Comment on Facebook by a proponent of the Gateway Project:
Richard Hurst: If the condo project get over turned by these 4 clowns you can guarantee that the Speedway project will NOT happen...I know 100% for sure that it is holding on by a shoe string as it is.....my neighbour has almost 100 acres the main piece of property in the speedway project and he said to me that the money has dried up and they are looking for new investors to move forward.....after this what is the chance that they will find new investors....CAN YOU SAY ZERO!!!!
Richard Hurst just verified what many are saying: the speedway is dead. Except that he's trying to make a case that it is because of the repeal of the zoning by-law amendment.
The people who are waiting for money from the investors have a right to sue the speedway developers. And the town for giving them the go-ahead without proof of financial guarantees. If the speedway is so viable, why are they having trouble getting backers? Just how much money has the town spent on the speedway project so far? Council should be asking that question as well.
And while we're at it, what about all the money poured into the horse racetrack? That enterprise is bleeding red ink and draining the town's
resources. It was just announced that the casinos in Niagara Falls are buying out over 80 employees with others being downgraded to part time.
What does that say about the future of gambling in Fort Erie?
February 26, 2011 - Crystal Beach Strand
I am sending my thoughts about the February 22 council meeting in Fort Erie to the Strand because I know that it is monitored by the town
and I want them to know my thoughts on how the evening went.
Since this Crystal Beach Gateway project first came to light I have been very careful about what I say and to whom about the project, because I know that there is always a price to pay when you don't agree with the powers to be. I have always had concerns about the project. The first time I talked about my misgivings about the project at a meeting for a volunteer group I belonged to, a town of Fort Erie Staff member and another volunteer went up one side of me and down the other about how I didn't know what I was talking about. I no longer volunteer for this group, and that is hard for me, as I really believed in what they were doing. I just don't need the grief from others because I don't agree with them.
I know we need development in Crystal Beach, but this project is not going to rejuvenate the area like the town says. Many of the presenters said that "it would be like Burlington, look what the Molinaros did for that area". If I wanted to live in Burlington among high rises, I would move there. Myself and others in this area don't look at this as an improvement, but rather a blight. Having high rise buildings from Bay Beach to Point Abino is something that makes me shudder. What a waste of a beautiful lakefront.
Now back to the meeting. Of course everyone knows that the presenters for the development, other developers etc. were brought in by the town. Their job was to frighten opposers of the project into thinking that stopping this development would be the end of the town as a whole. That all developers would run for the hills and all progress here would come to a halt. The presenter from the Canadian Motor Speedway, as much as said that if the Crystal Beach development was stopped they would rethink their investment in the town. Could it be that they are already getting cold feet for other reasons, and this will be their way out? This was an out and out threat.
Mr. Keenan a lawyer representing the Fort Erie Waterfront Preservation Association gave his input on what the town describes as an impending lawsuit by the Molinaro group if the project is stopped. In his opinion there would not be a lawsuit. Are the towns figures on what it will cost the taxpayer nothing more than fear mongering?
Mr. Shular you were out of line when you came down on Mr. Lubberts about his "scripted questions" to Mr. Keenan. Were his questions any more scripted than any questions asked by Mr. Passero to the presenters that upheld his opinion? Of course you are going to ask the questions that help to state your case, yet you did not interject an opinion on the same behaviour by Mr. Passero.
Mr. Karim Larbi is in favour of the development because his family owns commercial property nearby and they feel this would be good for them, they are anxious to set up new businesses on these properties. This is great, new business is always a good thing. But in his next breath, he said that Beach goers don't want to walk across the road, to support local business. With the Crystal Beach project there won't be a reason for anyone to support existing local business, because the development will provide whatever is needed on site, in their commercial area. How will that benefit Mr. Larbi?
Mr. Dave Shaw referred to Crystal Beach as a "gutter community". That will surely win him friends and supporters of his business by Crystal Beach residents.. I have lived in greater Fort Erie for 39 years, 22 of those years in Crystal Beach. I don't consider my community a "gutter community". I was very offended by his remarks, these kind of statements are what have hurt our area over the years. It is true that there are areas that need a lot of improvement, but there are also areas in other parts of Fort Erie that could use some help, does he also refer to them as "gutter communities"? In the 22 years I have lived here I have seen great improvements in Crystal Beach. Improvements that were accomplished by local hard working volunteers. I am sure that these volunteers, some of whom are also in favour of the development, would or should be crushed by a statement that calls their community a "gutter community".
Before the presentations began, Mr. Shular who was chairing this part of the meeting, warned the people in the audience about outbursts and bad behaviour. During the evening most in attendance behaved them selves. That was until the presentors in favour of the current council decision came up to the podium. I was sitting outside council chambers very near the front. Once the presentors in favour of council's decision started to speak there were a couple of "gentlemen" at the back that continually jeered these presentors. One life long resident of Crystal Beach was saying how she owned two properties, one that was her main residence and one at the Ashwood entrance that she and her family frequented in the summer months. During her entire presentation all you could here from the back was "it's a dump". I am very familiar with both properties, and neither fit that description. This kind of talk continued through all of the presenters in favour of Council's decision. Sometimes it was just the words "it is a dump", for the most part all you could hear was "Crystal Beach is a dump".
At the end of the presentations as I was leaving, I stopped to talk to Mr. Peter Koutroulakis, he was the one saying that Crystal Beach was a dump. I told him that I didn't appreciate his remarks, as I am a resident of Crystal Beach. He looked at me with the meanest face I have ever seen, leaned forward and said "Crystal Beach is a dump!" Mr. Koutroulakis' remarks were always loud enough for everyone to hear, why was he not asked to refrain? There was a town employee right at the chamber's door, he heard him clearly, why did he not stop him? Of course this was the same town employee that was gesturing and laughing at a remark that Mr. Lubberts had made, I found this town employee's behaviour disgusting. I really cannot understand why Mr. Koutroulakis has such a hatred on for Crystal Beach, he operated a very successful business here for many years. During the break I overheard him say that he did not want or need any of business from the Americans. I guess he feels the same way as some of council, that the American's are not important to our area. If I was an American citizen that owned property here or was even visiting I would be so offended by the remarks of Mr. Koutroulkas made, I would never eat in his restaurant. As a matter of fact The Bistro was on my list of places to go and eat, I would ever set foot in that establishment because of his unwarranted and crass behaviour. As a director of the Bridgeburg BIA, his behaviour was unbecoming. I know that Mr. Koutroulkas is a great supporter and friend to members of council that are in support of the Molinaro development. These council members really should be careful of the company they keep, you are judged by your friends and their behaviour.
My final remark about the meeting are statements made by council members and presenters that gave the impression that if council proceeds with getting an outside legal opinion, they will be preventing the new fire hall from being built, because the money needed for the outside legal opinion would be take from slot revenues earmarked for the fire hall. There were a lot of fire department personal at the meeting and I am sure that they have been convinced that this is true. I believe that it is again fear mongering on the part of certain councillors and town staff.
