It’s time to reconsider Blair warehouse

Who’s misinforming who? In response to an article about the Blair MZO (minister’s zoning order) one only needs to look to the motive for asking the provincial government to override previous planning directives at the municipal level.

What was the rush? Clearly the massive warehouse and parking lot proposed by Broccolini did not satisfy the official City of Cambridge Blair Heritage District Plan of 2015. Fundamentally different in concept and scope, the development will have a much greater environmental, traffic and cultural impact than was ever envisioned. Also, the proposal requested a zoning change in agricultural and residential properties without going through any public consultation process. But most outrageous was the plan included land owned by someone else. It can’t be legal to seek approval for construction on and a zoning change for property one does not own. Yet Cambridge council sent in the MZO request.

I believe much slipped by Cambridge staff and council, hidden in the hastened presentation of this proposal. Members of the public are demanding the sober second thought which would have picked up the errors, allowed for proper public collaboration and respected prior land use planning.

Time now to correct this miscarriage and call back this MZO. Contrary to the information coming from Mayor Kathryn McGarry, every municipality does have the right to call back their support of their MZO at any time. That fact comes directly from Municipal Affairs Minister Steve Clark’s office.