You did it! As a member of the Save Our Waterfront movement, you’ve helped achieved a significant victory. We’ve just learned that Tim Hortons has withdrawn its appeal to exceed height limits of 15 storeys on the vacant waterfront lot east of Emma’s Back Porch in Burlington’s downtown. The Ontario Municipal Board hearing on this matter scheduled for Jan. 12-15 was cancelled after Tim Hortons unconditionally withdrew. That clears the way to set up the Citizens Advisory Committee on the Waterfront that we’ve been asking for.
Hearing cancelled - but no one told us
I found out about the cancellation just days ago by chance, from a journalist during an interview. The OMB should have contacted us, since we’re a participant in the hearing. City Hall was notified Dec. 21 – but no one told us. Our elected officials are well aware of our interest in this matter, and a courtesy call was in order.
You made it happen
But even that can’t dampen our spirits today. This is a true victory for people power – though you’re not likely to get any credit for it. This wouldn’t have happened without you speaking up and making waterfront development an issue. It wouldn’t have happened without you letting our elected officials know you’re closely watching the decisions they make on our city-wide asset, our waterfront.
Many thanks to the volunteers who signed up to take a shift at the OMB hearing, to witness the proceedings and record them so we’d all know what’s being said and done. You get your week back! But there’s much left to be done.
Next steps
What happens now? Three things:
1. We will press for the Citizen’s Advisory Committee on the Waterfront to be struck immediately. The earliest opportunity is the Jan. 18 Community Development Committee meeting. City Hall refused to set up the committee till the OMB hearing concluded. Now there’s no reason to delay. When the motion to establish the committee is presented, we’ll need you to attend and speak in favour. We’ll keep you posted on dates.
2. We’ll invite City Hall to sponsor a joint meeting once the committee is struck, to let you know next steps and how you can get involved in securing the right development along our entire waterfront, stretching from the border of Oakville in the East to the edge of Hamilton in the West. Watch this space for details.
3. We’ve struck an independent sub-committee to engage all candidates in this year’s municipal election on the issue of waterfront development. We’ll post their positions as they become available. So far, only one candidate has registered. On Jan. 4, I registered to serve as the Ward 2 City/Regional Councillor. The election is Oct. 25th.
Once again, a huge thanks to all of you for standing with this movement. This victory is yours. By continuing to work together we’ll achieve more victories in our quest to secure a community-led vision for Burlington’s waterfront, from Burlington Beach to Burloak Park.
Yours for community,
Marianne Meed Ward, Chair
Save Our Waterfront
Save Our Waterfront is an initiative of A Better Burlington, your source for news and debate about what’s happening in our city. To learn about and comment on other issues in Burlington, sign up for our electronic newsletter at: http://abetterburlington.ca.
7 Comments
Not only does the Council for the city of Burlington not really care what the citizens of the city have to say, they also appear to have a significant Decency Deficit. For the OMB not have formally advised this group that the hearings were canceled because of the TLD withdrawal is just sloppy administration but for the city not to have made a call to someone is just plain indecent. This is your city and it will become an “indecent” place if you let the civil servants become less than civil. I’d suggest a letter to the Clerk asking why a courtesy call wasn’t made. That will help the Clerk’s office be a little more civil next time and teach them that we are all on the same side – aren’t we?
Thanks Marianne for all you work in making this happen. All the best in the 2010 election. Let’s enjoy this victory today realizing there is a continuing battle.
I would be quite nervous that the Tim Horton’s withdrawal from the OMB hearing is because they’ve struck a private deal with Council and don’t need to go the bad publicity route. Is this possible or am I just tooooo skeptical?
I am so happy Marianne of the withdrawal of TIM HORTONS, if they really withdrew…?It was a bad publicity for their name. Thank you for the work and faith on what you believe. Happy New Year 2010. All my best wishes .
Annick
Congratulations to Marianne and supporters on this major achievement.
Congratulations to Marianne and supporters on this major achievement
If you really want to see what this compaany is all about, check out http://www.timhortonslies.wordpress.com and http://www.thetdlgroupltd.com Bad press is what is needed to shed light on the truth about companies that operate like this. I for one will never spend another dime at Tim Hortons.