This whole Molinaro project has divided our community like nothing else in the History of Fort Erie. Those of us who are opposed to this particular development the way it stands, are told that we don't know what we are talking about, that we are anti-development, and that we are trying to stop growth in Fort Erie. Nothing is further from the truth. If the previous council had listened to the people that put them in their elected positions, instead of going full force into what a lot of us consider a bad deal, we wouldn't be talking about outside legal opinions. We would be working towards responsible development in Crystal Beach, development that could really rejuvinate it, instead of a twelve storey monster overlooking our lakefront. What is wrong with development in Crystal Beach cashing in on the daytrippers that come to our beach. A beach that could be beautiful if it wasn't left in such a sad state. It has suffered orchestrated blight by the town of Fort Erie for years. Why is the town not investigating other avenues? Instead of discouraging the "day trippers" to the beach, which this Molinaro development will do, why don't we look at giving them a place to stay. That is still development, but positive development. Encouraging weekend visits would really rejuvinate the business area. Other beach areas make their entire year's income off of the summer months. Why can't we? Building high rises for summer residents, does not fuel the Crystal Beach economy, if it did the gated community would have already made some improvements to their bottom line.
Let's improve on what we already have, a beach that could be the envy of every other lakefront community, let's capitalize on our beach
goers, instead of shooing them away like they are some sort of blight.
In my humble opinion this development is one step in Fort Erie's direction of selling its soul to the devil. In this case the face of the devil will be high rises all along our lakefront, these high rises won't help with giving us a better place to live, but instead a place where we can't afford to live. One presenter, a builder who already has investments in Crystal Beach, stated that this development could make Crystal Beach a very expensive place to live and that properties would be worth a fortune like they are in Port Dalhousie, in his opinion that would be a good outcome. You should know it is not on my bucket list to live in an area where I can't afford to live, high property values make high taxes, what a future to look forward to!
I applaud the recent decision by council. Don Lubberts, Bob Steckley, John Hill and Paul Collard, you have listened to the people and are trying to act on their behalf. I wish you every success in this direction you have taken, I know we can make great improvements in Crystal Beach with responsible development. The positive future for Crystal Beach is in your capable hands.
Dena Sahs
Criticism Erupts Against Fort Erie Motorway Across Province
There have been many letters of protest made to the Provincial government for the proposed 827 acre Fort Erie motorway from across Ontario.
Here are 2 samples (excerpted from PALS Fall 2010 newsletter);
It has been brought to my attention that the Ontario government is considering re-designating 827 acres of good quality agricultural lands to site a proposed motorway, aka a NASCAR race track. I wish to express most strongly my opposition to the proposal for several reasons.
- For food security purposes, the Niagara Region must not allow such valuable lands to be used for other than agriculture or left in its natural state for ecological reasons. I believe that such a proposal violates the principles inherent in the Provincial Planning Act or equivalent.
- NASCAR racing is perhaps the worst so-called spectator sport because it inculcates messages that promote car racing thus setting a bad example for street racing in our cities, for wasting fossil fuels, generating air pollutants baneful to health ..and promotes a sedentary life-style.
- It will mean traffic congestion without expenditures being devoted to infrastructure necessary to remediate the road system in and around Fort Erie being affected.
- Aesthetically, it will destroy a countryside atmosphere that is so essential to counter the effects of stress-induced work demands of breadwinners and their families who live in the area. Indeed it is hard to imagine a more preposterous enterprise being proposed for your government’s approval.
Sincerely,
Robert Korol
Professor Emeritus, Civil Engineering, McMaster University
When Ifirst read of the proposal to re-designate 827 acres of Good General Agricultural Land in Niagara to turn it into the Canadian Motor Speedway, I thought it was a joke. Surely with Peak Oil looming concern about the loss of agricultural land growing, plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in place and public perception of the environment as a critical issue at an all-time high, it’s not possible that this proposal could go ahead. But apparently, I was wrong.
To approve this speedway would destroy some of the best preserved Carolinian habitat in the province, damage a Provincially Significant Class One Fish Habitat that harbours endangered Grass Pickerel, Wood Turtle and Muskie, cause the biggest loss of farmland in Niagara since the introduction of Regional Planning is a folly. The plan makes a mockery of Ontario’s Growth Management Plan allowing for an urban boundary expansion that would set a precedent that would have devastating consequences.
Please say no to this project.
Liz Benneian
President - Oakvillegreen Conservation Association
Re: Be Patient and watch Little Fort Erie Grow
Editor’s Notebook, The Times, Oct.9, 2010
Dear Editor:
Once again, I find myself at odds with comments in your latest Editor’s Notebook column, in regard to the proposed motor speedway project.
First, you continue to try to minimize the opposition to this project when you state ‘although contested by a group of residents’. When both the CARS (Citizens Against the Racing Speedway) and CCGFE (Citizens Coalition of Greater Fort Erie) organizations collaborated on a grassroots petition and letter campaign several months ago; over 600 households registered their objection. Many more have since contacted both groups through their websites (www.forteriecars.org and www.ccgfe.org, respectively); voicing their concern, donating their time and money to the OMB appeal and praising the vigilant efforts of these groups on their behalf.
Secondly, I sincerely wish you would do what I have done and check the employment statistics for major NASCAR tracks throughout North America; all of which is readily available on line. Perhaps then you would refrain from making statements such as ‘a lot of jobs will result’ and ‘there will be a large amount of people directly employed through the speedway’. For your information, the average number of full time employees for even the big, high profile tracks such as Daytona and Indianapolis, ranges from 40 to 75 people; and based on their introductions at several Council meetings, I believe the speedway proponents have already hired their full time staffers; none of which are from Fort Erie. That leaves seasonal, minimum wage, part time employment; or like many of the big tracks, the CMS group may choose to operate parking lots and concession stands using volunteer not-for-profit groups and thereby avoid employment taxes and the payment of benefits.
Finally, like you, I have lived here my whole life. I attended FESS, Brock University, worked at Horton Steel Works/Horton CBI (at one time a thriving company that existed long before your time), PBB Group (formerly known as Peace Bridge Brokerage Limited, again long before your time), etc. In fact, I have lived at my current address; a rural property not far from the proposed speedway site, probably longer than you have been on the planet. So, when in your naivety you imply experience and wisdom in stating ‘I…have seen all the ups and downs the residents of Fort Erie have experienced’ it is merely laughable to those of us who actually do have a long standing commitment to this town and an insightful and informed position on this issue.
If we let this environmental monster take over our community and ruin our quality of life, I have no doubt you will gain a major advertising account (note your plea for same in the last two paragraphs of your column). Meanwhile, the rest of us will watch as Fort Dreary becomes Abort Erie, when in spite of a resulting drop in property values, hundreds of area residents try to sell their homes and move anyway in order to escape the chaos and pollution.
D. G., Fort Erie
Re: Be Patient and watch Little Fort Erie Grow
Editor’s Notebook, The Times, Oct.9, 2010
Once again, I am impelled to respond to your musings, “Be Patient and Watch Fort Erie Grow”.
Tsk! Tsk! Mr. Editor, you have STILL failed to do your homework and continue to give us ‘your opinion’, but an opinion is totally irrelevant unless based in FACT. Again, you have parroted the local politicians and the speedway proponent instead of doing your research and offering your readers an informed opinion.
