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Company denies it intends to create a ‘slum’ Continued from front
Boyce Partridge of Maple Drive found his comment – “It’s not my vision of Arnprior� – was echoed by other speakers who followed. Many worry the density is too high, that traffic will grow to dangerous levels and that it will create a ghetto of transient renters who commit crimes. “If you people go ahead and bless it, I’ll lose a lot of respect for you,� Partridge said. “You would be very distressed if this was built in your backyard.� Dave Sherk took issue with the linked duplex units, called terraces or stacked townhomes, that could stretch as high as 2.5 storeys. “That’s getting overboard,� he said. Sherk and others said they understand that intensification saves the town on infrastructure costs while boosting tax revenue, but he predicts the de-valuation of his home will offset some of the gains. “My house value would plummet quite a bit,� Sherk said. John Tripp predicted beer bottles strewn across his lawn. Cathy Turner from Smolkin Street complained about fencing and the number of cars that would pass by her bedroom window from Baskin Drive. She noted that spring water drainage is already a problem at her home. Smith explained that engineers would correct any drainage problems on the site, which may affect Turner’s in a positive way. She also
talked about fencing types. When Smith admitted that the resident is right in expecting more traffic, Turner exclaimed: “That’s ludicrous,� in reiterating her concern. Mayor David Reid, not impressed by Turner’s raised voice or the encouragement she was receiving from others, jumped to the town staffer’s defence and reminded everyone that it is not the town’s plan: it is submitted by a developer. “The tone is a little bit not right,� he said. “I don’t blame you for being upset, but not at staff.� After another neighbour said it will “look like a bloody slum in New York,� the mayor admitted that the town’s hands are tied somewhat if the plan meets with the official plan and provincial standards. David Carson said he worked on similar projects for many years as a tradesman, but that this one will quickly turn into a slum. “It’s going to look like hell. It makes me mad,� he said. “I realize you need more taxes, but it’s not necessary. Get a mall in there instead.� DEVELOPER RESPONDS
Shawn Bhatia, the director of land development at Devcore, doesn’t apologize for maximizing efficiency with a condominium block and following government rules to build in-
Discarding of dead geese along roadway upsets residents
frastructure and revenue for public coffers. He said the company has agreed to build a sidewalk and a sound barrier. But he goes much further, saying if he lived on Maple Drive he would appreciate homes blocking the increasing traffic noise from Baskin. “I don’t think I’d be mad,� Bhatia said. “I don’t think I’d mind (living nearby). It’s not a river view or anything, it’s a heavily travelled road.� He rejects the idea the development will become a slum, saying empty nesters from the city are moving to Arnprior. They are downsizing, not wanting to maintain a large yard, but will likely keep their properties clean and crime-free. The properties will be too expensive to serve as rentals, he believes. He cedes that “nothing is written in stone yet� but added that in his opinion it is a proper use of land; and if the only counter argument is that neighbours don’t want a new development near them, that is not good enough. He also admits the company wants to make a profit, but it also wishes to work with others to advance its positive reputation. The company is considering projects in Carleton Place, Carp and others. One compromise it made to “exceed municipal requirements� is to meet the town’s request to reduce the number of units from 44 to 42. “The applicant had requested a reduction in minimum lot area and frontage for semi-de2
Rock for CHEO, Run for Unity,
tached units, which council refused already, so the plan was amended to meet the minimum requirements but causing the number of units to be decreased by two,� Smith said. That plays into a criticism that the process leaves local residents out of decision-making; that a company from another province can get away with doing what it wants. Bhatia said his company has bent to elected officials’ wishes. Also, the town’s official plans are brought about by public consultation, and provincial guidelines are made by democratic parties. So there are many opportunities to affect the process, he said. He is confident the community will be as pleased with this project as folks in Limoges, near Casselman, are with a similar Devcore project. Bhatia doubts property values will go down, maintaining that Devcore projects tend to increase valuations. The Gatineau company will look to hire locally, but Bhatia has found that if there are only one or two options locally the labour costs can run as much as 50 per cent higher. They may be forced to bring in their “east end� team. “We look forward to breaking ground in the fall, and we’ll do our best to handle residents’ concerns,� Bhatia said. Council will make its decisions in the coming weeks. The county will have the final say.
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The bodies of 18 Canada geese lie strewn along Usborne Street in the vicinity of the old Gillies mill.
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No referral necessary News - The callous disposal of 18 shot Canada geese along Usborne Street in McNab-Braeside has upset several local residents. While not illegal, it certainly isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ethical, said Ministry of Natural Resources spokesperson Jolanta Kowalski. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Unfortunately, it gives all waterfowl hunters a bad name,â&#x20AC;? she said. A Braeside resident noticed the geese as she was travelling along the road in the vicinity of the Gillies mill property. Shocked she stopped and counted 18 dead birds (she asked that her name not be used as she called both the OPP and MNR to investigate and is worried about repercussions). She said the discarding of the bodies in the ditch along a road that is a common route for bicycles and walking children is â&#x20AC;&#x153;disgusting.â&#x20AC;? She said the geese had the breasts cut out of them and the rest of carcasses left to rot. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It looks like a slaughter ... it really depressed me,â&#x20AC;? she said. She said the OPP attended, but said there was nothing they could do. Kowalski explained that the MNR investigated, but it would be difficult to lay charges because migrating geese are under federal jurisdiction. While it is legal to shoot geese this month, they shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have been left to rot in a public place, she said.
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Arnprior Chronicle-Guide EMC - Thursday, October 24, 2013 3