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Results of the April 14 Public Information meeting regarding Saw-whet

Clear cutting field | andyarthur  -  Foter  -  CC BY
Clear cutting field | andyarthur - Foter - CC BY

Thank you to the over 600 people who attended the meeting. It is heartening to see so many people interested enough in this matter to come out on a beautiful spring evening. I hope you found the meeting informative.

The main action item that resulted from the meeting is this: If you have any concerns about the potential development of Saw-whet Golf Course (785 houses and townhouses and 2-multi-story buildings), and if you would like to have a chance to express those concerns at the Ontario Municipal Board Hearing (where its fate will be decided) you need to attend the May 1 pre-hearing, 10 am, Town Hall and sign up to be a "Participant" for the hearing which will take place in October.

You do not need to have your presentation or comments ready for the Pre-Hearing on May 1, 2015 at 10:00. The meeting will take place at Town Hall. Your only task at that time is to sign-up as a Participant. Participants will make their comments at the October hearing, which is tentatively set for October 13, 2015.

If you cannot attend the pre-hearing, but wish to participate in the hearing, you may authorize someone else to sign you up - you just need to send that person with a letter from you stating that you authorize (name the person) to sign you up to be a Participant at the hearing regarding Saw-whet Golf Course. Include your contact information, and signature.

If you didn't attend the April 14 Information Meeting and would like more background, please visit my website at www.elgar.ca. There I have posted the handout from the meeting, and my powerpoint presentation giving details about the OMB; how this matter ended up at the OMB; and what is involved in being a participant at such a hearing.

If you are considering becoming a participant, you may have some questions about the process, time limits on speaking, different ways to express your thoughts (pictures, words, powerpoint etc.) age restrictions etc. We are lucky that members of the Fourteen Mile Creek Residents Assn. (FMCRA) have had experience with the OMB and the FMCRS can assist in providing answers to frequently asked questions.

Fourteen Mile Creek Residents' Assn. invites you to send an email to: [email protected] and ask to be put on their e-mailing list. They will contact you about information sessions for participants supporting the Town's position.

Some Key Facts about the Saw-whet Golf Course Development Proposal

  1. Developer, Bronte Green, wants to build 785 single homes and townhouses and 2 multi-story buildings on the land that is now Saw-whet Golf Course, (part of what are known as the Merton Lands which also includes Deerfield Golf Course)
  2. In October 2014, the Developer by-passed Oakville Council, and brought the matter to the Ontario Municipal Board for a ruling
  3. On April 8, 2015, Council approved this motion: "That counsel be instructed to attend the OMB proceedings to oppose the applications as being premature and not in the public interest using an evidentiary based approach."