How sad that some residents complain of nothing to do in Fort Erie. What a lack of imagination!
Certainly, jobs are desperately needed here and these have been promised by the CMS people and our local politicians, but what kinds of jobs and how many? The number given by CMS has changed so many times, it has become a joke. The real (read career-building) jobs will no doubt be filled by non-residents. Has anyone even seen a business plan yet?
My out-of-town friends wonder how any town could even consider such insanity as a speedway. The negative impacts…pollution, noise, crime, decreased property values and tax base, etc. etc. are so enormous and far outweigh any possible benefits, if this plan goes through. Fort Erie has an excellent chance of becoming known as Fort Stupid.
Today is a beautiful day in Fort Erie, but I fear days like this will be numbered if the proposed speedway horror becomes a reality.
So as usual, your extreme bias is evident and is becoming OLD, Mr. Editor, and you have once again done this town a great disservice.
K.W., Fort Erie
Re: Auto racetrack a win-win situation, Biagara Falls Review,
September 29, 2010
Letter writer Gary Spear of Fort Erie just doesn't get the reasons for residents to be concerned about a speedway in our backyard.
Besides the pollutants that already are in our air and water from emissions from trucks and cars, the speedway will increase it manyfold.
We are already a destination with one of the most beautiful and natural towns in the region.
As to increasing the tax structure, the proponent has yet to put out a sound business plan.
The attendance at racetracks has really decreased in the last two years, so the car racing business is in trouble financially and fans are bored with the same old round and round the track. We can do much better -- maybe having the Canadian cycling games or marathons that would bring thousands of people to our beautiful town.
Now that would be a win-win situation.
R.S., Fort Erie
September 7, 2010
Dear Editor:
(In response to the ‘Editor’s Notebook’ column in the September 4th issue, page 6; entitled “There’s nothing wrong with getting excited about speedway project”.)
I was quite taken aback by your article by which you basically say it's okay to oppose the speed way but if you do, get out of town.
This proposed speedway is a bigger deal then the condo in Crystal Beach, public beaches or the street finishes in Ridgeway. It could have as much of an impact on the community as the ER issues at Douglas Memorial and, dare I say it, maybe more. (Hint to candidates: election issues)
I live in both Toronto and in Fort Erie in a house that has been a part of my family for generations. In Toronto I live on the 18th floor of a 30 storey tower by Maple Leaf Gardens. When the Molson Indy takes over Lakeshore Boulevard the sound the cars make is astounding. I can hear them despite all the buildings between me and the Lakeshore, over the all the traffic, sirens and screaming party goers. I promise you, it’s hardly a “slight humming” as you say in your article. The Molson Indy is an occasional event and this speedway is a permanent venue.
Fort Erie, with all its open and unobstructed space would only allow sound to travel further. It would be hard to appreciate a re-enactment at the Fort with the high pitched whining sound of high performance engines in the background not to mention the enjoyment of a simple Saturday in the backyard.
The Speedway development has the capacity in the league of the Rogers Centre. Anyone who’s been to a Jays game knows what traffic is like after the game lets out. Further to that, this development has a foot print that competes with Canada’s Wonderland and anyone who has been there has seen its crowds and the sea of cars in its parking lot.
The thing with the Rogers Centre is that it hooks up to 6 lanes on the Lakeshore and 6 lanes on the Gardiner. That’s 12 lanes of highway to get people in and out and still it is not uncommon to see police officers managing the traffic flow and people’s tempers. Wonderland has its own four lane roadway that dumps people onto the 400 and its 8 lanes of highway in order to keep people out of the neighbourhoods.
The QEW, the Garrison and Dominion Road will be very different places all year round – more traffic all the time. I can assure you that people take the path of least resistance when driving.
Being hoodwinked by the prospect of one solution to great economic fortune made by developers and the politicians they have in their back pockets can be very disappointing. Gains in tax revenue will be eaten up the increase costs in service demands. The revenue will go to companies from places like Niagara Falls, St Catherine’s, Hamilton and yes, Toronto. Slower economic times mean they are hungry to take this business, no problem. Yes, much of that revenue will leave Fort Erie in the paycheques of people who live else where. All the while property taxes – assessed by value – slowly erode. Where is Fort Erie then?
But what equally rings in my ears, so to speak, is paving over sensitive farm land to support an oil-addicted sport with investors that have no connection to our community and whose only interest is their own fortune. Ethical and environment impacts – well that is its own letter.
Kris, perhaps you would prefer to live in Toronto. There’s lots of “slight humming” here as and is, ironically enough, the reason why I spend my free time in Fort Erie.
Sincerely,
S.L.
Fort Erie/Toronto
Letter in Niagara Falls Review
Dear Sir:
As summer turns to fall, our quiet town slumbers on, seemingly unaware of the looming threat to Fort Erie's peace and tranquillity posed by the proposed speedway.
The Town Council plans to pass the necessary rezoning bylaw on September 13th but the more one considers it, the more the decision appears to make no sense. It is said that the speedway will mean jobs, tourism and greater tax revenue for the town. Let's consider these one by one.
There will surely be temporary construction jobs if this monstrosity is built, but it is likely that outside contractors will be employed for this. What about long-term? The promoters have been particularly vague about this, stating at various times that the number of jobs would be 100, or 60, or 50. Has no definite figure been given because there are no definite jobs? The town's website says that the speedway will host 8 major races of three days each per year. Can we assume that a full staff will be needed on only 3x8 = 24 days? Even if locals are employed, any jobs would appear to be part-time at best. Why would our elected representatives not insist on specific details about the promised jobs before committing to a multi-million dollar development? Will there, in fact, be any jobs for locals at all? At least one North American speedway operates using a volunteer staff.
Secondly we are told that tourism will bring spending at hotels and restaurants. But race fans are notorious for camping, cooking and 'partying' on the race site. Attracting tourists to an arts festival or for shopping (as in Niagara-on-the-Lake) would make far more sense. It would also add some much-needed culture to the town rather than debasing it with year-round incessant noise, pollution and traffic chaos (not to mention the destruction of irreplaceable wetlands and green space).
The third reason given for supporting the speedway proposal is tax revenue. And why does council want more tax revenue? No doubt they'll need it to pay for all the new sewers, road improvements, waste removal, police officers and equipment etc. etc. which wouldn't be needed if this whole crazy scheme wasn't getting bulldozed through in the first place.
As if all this wasn't enough the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation's Toronto office agrees that property values within 5 miles of the track will likely fall! That's from the Peace Bridge to Ridgeway to Stevensville to Black Creek! What will a decline in property values do to tax revenue? And are residents really okay with watching their property values collapse? Somehow I doubt it, but at this late date the only possible way this destructive plan can be stopped is at the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB). Concerned citizens should give their full support to the Citizens Coalition of Greater Fort Erie (ccgfe.org) which is appealing Council's actions to the OMB on behalf of all residents who want their lifestyle preserved.
