Developer says it followed rules
Sensitive areas of Riverfront were not disturbed: GR
Developers of the $1.5-billion Riverfront Community project in south Niagara Falls say they protected environmentally sensitive areas while engineering studies were done recently.
The Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority is investigating, after receiving a complaint from the public concerned that endangered tree species or provincially significant wetlands might have been harmed during the work.
Of the 484 acres there, 282 are considered wetlands and cannot be built on or harmed.
The development was approved by city council but is on hold awaiting an appeal hearing before the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal. The appeal was launched by Niagara researcher and environmental consultant John Bacher, who questions the way provincial environmental regulations were interpreted when approvals were granted.
In an email sent to city councillors and the NPCA, developer GR (Can) Investment Ltd. said “we still have been actively cooperating with the government and completed the work complying with all requirements.”
The project, known informally as Thundering Waters, is to include more than 3,000 dwelling units, a five-street retail development, internationally themed restaurants and other amenities.
It would take several years to build and be marketed to tourists and senior residents. GR projects it would attract more than three million tourists a year and create 3,000 direct jobs.
In the email, GR Can said it has spent about $8 million so far on government-ordered studies.
During the recent geotechnical investigation, they said, temporary access was needed for borehole drilling. GR said consultants reviewed a borehole location map to minimize impact on the environment and discussed the work in August with the NPCA.
As well, GR said, the NPCA later confirmed to consultants that borehole work could begin.
A spokesman for the NPCA could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
The land in question is south of Oldfield Road and east of the hydro canal in Niagara Falls. In its latest step, two weeks ago GR filed an Official Plan amendment application at city hall.
In the email, GR said contractors were told to use existing trails, and in the area near Chippawa Parkway some brush had to be cleared from around ditches to gain access to the site.
“There are not any protected trees in (the area of ) our tree cutting process,” they said in the email. “We keep all the cut trees in the field for any future inspection from government agencies, because our project has been under defamation from some groups of people.”
In an interview this week, Wayne Campbell — one of two city councillors, along with Carolynn Ioannoni, who voted against the project — said he would like to see the property secured.
Without fencing or barriers, he said, “it’s further opening that area to damage by snowmobiles, ATVs or four-wheelers or people wanting to dump garbage and mattresses and things like that,” Campbell said. “I think it’s going to potentially affect the wetlands themselves. I think it needs to be blocked off, to be secured.”
GR (Can) is a subsidiary of Asian-based GR Investments. In their email, GR officials said they’re frustrated by what they feel is unfair criticism of their work and plans in Niagara Falls.
“All in all, we came from thousands of miles away to invest $1.5 billion Canadian dollars in the city of Niagara Falls for the first time … we always look forward to building a beautiful community by working with local people and local government.
“However, there are always some people twisting the facts and saying we are doing nothing and having no construction, we are even accused and slandered by someone without reasons …”
That has caused “some potential investors pulling out their investments when they see the current situation,” GR said, calling on local government to “please create a friendly investment environment for all investors.”
Campbell said, “I can appreciate that but there are steps they have to follow. And the first consideration is protection of those wetlands.”