Developers Lending Money to the Township IS a Conflict of Interest and the result IS Bias!

Dear Editor:

          After attending the public hearing meetings this week, I wondered how things got to the point of where members of the Brookswood community was literally begging and pleading to a handful of mostly out of town developers masqueraded as the Griffith Neighbourhood Advisory Board (GNA).  So... I did a little research and the deeper I would dig the more worms I found.  First, the head of the GNA is Cameron Gair, who is an active licensed realtor.  I do not understand how the Council could not see this as a conflict of interest for Mr.Gair, his clients, and the community.  How can Mr.Gair objectively look out for the best interest of the community when by law he is required to provided undivided loyalty to his clients? I suppose he could have recused himself from selling any properties in the Brookswood area after he took this position, but he did not.  As a matter of a fact, since 2010 from my count Mr.Gair has sold at least 6 multi-acre, multi-million dollar properties.  Many of them on 32 ave and 202 st where the densities in the original Brookswood plan were large single family lots with 4 units per acre and now have been increased to up to 22 units per acre.  From the time these properties were purchased to now, they have already tripled in value due speculation based on the future increased zoning. 

          But I do not blame Mr. Gair, or the GNA, they are looking out for their own self interests.  As a community we too, need to look out for our self interests and ask how the heck did this come about? In 2011 the GNA approached the council asking it to begin development planning process in Brookswood, to which the Council and Township responded that they do not have enough funds to hire additional planning staff.  So the GNA said will pay for it, that amounted to $500,000.00 split between 10 property owners. This $500,000.00 in reality is a loan as it is stated when development occurs through levies and taxes this money will be paid back to those developers.  REALLY, the Township can raise taxes for many non descript issues, but not for one that has the potential to destruct a community and the very people who have worked so hard to make it was it is or say should I say now what it was.  Maybe the Township could have went back to the residents of 5000 homes and asked them to pay an additional $ 100 each in their property tax which would be eventually refunded down the road and kept this process objective, neutral, and free from outside influence, the way every other community does its planning process. Oh wait, they did not do that because the residents had no idea as  in 2011 when the Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Township and GNA it was done in relative secrecy as no public notices were mailed out or put in any newspapers.  And frankly, the rest of the planning process has been atrocious.  The final plan ended up with the most density, town homes and apartments, when in AECOMS (Planning Consultants) own previous reports the majority of the public either wanted less density or just single family lots. 

          Personally, I am in favour of single family development that maintains the existing character of the neighbourhood, however I realize many people have differing opinions and I respect that their voices should be heard to.  As many of the developers said at the public hearing change is inevitable, and I motion that we change this process.  Hand back the developers their 500,000.00 of YES man money, restart this process so it is neutral, objective and fair, ask tax payers if they would give this money to the Township under the same terms as the GNA where it would be paid back when development occurs.   Under these terms the GNA can still provide input, but as regular citizens and property owners just like the rest of us.  In a democracy, I still believe it is one vote per person, so someone please tell the Mayor and Council that.

James Macdonald

Brookswood Resident