Why does Town Council have so little regard for the opinions of the voters who elected them (and hopefully will not again)? Perhaps they feel their actions will reap them personal glory. I can assure council that if this speedway deal does go through their names will be remembered for a long, long time. But I sincerely doubt that the memories will be fond ones.
W. T., Fort ErieSeptember 6, 2010
Dear Editor:
(In response to the ‘Editor’s Notebook’ column in the September 4th issue, page 6; entitled “There’s nothing wrong with getting excited about speedway project”.)
I see you’ve returned from vacation not only perky and refreshed, Mr. Editor, but with your biased and uninformed opinion about the proposed speedway development completely intact. A case in point would be choosing to tout comments regarding the speedway made by former Fort Erie natives now living in Toronto; experts on the subject, no doubt, who can’t imagine why anyone would object to a speedway “coming to a small town like Fort Erie”. Well perhaps if they actually still LIVED in Fort Erie and faced the threat of the air, water and ground pollution; traffic problems, security issues, and the ear-splitting noise caused by a speedway, they might have a clearer understanding of why “someone would want to deter an industry with a bottomless pit of money attached to it”. And that’s the real issue, isn’t it, Mr. Editor? It’s about the money offshore developers are waving in our face. That’s why our Mayor orchestrated the deal a long time ago; and why regional and municipal councillors have agreed to look the other way as they sacrifice the quality of life of hundreds of area residents, endanger the health of this and future generations, and watch property values in Fort Erie plummet. And we are talking about hundreds of residents; not a select few as you are determined to imply! Hundreds of households in Crescent Park, Ridgeway, Stevensville and Fort Erie will be severely impacted if we allow this disaster in our midst.
Even your Times colleague Councillor Lockwood who, when she and fellow councillors voted last December to override the Town’s Official Plan in favour of allowing this environmental nightmare, commented on how badly she felt for anyone who lived in close proximity to the speedway site. What she and others fail to understand, however, is that close proximity for a project of this magnitude will be anyone living within an 8 kilometer radius. How far from the speedway site do you live, Councillor Lockwood? And I appreciate your compassion as well, Mr. Editor, when you state that those with the audacity to oppose this project should “consider a relocation”; and “if we have to lose a few residents….then so be it”. Let’s just throw them all under the bus, shall we, while area taxpayers pay for massive infrastructure and policy makers pave the way for ‘this bottomless pit’ to ride roughshod over our community.
Referring to speedway noise as ‘a slight humming sound’ might be true for your friends listening from Toronto. However, those of us in Fort Erie will be exposed to excruciating noise pollution at levels of between 80 to 140 decibels (FYI: 140 decibels is equivalent to a jet engine taking off at a distance of 200 feet, but not quite as loud as a sonic boom), for hours and days at a time. Hearing loss begins to occur at 85 decibels by the way; as does increased stress level, hypertension and a debilitating effect on the immune system.
And when you state there will only be “a handful of days a year”, I have to wonder if you have read any of the documents submitted by the speedway proponents where they clearly request ‘a minimum of 150 race days per year’. Have you? And do you understand they intend to race year round; i.e. cars, motorcycles, and even snowmobiles??
How dare you attempt to trivialize the negative impact of this project and dismiss a group of citizens who, unlike you and our town council, are doing the research and asking the right questions in an effort to protect us all.
Finally, I challenge you to print this letter AS WRITTEN, rather than making ‘convenient’ and sometimes grammatically incorrect alterations, as is often the case.
Thank you.
Dianne Giliforte
Fort Erie Resident
September 6, 2010
The comments in the Fort Erie Times, Sept. 4, by the Editor Kris Dube'
suggesting that those who are opposed to the Motorsport Speedway
should relocate (get out of town) are callous and uncaring about the
plight of those who find their quality of life is threatened by the noise, pollution and traffic. As well, the value of their homes could fall. Many of those, who are opposed, have been long-time resident taxpayers who have also volunteered in various capacities in support of the Town of Fort Erie. Is it right that they should now be subjected to the obvious costs and difficulties that are part of such moves? Perhaps Kris Dube' should meet with those who oppose the Speedway, get to know them and listen to their concerns. Surely, as an editor, he should realize there are two sides to be heard.
R.A.
September 6, 2010
Dear Editor:
(In response to the ‘Editor’s Notebook’ column in the September 4th issue, page 6; entitled “There’s nothing wrong with getting excited about speedway project”.)
I can’t believe I am even responding to your latest effort, Mr. Editor. Your speedway coverage is particularly insulting and dismissive of the tax-paying citizens of this area.
You have done your readers a great disservice with your extremely limited, biased and one-sided reporting of this issue. The enormity and impact of this proposed project has not been clearly or adequately described to the citizens of this town.
Had you done your homework, Mr. Editor, you might have learned that the environmental, noise and air pollution, security, quality of life, etc. impact is huge. And for those who do not care about these things, I am sure they will care when they realize that their financial investment in this town (read property values) has been decimated. According to staff at the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation’s Toronto Office, “property values for homes in Fort Erie will probably decrease because of the Canadian Motor Speedway’s effect on the local environment.” And those living within five miles". . . will have their property values decreased by 50 percent or maybe more.” This, according to a realtor with 30+ years experience selling homes around an auto race track.
And don’t tell me the noise will only be a ‘slight humming’. I lived approximately 8 km (5 miles) from the Molson (now Honda) Indy in Toronto and despite the noise being buffered by thousands of trees and high-rises and the usual city noises, I could plainly hear the high-pitched whine of the races. But that was tolerable, because it was for only one weekend a year. This proposed speedway will have 8 major races (each comprising 3 days), and that does not include all the lesser races/activities planned for other days and nights throughout the year. It is anticipated this proposed speedway, according to the noise study dated March 18, 2010 will have 8 races (each comprising up to 3 days), and that does not include all the lesser races/activities planned for other days throughout the year. According to the bylaw draft report CDS-048-10, the major races will be exempt from the 6pm curfew, allowing racing at night. That could equate to 24 nights of racing.
Perhaps you could read an expert’s research for a change and then write a thoughtful editorial. There are many excellent and reliable sources for the information.
K.W., Fort Erie
Letter to Editor, Fort Erie Times, September 5, 2010
To the Editor
I was extremely disappointed to read your Editor's Notebook of September 4th. Your short-sighted echoing of Council's position on the proposed speedway for Fort Erie reflects an ignorance of the facts.
The citizens who oppose the speedway are not opposed to "a project of this caliber (sic)". They would welcome any large, job-creating, environmentally-friendly project in Fort Erie. What they are opposed to is specifically this projected speedway, and the reason is that the whole character of the town will change if this becomes reality.
A speedway in any community creates unique problems. Some of these are noise, environmental degradation, traffic congestion and increased policing requirements. Another is a negative impact on property values. All these will affect the whole town, not just "a small group of people" as you claim.
To refer to the noise of any speedway as "a slight humming sound" is naive at best. The distance sound carries depends on a variety of factors including natural and artificial barriers, wind direction etc. Its full impact will only be known when races begin, but then it will be too late to object, and citizens who moved to Fort Erie for peace and quiet will get a rude awakening.
