Cold Creek Debacle

Re: Development Debacle, (News, October 30). One wonders if the Planning Committee and Council understand the Planning Act and if they have received adequate training to comprehend the ramifications of decisions made around the table.

Planners are trained, organized, and bound to a professional code of ethics and conduct to ensure public interest is protected in adhering to both provincial and local policies. 

A Registered Professional Planner requires a minimum of 2 years of working experience, and successful completion of multiple examinations. The County hires these professionals and, presumably, can trust their knowledge of the Planning Act. Afterall, the top two Planners at the County earned an average of over $135k in 2023 (as found on the Ontario Sunshine List).  Those are significant dollars so they must be worth it and know what they are doing, right?

Planners in the province have had to manage significant, and sometimes last-minute, changes to thelegislative & regulatory framework under which they work and must stay current and knowledgeable on the updates to the Planning Act / Provincial Policy Statement. At least ten bills have been broughtforward by the Ford Government since 2021 that affect Planning in Ontario. Do you trust that your Council understand these changes?

Perhaps some Councillors just say ‘no’ to every proposal that comes to them in their agenda packages toshow their constituents they are putting up a good fight. Perhaps some just say ‘no’ because theycannot be bothered to read the various reports that are in their agenda packages and are ill informed. I think it is shameful that a developer could get this far in the process, guided by a Planner, only to have Council wipe out months if not years of pre-planning and consultation. 

I am frustrated that our tax dollars might be spent on defending a Council decision that, yet again, goes against the staff recommendation. As Council did not follow the staff recommendation, it means that PEC’s own Planning staff cannot defend the decision at the OLT and that outside Counsel must be hired. It also sets an extremely high bar to find external planning consultants that now need to agree to disagree with their planning colleagues in the Province and argue against a potentially sound planning rationale – it may not even be possible.

I believe Council approved the Official Plan in July of 2021 and there is an Official Plan Amendment currently under review – both permit development on the acres proposed for Cold Creek. The OP describes how land in the community should be used. It is prepared with input from the public and helps ensure that planning and development meets the community’s needs now and in the future. This document sets the policy “goal posts” to which Planners direct developers throughout the planning process. It ensures a consistent and transparent process. When Council decides to forego staff’s recommendations, based on conformity with these policies, they are sending a strong message. Is it the right one?  

Catherine Sinclair, Sophiasburg

Paving a Park

The June 15, 2023 Picton Gazette correctly identified a lack of parkland for County residents. Over 40 moms responded to a Gazette survey and lamented the lack of parkland in 2023.

More than a year later, the situation has only gotten worse.

Council now plans to rezone Open Space and Parkland in and around Delhi park as Residential (R3) for a proposed development at Nicholas Street.

The County’s best park is now subject to a developer’s complicated plan to build on the slope above Delhi park and Picton’s Community Gardens.

This plan involves extensive clear- cutting of trees, and the construction of an apartment building clearly visible from the Mary Street parking lot.

To quote the Gazette: “Premier Ford’s Bill 23, the More Homes Built Faster Act, will have deleterious effects on parkland in the county, according to a Park People, a non-profit that supports community groups in the fight for more parkland.  Proposed changes to the policy framework will see diminishing parkland and with it, fewer sustainable and liveable communities.”

This development proposal comes to Council’s Planning Committee on Wednesday 20 November. I hope residents plan to state their opposition.

Lawrence Cornett, Picton