Rick Wiedenhoeft
Dear editor:
Having read Eric Rude’s letter to the editor (“Help me understand), he asks a very good question to which all residents deserve an answer before you sign your name to the petition [against the proposed re-zoning of the “Nelson Street Park.”]
I have no problem with the petition or the right of people to voice their opposition to decisions of council. But before you sign, it is incumbent on you to know the facts and reasons behind this decision to re-zone the open space in question.
Believe me, no one on council or administration wants to eliminate green space and the potential play areas for our children. But right now, the town has absolutely no readily-available, quality building lots to meet the demand.
As a result, we see increased out-migration of resident new home builders and disappointed new arrivals seeking immediacy and location, location, location.
Mr. Rude suggests Erin Crescent and the Huffman School property as potential development sites—and they are. As chairman of the Operations and Facilities executive committee, I can tell you that we have been exploring (and continue to explore) development of these properties ever since acquisition.
In a report to council on March 5, 2008, Doug Brown, manager of Operations and Facilities division, brought forward a preliminary cost estimate to develop Erin Crescent. The cost was $1.391 million.
The Huffman School property would be less but in the same ball park. And believe me, council does not have the money, at present, to develop these properties.
We are hoping to partner with a private developer, but so far none have expressed any interest.
With a shrinking residential tax base, on top of a declining commercial and industrial segment, we must do something to bolster our tax foundation or the ever-increasing tax burden will be shared by fewer and fewer taxpayers.
This seven-lot development (5+2 in the west end) is not the ultimate fix, but its low cost to develop and immediate availability make it a prudent start. The capital generated will be used for future more expensive and expansive developments.
It’s simply a case of: the needs of the many outweigh the needs or wants of a few.
Signed,
Rick Wiedenhoeft
Fort Frances, Ont.
P.S. As an avid bike rider using the waterfront trail virtually every day, every summer for the past three-and-a-half years, my personal observation, verified by my wife who accompanies me, has been one male adult user in that entire time on the “Nelson Street Park.”