But you, Mr. Editor, claim to have the solution. You think it's time for those who value the tranquillity of the town to "start considering a relocation". Unfortunately it's a little late for that because the threatened presence of the speedway has already affected property sales in the area. And common sense should tell you that those closest to the site who, in your words are "raising legitimate concerns" are the least likely to be able to sell their properties!
And what is this "plethora of jobs" you refer to? There will be short-term construction jobs (probably done by outside contractors) but we have yet to hear any details of permanent jobs at the speedway. If you have details of specific full-time jobs that the speedway will provide please share them with your readers, bearing in mind that there will only be eight "major" three-day events in a year.
It behoves your paper to give a more balanced view of things that affect the community. But, as you say, "why would someone want to deter an industry with a bottomless pit of money attached to it...?" Logic often goes out the window when a bag of money is dangled before the eyes. That appears to be what has happened in this case. The town has been blinded by vaporous promises, and has ignored the debit side of the ledger. If this project goes through I predict that the town will live to regret it.
B.T., Fort Erie
Sent: Sunday, August 1, 2010 1:36 PM
Dear friends of Bay Beach,
Good news! The OMB pre-hearing went very well. Thanks to all of you who attended, the room was packed! The large turnout (which was very unusual for a preliminary hearing of this type) will definitely help our case. It was decided that our OMB hearing will be held during the first 3 weeks in November at Town Hall. Here's an article summarizing what happened:
http://www.niagarathisweek.com/news/article/854397--date-set-for-bay-beach-omb-hearings
We really need your help right now. We're at a point in time where one of two things will happen in the near future -- our wonderful waterfront communities will be preserved OR they will be taken over by developers. I know you share my concern. Here are some things you may not know ... please forward this information to your family and neighbours.
The Molinaro project is just the beginning ... The mayor and a majority of councillors want to see high-rises all along the Lake Erie shoreline. If Molinaro's 12-storey condo tower is approved by the Ontario Municipal Board at the upcoming OMB hearing, the precedent will have been set and it will be nearly impossible to stop the process.
How will this affect YOU?
- Our beautiful shoreline will be taken over by developers.
- Your property value may go down as these high-rises proliferate.
- Your taxes will definitely go up because of the costly "deal" the Council made with the Molinaro Group.
We need to stop it NOW or we will have to live with the consequences forever ... I am not kidding! The way to stop the Molinaro tower from being built on public lands at Bay Beach is for us to win our case at the OMB hearing. The OMB has the power to reverse the Council's decision regarding Bay Beach. The Fort Erie Waterfront Preservation Association (a coalition of local organizations, businesses and individuals) is coordinating the fundraising needed to support a legal team to represent us during the OMB appeal process. FEWPA, a registered non-profit corporation, has retained an excellent lawyer (Eric Gillespie) and $30,000 has been raised so far to support our appeal. However, we need $70,000 more to hire expert witnesses (including a top-notch planner). The Town Council has already set aside $100,000 to defend their Bay Beach decision and Molinaro is expected to contribute additional funds.
With your help, we stand an excellent chance of winning our OMB appeal. If you care about preserving the wonderful tradition and village character of Crystal Beach and protecting the rest of our waterfront, please make a generous donation today. There are 2 ways you can contribute ...
- Go to the secure website www.fewpa.org <http://www.fewpa.org/> and click on the DONATE button on the right side.
- Make a donation payable to FEWPA and mail it to one of these addresses:
FEWPA, PO Box 1231, Crystal Beach, Ontario L0S 1B0
FEWPA, PO Box 1115, Buffalo, NY 14201-1115
Another way to help -- You could host a get-together for your friends and neighbours and have someone from FEWPA answer questions about the situation we're facing. For more information, contact Garett Reid (garett_reid@yahoo.com) or Joe Bieron (bieron@canisius.edu). We truly appreciate your support!
Marcia
Marcia Carlyn
Crystal Beach resident
Sent: Monday, July 26, 2010 8:41 PM
Subject: Our Bay Beach OMB Pre-Hearing is Thursday - You're Invited!
Dear friends of Bay Beach,
Upset about the Bay Beach situation? This is not a "done deal". We can STOP Molinaro's 12-storey condo tower from being built by winning our case at the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) hearing. The OMB has the power to reverse the Town Council's decision to rezone Bay Beach and privatize our parkland.
The OMB is holding a pre-hearing on Thursday (July 29) at 11:00 am at Town Hall to discuss our case. The pre-hearing is open to the public. Come join us and show your support. Town Hall is located at 1 Municipal Centre Drive (near Leisureplex). This preliminary meeting is designed to make the OMB hearing more efficient by identifying the parties and participants, determining the issues to be discussed, and deciding on the procedures to be followed for the full OMB hearing (which is scheduled for the first two weeks in November). We expect the pre-hearing will be relatively short but it is sure to be interesting!
13 appeals have been filed opposing the Council's decision to rezone Bay Beach and transfer a large portion of our public parkland to a private developer (13 OMB appeals is an extraordinarily high number ... probably a record for the Town of Fort Erie). One of the appellants is the Fort Erie Waterfront Preservation Association (a coalition of local organizations, businesses and individuals). FEWPA has retained an excellent lawyer, Eric Gillespie, who will be at the pre-hearing along with the other 12 appellants. The lawyers for the Town and the Molinaro Group will also be present.
In my next email, I'll fill you in on what the mayor and a majority of councillors envision for the Lake Erie shoreline if they win at the OMB ... and I'll let you know how you can contribute to our legal team to help ensure our success. We need your help!
See you on Thursday,
Marcia
Marcia Carlyn, Crystal Beach resident
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Subject: Bay Beach Condo Deal - WHOSE SIDE IS COUNCIL ON?
Dear friends of Bay Beach ...
Now that the agreements between the Town and the Molinaro Group have finally been released to the public,** we know more about what the mayor and councillors decided behind closed doors. At a minimum, we're looking at a loss of $2.7 million in land value + nearly a million dollars in up-front costs + annual costs that will very likely exceed the tax revenue the Town hopes to receive from the condo units. And this doesn't include the hidden costs we don't know about!
Here's the deal the Town Council made with the Molinaro Group:
1. Molinaro will get $2.7 million worth of prime beachfront property currently owned by the public + permission to build a 12-storey condo tower overlooking our beautiful Bay Beach.
2. Instead of actually paying the Town for the property, the Molinaro Group worked out a barter deal to provide the following "amenities" (things we don't want or need):
- Molinaro pays 1/3 the cost of a new storm water system to accommodate the runoff caused by the large condo building. Taxpayers will pay the remaining $400,000.
- Molinaro pays half the cost of a new seawall that must be built to keep the condo's underground parking garage from flooding. Taxpayers will pay the remaining $280,000.
- Molinaro builds a new washroom/changeroom facility close to the water in a flood hazard zone. Taxpayers will pay all future repair/replacement costs ... likely to be huge.
- Molinaro pays for a 2,200 sq ft meeting room for the Town at the back of the condo building. Taxpayers will pay $45,000/year operating costs + repair/replacement costs for this high-end facility.
