Did the Chamber really change its policy?
Now, I am happy that my concerns regarding the Chamber policy were heard, but were the changes they made, done to address my concerns about their lack of representation to local independent business? Were they just made so that they could continue on with their claim that they agree with the intent of the planning documents
Now look at this wording change:
Former policy recommendation - “Consider the widest possible scope for future development without restriction”
New policy recommendation - “Consider the widest possible scope for future development without undue restriction”
What is “undue” restriction? Sounds kind of vague to me.
See, I’m a simple guy, I like restrictions on greenfield development that make it impossible to happen over the next few years while Windsor’s dealing with population shrinkage and the core deals with a 1 in 4 vacant storefront problem.
I’m thinking that might be considered “Undue”
What kind of restrictions (Remember a “lack of incentive” is not a restriction) would the chamber support?
I have to go with BAFFLEGAB. Thats what I call it when you try to obfuscate your position so that it can change your claim of what it is to anything at anytime.
Now I know they are not fooling anyone, they’re just trying to make it more palatable for councillors, lawyers and their spokesmen to defend them by maintaining “Plausible deniability” of what their true intentions are.
The people who watch these things will see it. Unfortunately the people who are held in the rasputin like grip of developers will see it but will not care.
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~ adjective
1. unwarranted; excessive: undue haste.
2. inappropriate; unjustifiable; improper: undue influence.
Yeah - they didn’t change a thing, Mark. It will still be up to them to define exactly what is “unwarranted” and “inappropriate”, and not stick to definable metrics.
Oh, I almost forgot to post an article referred to by Mark Bradley
Here is the background info on why its so important for the Developer controlled Chamber of Commerce to advocate for greenfield sites to be rezoned without restriction and why its so important we stop the practice
http://www.urbanophile.com/2010/02/04/the-power-of-greenfield-economics/
Oh, since were defining things, The “Rasputin like hold” can better be defined as a Svengali
n., pl., -lis.
A person who, with evil intent, tries to persuade another to do what is desired: “a crafty Svengali who lures talented people with grand promises yet gives them little lasting operational authority” (Chris Welles).
The profit motive is not the evil intent, its the fact that they are not ignorant to the repercussions of what they want. Its not like any developer ever wanted to live next to the crap they build. If they won’t live next to it, I won’t either.
Last post script. I own 3 operating businesses and several commercial bldgs in Windsor and Essex county. I keep telling the chamber of commerce that their policy positions are detrimental to my business and investment interests.
I feel I’m in the same position as the majority of small business owners
so if the Windsor Essex chamber of commerce doesnt support my views here.
Who the f*** are they supporting?
On this issue if they have conflicting interests within their organization
shouldn’t they REMAIN NEUTRAL or STAY the F*** OUT of this issue.
Who is pulling their strings? who is their master?
Perhaps it simply means “within the realm of common sense”.
Well, then why even publish that as a policy? Does anyone think the planning department is trying to make recomendations that are not within the realm of common sense? Our planning department is not the evil empire, there a bunch of people that try to do the right thing in a void of any vocal public support to back them up while facing opposition from people who don’t suffer when the core empties out
Fact is the chamber have a track record of supporting any rezoning of agricultural and residential land to commercial while our core empties out.
Maybe it is THEY who should start worrying which of THEIR Policies are oustide “the realm of common sense”
Supporting rezoning of greenfield sites to commercial when there is enough land zoned commercially to take Windsor to the next century is what is outside the realm of common senses
Tell you what, get the Chamber to announce that the rezoning of Sprucewood was not a good planning or business and I’d gain an iota of respect for them
Couldn’t agree more with you guys. I would think that maybe 10 windsorites would gain from the Chamber’s policy and 199,990 would lose. I just hope the planner’s continue to fight the good fight.
Sorry, past policy, without the undue.