling that we must tread carefully on Guelph's only section of the Paris-Galt Moraine.
Marnie Benson, representing Nature Guelph
Ted Michalos, representing Families for Rolling Hills
Sue Rietschin, representing Guelph Urban Forest Friends
Rob Case, representing Wellington Water Watchers
Susan Ratcliffe, representing the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario - Guelph and Wellington
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