Our family land is not up for grabs

My husband’s family has owned land on Neary’s Pond Road in Portugal Cove–st. Philip’s since 1890. He and his two brothers had intended to build their family homes on the property.

This parcel of land was zoned agricultural by the province until 2012 when the land was finally released to the discretion of the Town of Portugal Cove-st. Phillip’s, where it remains zoned agricultural today.

Since then, the town has purchased 15 acres of land in Maggies Place for a new depot and now hold us and other neighbouring landowners in their clutches with the promise of releasing all lands in the adjacent area for potential residential development.

We, as a family, have attended every meeting regarding the Maggies Place development and we also met with Neil Dawe of Tract Consulting during a one-on-one consultation with landowners, and during this meeting we explained our intention with our family land — we want to build a few family homes (one for each brother) and potentially sell a couple of lots in the future to possibly help with our mortgages.

Dawe made notes and told us he would be taking his reports back to council for review.

During the last public meeting on Maggies Place, we discovered that it was our family land that Tract Consulting and town management deemed to be the best location for a seniors village residential development. This clearly was not part of our consultation with Dawe.

Needless to say we were more than angry at this and I personally voiced my opinion during this meeting and also to Dawe during a private conversation. His excuse was that he must’ve “misunderstood” our intentions. We are beyond frustrated, not only with our situation, but with the blatant overspending by council, redirecting levies, water metering, etc.

To date, not one town councillor has offered to meet with us to discuss our circumstances.

Unfortunately, my husband and I live in St. John’s and cannot vote, but I am doing everything I possibly can to encourage every resident and Portugal Cove-st. Phillip’s taxpayer to educate themselves on what little this current council has done for residents and to make their votes count in September.

Rhonda Neary St. John’s

To date, not one town councillor has offered to meet with us to discuss our circumstances.