Curbing Windsor Big Box - Action Needed!
It seems that those profitting from the “status quo”-retail sector are experiencing some pretty severe nervous twitching, as communities around the continent are reporting developers and their lawyers “circling the wagons” in response to municipalities who are moving forward with progressive by-laws and legislation meant to protect whatever it has left of its local economy and main street shopping areas.
Windsor is not left out of this battle. Currently, area developers and their lawyers are putting the pressure on when concerned citizens and leaders are moving restrictive legislation forward. They are ramping up their opposition to new development charges that will favour the core over greenfield development, and that drama will be playing out in City Hall soon.
However they, along with Windsor’s Chamber of Commerce and other “development-at-any-price” supporters are rallying the troups this week to appear before council this Monday in opposition of the two research documents (Land Needs Analysis Report and Commercial Land Use Policy Report) prepared by our planning department that will entrench some sprawl-busting language into our new Official Plan.
However, city council needs to hear from you about the importance of this kind of focus. Think about it! The developers that help fund nearly every councillors election campaign are now going before them to tell them that these documents are bad for business and will negatively affect our city.
You know this isn’t true, and you need to tell council the same thing!
You have until Friday at noon (519-255-6432) to register as a delegate. Write letters to council so they appear in their communications folders that day. Pick up the phone and give them a ring! We’ve helped bring the recognition of bad planning this far. We can’t give up now.
It’s your city. Reclaim it!
Post Feedback
Not meaning to downplay the importance of this sort of activism, Chris, but in addition to this there is another important way to fight back - and that is to simply make a conscious effort to support your neighbourhood businesses wherever and whenever possible. Vote with your wallet. I know you already do that, but too many others aren’t walking the walk.
As much as everyone hates places like Walmart, the parking lot is always full.
Have you been reading the articles on the city of Markham’s fight with developers that I have been sending you? If not see the News this week.
Did I send you the Chicago Wal-Mart study on jobs and the affect on local retail?
Chris,
First, the two reports you cite were not prepared by the Planning Department. They were prepared by Consultants hired by the Planning Department.
Second, contrary to popular belief, these reports do not “entrench some sprawl-busting language into our new Official Plan.” They are background foundation reports that are required as part of the official plan review. The documents made some statements about demand over the short to mid-term that have been misconstrued to represent planning policy. These reports are not policy documents.
These background studies should have never been brought forward to Council in the first place. PAC? Perhaps. But not Council. Everyone is wasting time fighting reports that have no legal status. The Planning Department should have presented the Looking Back Moving Forward synthesis report instead. Lets argue over something with substance.
Good points Vincent! Then how should we as citizens approach this matter, any thoughts on how to go about it?
Vincent although I agree everything you state about the reports is correct. I disagree about their importance. i think these reports expose the wildly wrecklessly and irresponsible position by Dan McCullough and the conflicting positions espoused by the chamber of commerce.
Read the PAC meeting minutes and council attachments. They show a complete disregard for protecting downtown and mainstreets
Vincent - the way we have been looking at this is that if these reports had “no legal status” and were “lacking in substance”, why have we been spending many meetings in rooms with the likes of Jeffery Slopen, Patrick Persichilli and Dean Clevette? If these people are taking time out of their schedules to fight these documents, they must hold something of interest. I can’t comment on how the process has unfolded, just react. If we sit back and do nothing, letting these development-folks frame the debate, we’ll be doing ourselves a disservice.
Mark - OF COURSE I’ve been reading what you’ve been sending along! Where do you think I got that link I put into the blog post?
John - Truer words would be hard to find! Unfortunately, it seems as though most people wait until the game’s over before being forced to change. I’m hoping that we can do some preliminary ground work in preparation to when people are forced to shop in their neighbourhoods again. Hopefully Main Street still have some life left in it when the consumers return.
Chris, As suggested, I just zipped off emails to the councillors and mayor. Don’t know how much they’ll help, but it made ME feel better. Paul.
That’s awesome, Paul. We need more people to get inspired by your actions! Unfortunately, I can’t speak before council Monday night (afternoon shift) so I’ll be doing the same thing as you have done, though I’m pretty sure council knows where I stand on this issue
Developers must have had a big ole meeting and decided to attack communities across Canada with a deluge of big box developments. Out here in PEI we were just told that we’re looking at another 5 store development just north of our current mall and kiddie corner from our current big box development.
I wrote an article for SpacingAtlantic.ca about the article and referenced both the many articles that raced around here about 2 years back as well as posting the presentation that was made to council just over 2 years ago by Chris and I.
Fight the good fight as big box is a losing proposition, both now and most definitely in the future.
(If you want to read the spacingatlantic.ca article you can find it at this link — http://spacingatlantic.ca/2010/01/18/sustainability-vs-consumerism/ )
Atta Boy, Josh! Throw a little more international attention our way and nobody is going to want to retire here