- Molinaro installs patterned paving stone around the condo tower (on the roof of the underground parking garage). Taxpayers will pay repair/replacement costs for this 30,000 sq ft outdoor plaza.
- Molinaro paves and installs sidewalks and curbs on 4 roads near the condo tower, upgrades the 2 public parking lots across the street, and adds landscaping and benches on the east side (all of which will help in selling condo units).
You be the judge ... is this a fair trade? $2.7 million is a lot of money! Will the public be getting things worth at least that much? Could this be a case of bonusing? And there's more ... Taxpayers have already paid over $80,000 in planning costs and set aside $100,000 for legal fees to defend the Council's decision at the upcoming OMB hearing (Molinaro may not be paying a cent). This sure seems like a "conflict of interest" ... the Town is using taxpayers' money to fund a legal team that is opposing the people! The Council can't serve two masters. Whose side are they on -- the developer's side or the people's side? We've already paid way too much for this financially risky project and the future costs to the taxpayer will be huge!
In addition to losing this beautiful waterfront parkland, we’ll be LOSING other important things that the public values:
- At least 115 parking spaces will be eliminated … nearly half the public parking.
- The refreshment stand on the beach will be demolished and not replaced.
- The Lobster House (a historic building that overlooks the lake) will be demolished.
- The Fowler's Toad and other species at risk residing on the Bay Beach lands are likely to be imperiled.
- Bay Beach may very well be closed to the public for 1 or 2 years during condo construction and there is no guarantee of future public access to the beach!
This is NOT a "done deal" ... 13 appeals were filed with the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) opposing the Council's decision regarding Bay Beach. A pre-hearing is scheduled for July 29 at 11:00 am and the OMB hearing is scheduled to begin on November 1 (both hearings will be held at Town Hall and are open to the public). Please share this information with friends and neighbours ... and forward this email to everyone on your email list.
We truly appreciate your support!
Marcia Carlyn
Crystal Beach resident
** The two contracts between the Town and the Molinaro Group (Agreement of Purchase and Sale + Community Benefits Agreement) are now available on the Town's website:
http://www.town.forterie.ca/WebSite/tofeweb.nsf/0/
E70C3CAB0109BA26852575B4006EB4FC?OpenDocument
Letter posted in Niagara Falls Review, May 7, 2010.
Subject: Fact Finding Too Late
Reflecting on the trip that Mayor Martin and his entourage have just completed to the Richmond International Raceway, I find it fascinating that:
- AFTER his extensive negotiations with the ownership group behind the proposed speedway project for Fort Erie (dating back to early 2007) and,
- AFTER a charade of inviting community dialogue on the project, which was permitted on just two stilted and time restricted occasions in September and December of 2009, and
- AFTER he pressed and received a vote from both Municipal and Regional Councils to amend their respective Official Plans in order to allow an urban expansion over agricultural land and a Provincial Significant Wetland,
he now feels called upon to ‘mitigate resident concerns about noise, pollution and traffic congestion’ (Niagara Falls Review, April 23, 2010) by visiting the Richmond track during a NASCAR event there last weekend. To some, it might appear that Mayor Martin and the Town and Regional staff accompanying him on the jaunt to Richmond, were practicing due diligence on behalf of area citizenry; except it is more accurately a case of locking the barn door after the horse has escaped. But for the diligent efforts of opposing resident and environmental concerns, the speedway would be a ‘done deal’ if left solely to our elected officials. Thankfully, the opposition is taking the matter to the Ontario Municipal Board Appeals Court, although it is shameful that this type of irresponsible development is allowed to proceed to that level.
In regard to the hasty trip to Virginia, what a challenge it must have been to cram all we need to know into a single weekend experience. No wonder Martin & Co. expected they would ‘see very little of the race’ (Fort Erie Times, April 24, 2010). As Mayor Martin announced prior to the trip, they “wanted to see everything.....the impact on water and sewer, the environmental impact, the economic impact, you name it.” (Niagara Falls Review, April 23, 2010). An ambitious undertaking indeed, gleaning and observing all of that and hopefully, public health issues and safety risks while they were at it, at a facility that has been in operation since 1946; decades before we became environmentally conscious and our esteemed politicians touted green policies and eco-friendly, sustainable development. Instead, why even consider the presence of an environmental blight that will negatively impact our area for generations? Rather than struggle to mitigate or mask the problems wrought by the racing industry – just don’t make the mistake of building another speedway!
Sadly, Mr, Mayor, your ‘fact-finding mission’ to ‘see what we have to do’ (Niagara This Week, April 29, 2010) smacks of “too little - too late” to many of your constituents.
Dianne Giliforte, Fort Erie
Saturday, April 24, 2019
Subject: Proposed auto Speedways in Niagara Region
Dear Mr. Jim Bradley, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and
Mr. Brad Duguid, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure,
I am writing to you today to plead with you to vote against the proposed motor speedway in Fort Erie.
In this day and age with the ever looming threat of global climate change, the last thing we need to support is recreational motor use in mass quantites and the destruction of already fragile eco-systems. The Niagara Peninsula has been ravaged by the devastation of industrial polluntion for generations, and has seen little
compensation for the natural damage caused here. Business moves in, takes the resources available, dumps its pollution and leaves us, the citizens, with the mess... and no jobs. I don't think I need to educate you on this situation.
The proposed motor speedway will not be a solution to our current economic downturn, as the jobs will be part-time, low-earning positions, most likely without benefits, vacations or any other perks that few of us are fortunate enough to enjoy these days. This is not the type of employment we are willing to accept here in Niagara. Furthermore, the citizens of Niagara are definitely not going to accept these jobs if it is going to cause further destruction, pollution, damage and loss of quality of nature.
Mr. Bradley and Mr. Duguid, I am urging you to make the right decision for the long term good and well-being of the citizens of Niagara and the natural habitats that we imminently must protect. Please vote against the motor speedway.
