Mayor Dilkens pulls a fast one
Preposterous that Mayor Dilkens said he isn’t trying to pull a fast one when that is exactly what he’s doing. He surprised council with a last minute announcement to combine the planning committee meeting with a council meeting for the zoning of the hospital and the CR 42 secondary plan that includes 990 acres of development. Thus he is avoiding the normal detailed scrutiny of the plan by the planning committee.
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Most municipalities do discuss the location of a new hospital. In Muskoka council even considered asking for the removal of the hospital board and CEO for insisting on a failed plan.
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In Windsor-Essex, very few of the site selection criteria suggest the chosen location is necessary to serve patients or for healthcare.
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This plan may no longer even be about the hospital, given the recent election. A search of Teranet about a month ago showed the hospital has yet to finalize the purchase of the property, indicating uncertainty.
Developers seem to be selling off adjacent properties rather than buying. Quite possiblity is is the fear of high development charges, as a result of a study available for public input June 18 and not to be finalized until after zoning is decided. Development charges and costs should really be a factor in determining zoning. For example, if zoning is approved but development charges are to high to draw sufficient interest, the city will be on the hook for making infrastructure available to the few willing to pay the costs. The result will be a higher expense than is reimbursed.
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There is sufficient doubt we need to expand the city by 990 acres. Already approved for development are the neighbouring 550 acres in the East Pelton Secondary Plan, which remain largely undeveloped farmland. By comparison, Devonshire Heights, Devonshire Mall and industrial areas in between occupy about 600 acres, and that took about 40 years to fill in.
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How is it that the hospital is dictating to the city where we need to develop? Traditionally municipalities dictate to the hospital when the plan for a new hospital is not acceptable to the citizens. No official survey or poll has shown it to have “overwhelming support”. Lawn signs and a billboard on Walker Rd. suggest otherwise.