Meeting packs chamber
Thundering Waters development reports not ready; session postponed as larger venue sought
With the council chamber filled to capacity and with the sounds of even more people chanting “let us in”, Council felt the time and place wasn’t right Tuesday to hold a public meeting about the controversial Thundering Waters development planned for Niagara Falls.
Politicians were to receive public input and consider a staff recommendation to direct a final report on the proposed project be brought forward for consideration at a future date.
However, with numerous studies, plans and consultations yet to be finalized, and with a horde of people ready to give their two cents about the development, council chose to defer the matter until outstanding issues are resolved and they can find a more suitable venue to handle a large crowd.
The council chamber was filled with people waiting to hear an update about the project, while the lobby outside was packed with people looking to make their way inside.
The over-flow crowd watched the live broadcast on a television in the lobby.
“Why are we dealing with this tonight and then again when we don’t even have all the reports?” asked Coun. Vince Kerrio.
“It doesn’t seem fair to us, it doesn’t seem fair to the (proponents), it doesn’t even seem fair to the people who are opposed to it because I’m sure they’re going to want to review all of the documentation, review all of the reports … all of the things we don’t have.”
Alex Herlovitch, the city’s director of planning, building and development, said they had anticipated all of the reports and studies would have been finalized by Tuesday’s public meeting.
Why are we dealing with this tonight and then again when we don’t even have all the reports?” Coun. Vince Kerrio
“We have to give notice well in advance. As it turned out, the studies were not completed and we did not receive them in time, but we’d given notice,” he said.
“I suppose we could have cancelled this prescribed meeting, but we thought it was an opportunity to gain some input and some insights so that we could make sure that we could address their concerns as we move forward on this process.”
A motion brought forward by Coun. Kim Craitor was approved to defer the public meeting until more of the reports and studies could be finalized, and a larger venue could be found to accommodate a bigger crowd.
“You see how many people are really interested and have concerns on either side, and maybe we need to look at a bigger location for the benefit of the public,” he said.
Council also plans to tour the location where the development is proposed to gain a better understanding of the area’s biodiversity.
Coun. Carolynn Ioannoni said she and Craitor have already taken a tour of the area.
“It is beautiful, it’s pristine,” she said. “Once you were in that wetland, you didn’t even know you were in a city. It is something to see and I highly recommend the rest of council go. I learned so much. It was quite an educational experience.”
Coun. Wayne Campbell said he has also toured the site.
The lands in question are 196 hectares (484 acres), said Herlovitch. They are bounded by Oldfield Road, Welland River, Ontario Power Generation Canal, and Stanley Business Park.
He said the proposal is for 115 hectares (284 acres) to be developed for residential, commercial, institutional and employment uses.
In April, council voted to support the future growth of the Thundering Waters area by having a secondary plan prepared for the property. The vote was not to approve the project, but to acknowledge the developer’s efforts in doing a number of studies that will help formulate the secondary plan.
Many of those studies, including an environmental impact study, have yet to be finalized.
“The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry has identified areas in the draft EIS which require additional work or refinement,” said Herlovitch.
Staff has received numerous letters of objection to the project, citing concerns the development will negatively impact the site’s vast forest and biodiversity. The developers have said they plan to protect and enhance many of the natural heritage attributes on the property.
GR Investments Ltd. is behind the massive development. While GR is based in China, it has a branch in Canada
The project was announced last fall in China during a visit there by Mayor Jim Diodati and Premier Kathleen Wynne. The real-estate arm of the Chinese government is a shareholder in the development.
A First Nations rally was staged in front of city hall last month to save the Thundering Waters forest. The rally called for a moratorium on the project until a transparent public process determines the full “social, environmental and economic benefit” of the forest remaining completely intact.
Herlovitch said part of the process thus far has been public consultations.
“We have had a number of meetings with focus groups, as well as open houses,” he said.
“One of those focus groups, for instance, was with a group of environmentalists, the other with the (surrounding) industrial community. We’ve also commenced our discussions with First Nations and Metis.”
Herlovitch said he and John Barnsley, the city’s manager of policy planning, are scheduled to go to Brantford this Thursday to continue those discussions.
Herlovitch said when it comes to the ongoing dialogue with First Nations and Metis, staff is trying to determine “exactly what their particular interests are.
“I’m aware that they have made requests with respect to the various land treaties ... with the federal government, and their Indigenous rights with respect to those treaties,” he said.
“We’re trying to determine precisely what those concerns are, (and) how we can accommodate those through the process.”
Herlovitch said there’s also a number of industrial facilities around the area.
“Many of those industrial operators have come forward, they are concerned about bringing sensitive uses, that is residential land uses, closer to them, which they believe might curtail their activities,” he said.
“There would be mitigation measures required to be taken by the developer.”
Herlovitch said a bridge will need to be constructed either over the Welland River or the OPG Canal, which would be a substantial investment for the municipality.
“This is project that will be needed before full development. That bridge crossing would be subject to a separate environmental assessment study.”