With thanks,
V. S., Port Colborne resident
Re: Second raceway proposed
The citizens of Niagara Falls voiced their opinions and were heard! Niagara Region held a public meeting on March 24th at Niagara Falls City Hall regarding a second proposal to build a motor track complex in Niagara on land bounded by Bossert Road, Sodom Road and the QEW in Niagara Falls. Lack of attendance by local politicians at this meeting may be an indication of the lack of support for this proposal. Only two Regional Councilors heard opinions from both sides while Niagara Falls Council was not in attendance. Date:
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Subject: Proposed auto Speedways in Niagara Region
To: jbradley.mpp@liberal.ola.org, bduguid.mpp@liberal.ola.org
Thank you for taking the time to read this e-mail. As a resident of Niagara (who is not directly impacted by the proposed speedways), I would like to share my views regarding the use of lands for the purpose of auto racing. As you know, we are not talking about an annual event such as the Monte Carlo Rally or the Molson/Honda Indie, we are talking about drag racing; and street vehicles that have been extraordinarily modified for the sole purpose of creating noise and pollution. There are numerous horse farms, stables and other properties in the vicinity that keep a wide range of livestock. Only last year, the OMB went against a Fort Erie Town Council approved proposal for a golf course. The owner of the golf course land, made every effort to ensure that animals and wetlands were not adversely impacted and yet, a year later, serious consideration is being given to the creation of two motor speedways just a short distance from the where the golf course was supposed to be. If a golf course is inconsistent with the vision for this area and would adversely impact the environment, why would a motor raceway be consistent with what is envisioned for this part of Niagara Region. It is not always about economic impact. Who wants a career working at a speedway. Let's be more ambitious and creative in the kinds of jobs we create and the kind of people we want to attract to the area. Packed camp grounds, garbage, waste that ends up in the creeks and roads are inevitable residual factors. I would seriously like to see anything like this being proposed for Niagara on the Lake, St. David's or Virgil. Please help us to ensure that this area is not treated any differently than any other part of Niagara Region. It would be a sad thing if the young people in this region had only slots and speedways as their main venues for things to do and all of the underground and criminal activities that will inevitably occur. It also sends out all the wrong messages about this area and what it strives for. It is a beautiful and rural environment and just because there is land available doesn't mean that the only thing it is good for is a speedway. I would be immensely disappointed if these proposals (the one for a speedway in Fort Erie and another proposal for a speedway at Sodom Road/QEW) were supported by a local MPP. Just imagine your children, nieces or nephews hanging out at a speedway because it's there and it's close by. Please give these proposals serious consideration - it is not all about money, it's about culture, its about the environment, its about ensuring that Fort Erie and Niagara Falls are presented in a way that is not derogatory or negative. This is a beautiful part of Ontario...let's not throw in the towel and approve projects that will turn it into a typical border town. I am confident that speedway racing will have a lasting negative impact on this part of Niagara Region. I have never seen a film or television show that portrayed these types of racing activities in a positive light - have you? Please think of the seniors and the children that live in this area and also, think of the animals, the birds, frogs, turtles, ponies, horses and, all the wildlife that make this area their home.
I look forward to hearing your views regarding these proposals.
C.K.
Response to article in Fort Erie Shopping Times and Niagara News - Thorold Edition, Feb 19, 2010
March 16, 2010
Dear Mr. Wilkinson:
I am remiss in not getting this out to you sooner, as I have been intending to thank you for your February 24th column (Fort Erie Shopping Times) entitled "Politicians Need to Fight for Niagara".
Although you do not identify the 'development issue' that prompted your piece, your observations perfectly describe the frustrations that the Citizens Coalition of Greater Fort Erie and CARS (Citizens Against the Racing Speedway) groups have experienced with area politicians and the 'process' with regard to the motor speedway proposal in Fort Erie.
Hundreds of local residents and many organizations are opposed to this project, yet this fact is bearly acknowledged or given any weight by our local representatives. Meanwhile, we have watched while every courtesy has been extended to the proponent, including allowing THEM to dictate a deadline to both our Municipal and Regional Councils when they insisted on a vote by year's end on whether to amend the Official Plans and allow this urban expansion over prime agricultural land and 'protected' Provincial Significant Wetlands. Adding insult to injury, our representatives dutifully towed the line and snapped out a vote in favour of the amendments within the timeline assigned by the proponents - and were 'miraculously' able to do this without the benefit of completed noise and traffic studies, or the proponent's adherence to stipulations set out by the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority and the Ministry of the Environment.
Rather than fighting to uphold the by-laws that were put in place to protect local residents and enhance our quality of life, our elected representatives seem to have adopted the attitude of 'development at all costs'. In the instance of the racing speedway project, the costs will be crippling to all of us in the Niagara Region and I fear for this beautiful area and the legacy we are leaving behind for future generations!
Dianne Giliforte
To: Mr. Jim Bradley, Minister of Municipal Affairs, and Mr. Brad Duguid, Minister of Energy, Public Infrastructure Renewal
Re: Request for Provincial Intervention to Stop a Proposal by the Canadian Motor Speedway Consortium to Build a NASCAR Type Track on Rural Lands in Greater Fort Erie
March 14, 2010
The Canadian Motor Speedway consortium has submitted a proposal to build a NASCAR type track on rural lands in Greater Fort Erie. It is their intention to build two different style tracks, grandstands for tens of
thousands, parking and such ancillary services as retail space and campgrounds.
The consortium has already approached the Town of Fort Erie and The Regional Municipality of Niagara for approval of the re-designation of 821 acres of land in the Fort Erie which comprises lands currently
designated Prime agricultural land and a large section of intact Carolinian forest.
I find it difficult to believe that this proposal is being seriously considered given that it is wrong on so many levels. Reasons for opposition include the assault on the environment, destruction of valuable farmland (undermining national food security), the threat to health it poses for those residing in Fort Erie and the Niagara Peninsula, and the 'junk' economics used to justify it. It is an obvious attempt to circumvent the Niagara Region's official plans with what is an expansion of Fort Erie's urban boundaries. This expansion is
incompatible with the principles of the Provincial Planning Act/Provincial Growth Plan.
Environment
The speedway proposal would destroy Provincially Significant wetlands, Carolinian woodlands, and pristine creeks -- including the headwaters of Miller Creek -- the habitat of rare and endangered species. Wetlands
provide free environmental services filtering/cleaning water. Their degradation would lead to water pollution and loss of biodiversity. As I understand it, this contravenes the revised 2007 Provincial Endangered
Species Act.
The proposed development would devastate existing farmlands. The Regional Municipality of Niagara's decision to support the speedway is in direct contravention of its own Securing a Legacy for Niagara's
Agricultural Land: A Vision from One Voice 2004 Report which identified the priority "protection of the land base"; with the stated goal to support agriculture. Lands designated as Prime (see Figure 1) - which include Class 1, 2 and 3 - "must be subject to the most rigorous of protection policies designed to protect the land while leaving the flexibility for agriculture to prosper." The implementation principles begin with "A growth management strategy that sets firm urban boundaries and directs growth away from Unique and Prime agricultural areas." The report states that "Future decisions by the Region will be made in compliance with this strategy."
Health
Of the many threats to health that the speedway will cause one of the most prominent can be attributed to air pollution/smog. Both the competitors and the spectators' vehicles will generate a toxic soup of fine particulate matter and ground level ozone. Ground level ozone - comprised of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and NOx (nitrogen-oxygen compounds) - will damage area crops and human health. The ground level ozone and airborne particles have been linked to aggravated cardiac and respiratory diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, lung cancer and heart disease. Pregnant women, people with respiratory and heart
conditions, children and seniors are the most vulnerable.
The August 2008 report released by the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) 'No Breathing Room: National Illness Costs of Air Pollution' put the death toll in Niagara, due to exposure to air pollution, for that year alone at 425 deaths (Paul Forsyth, Niagara This Week, August 22, 2008). In addition to the tragic personal cost in lost lives, there is the economic impact of higher health costs (due to increased visits to hospital, emergency, and doctors' offices). The CMA report tracked the costs caused by air pollution/smog to healthcare, lost productivity, premature death, and quality of life. The provincial estimate currently sits at almost $ 4 Billion annually. The proposed track will significantly increase these costs in Southern Ontario. The Canadian Motor Speedway Consortium has readily admitted an estimate of four hours to clear the spectators' vehicles following and event. This is FOUR HOURS of idling and releasing carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds (VOC) and NOx (nitrogen-oxygen compounds) into the environment. (I will not go into the other major issue - the generating of greenhouse gases - that this scheme would unleash.)
The speedway and its customers would be a source of excruciating noise pollution. A quarter of all hearing loss can be attributed to excess noise (David Schimke, Utne, July-August 2005). It also causes other health problems including increased stress levels, indigestion, high blood pressure/hypertension and a weakened immune system. Research has shown that such noise entering classrooms, slows learning rates and
interferes with children's development of language and cognitive skill (Arline L. Bronzaft, Chair, Noise Committee, Council for the Environment, New York City). Noise is the equivalent of auditory litter.
The Great Lakes basin serves as the source of drinking water for more than 11 million Ontarians. Air pollution is a major source of contamination of the Great Lakes. (Jan 2010 report from Canadian
Environmental Law Association [CELA] and Environmental Defence)
Economic
Belief that this project would generate economic and tourist opportunities for Fort Erie and the region are based on faulty assumptions. With changes to cross-border traffic and economic factors, tourism has continued to decline across the Niagara region. In addition, the evidence confirms that there is a significant trend of declining attendance at all existing NASCAR tracks. At best, it would generate between 50 and 100 poor quality, mostly seasonal, part-time jobs. However, it will also create huge cost increases in infrastructure, policing, waste management, health care, etc.; which will devolve to the regional taxpayer. There are also the unknown costs in damage to regional agriculture crops. (Air pollution/smog is already responsible for millions of dollars of annual crop damage in Ontario.)
Other
NASCAR racing promotes rowdy behaviour and hooliganism and encourages dangerous street racing. It is a poor use of the remaining supply of fossil fuels. The consortium admits that there will be severe traffic congestion - mitigation, of which, they have not resolved. This will reduce quality of life for permanent area-residents.
A perfect example of the folly of this proposal is the former Garden City Race Track - a similar venture in St. Catharines - which ripped up rural lands for a standard racing venue. The track operated for less than 10 years before being abandoned.
This proposal will cause undue hardship, increased health threats, and huge costs for the residents of Niagara. The people of Niagara are relying on the province to intervene and appeal the expansion of Fort
Erie's urban boundaries. Thank you, in advance, for acting on behalf of those living in Southern Ontario.
Yours truly,
S. C.
Letter posted in Niagara At Large by Bob Korol
March 7, 2010
A Written Plea To Ontario’s MPPs To Reject Proposal For
NASCAR Race Track On Niagara’s Rural Lands
Dear Honourable Members of the Legislature,
It has been brought to my attention that the Ontario government is considering re-designating 821 acres of good quality agricultural lands to site a proposed motorway, aka a NASCAR race track.
I wish to express most strongly my opposition to the proposal for several reasons.
............Read More
Letter to Jim Bradley, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and Brad Duguid, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure
As residents of Fort Erie, we implore you and your government to step in and oppose the construction of a Nascar-like motor speedway over 821 acres of good agricultural land in Fort Erie, which will effectively expand the urban boundary.
This development is only a couple of kilometers from one of Fort Erie's largest family subdivisions and is surrounded (within 2 km) by more than 100 rural homesteads, churches and schools. Fort Erie is a semi-rural town of 30,000 residents who, up until now, have enjoyed the advantage of Carolinian forests, environmentally friendly recreation and quiet enjoyment of property. The building of this speedway will be like a cancer that will spread throughout the agricultural area gobbling up land and spitting out pollution.
The Provincial Policy promotes the "sustainability of the agri-food sector by protecting agricultural resources and minimizing land use conflicts." How is this achieved by allowing a motor speedway across what the Region has designated as "Good General Agricultural" land? Additionally the proposal indicates the relocation (they call it realignment) of a major creek system rated a Critical (Type 1) Fish Habitat. This is the same creek system which opens to the Niagara River. Residents have given up all pesticides and toxins on this land in order to protect this creek and the now abundant wildlife. Why should a corporation be allowed to turn this creek into a storm drain? Why will thousands of vehicles and campers be allowed to park over the headwaters of this and a similar creek?
As a population we are being encouraged to sort our garbage and recycle, do our laundry at midnight to save power, buy low fuel consumption vehicles, buy new energy saving windows, furnaces, appliances and such. The province bans pesticides for use by home owners, limits watering yards in the summer, and encourages sustainable food practices, such as eating locally to reduce carbon output. After the writing of Government green policies and Provincial growth plans purported to enhance and protect the quality of life of Ontarians, HOW does a speedway happen across good agricultural, and environmentally sensitive lands as well as a Provincially Significant Wetland?
The hook the proponent is using is money, promising jobs, jobs, jobs. For the most part the type of job that keeps financially struggling workers, struggling. Part time, seasonal offerings with low pay and no benefits. Great for a student, but who can raise a family on that type of employment? Of course, off-season there is employment insurance to fill in the gap. And what is the ultimate cost of these jobs? A small town deafened by noise most nice days of the year, increased air pollution to compliment those hot humid days in the summer, forcing home owners off the deck, indoors, windows shut to be able to breathe and hear. Loss of open green spaces and biodiversity. Massive infrastructure costs for the ratepayer, offset slightly by the reduction of property values of those home owners within earshot, which is most of Fort Erie. The expanded tax base potential that has hypnotized our local governments is the real crux. It eliminates the need for smart budgeting--just bring in more tax money. That is of course if development fees are not altered to satisfy the developer. Now subtract the additional services of police for the increase in crime and traffic problems, EMS, trash and litter pick up from the streets, sewage plant updates, continuous road upgrades and on. So what is the net value? Racing fans will be happy but the quality of life for Ontario citizens diminished.
Really where is Ontario heading? The lowest common denominator? Polluting speedways, internet gambling, ultimate fight venues? What is happening to the province we love?
Respectfully,
Members of the Citizens Coalition of Greater Fort Erie
Track threatens environment
Until the controversy about the proposed Fort Erie Canadian Motorway Speedway recently eruputed, Niagara’s rural landscapes were well protected against the blight of urban sprawl by the combined impact of the Greenbelt and more recent Growth Management Plan.
The speedway however represents a new threat to the quality of our environment, especially to the mix of farm land and Carolinian forests that provides the greatest bio-diversity of any area in Canada. This is our nation’s equivalent of tropical rainforests.
The proposed Fort Erie speedway would involve the removal of agricultural zoning on 821 acres of currently designated “Good General Agricultural Land”. It would also involve the urbanization and subsequent pollution of the entire watershed of Miller Creek, which currently supports endangered species such as Grass Pickerel and Wood Turtle.
It would be unfair to citizens to have to wage an uphill battle at the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) against the changes to the Fort Erie and Niagara Regional Official plans to facilitate the Fort Erie speedway. The provincial government should launch such an appeal, and those who care for the fate of the earth should deluge our area MPPs to demand such action.
Dr. John Bacher, St. Catharines