Sunday, March 9, 2008
Let's Talk
I'm hoping that this blog will become a place where Chelsea residents - or anyone else with good ideas - can get together to provide input on the development of the Hendrick farm west of Hwy 5, south of Old Chelsea Rd. I have posted my preliminary views of what I am proposing for the development. I want to hear from my neighbours about what you think about these ideas. I genuinely believe that establishing a riding stable, employing the concepts of conservation development and encouraging a variety of housing options is the way to create an obvious buffer between us and Gatineau - never mind build an exciting extension to our already vibrant community. Thank you for your interest in this process and I hope I can count on your active participation in this open discussion. Sean
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
8 comments:
Hi Sean,
I am excited about your ideas for the Hendrick farm. I think that village appropriate density and clustering development around services is the way to go. I think that conserving open space and protecting natural features is also important.
I am concerned that there does not yet exist an appropriate and engaging consultation process for the key developments in the village core. The municipality must rethink the way it consults- no more 300 person meetings every six months but real community engagement designed to promote concensus and solutions- not division.
I would appreciate being kept up to date on what is going on and would enjoy throwing ideas around with you and others in the community.
Good luck Sean.
George Claydon
I'm sad to see the farm sold - Gert and Vin are my aunt and uncle (and my Godparents). I'm glad to see that some thought is being put into how it will be developed.
I spent a fair bit of time there as a kid - that land has a lot of happy memories for me. Please care for it well.
Jennifer (Eades) Myerscough
Canton, Georgia
Jennifer,
Thank you for your comments. I agree entirely that this is a special place and I promise I'll do my best to help look after it. I hope I can encourage you to keep an eye on this discussion and to continue to participate in our talks about what will happen in the coming months.
Sincerely,
Sean
Thanks Sean - I've bookmarked this site and will check back. Thanks for the reply, I really appreciate it.
Jenn
While the blog is welcome, this proposed development falls within the CDP provision of Quebec planning law, and as such this blog does not substitute for formal public consultation requirements. Conservation development planning may capture some features for more sensitive development, but so too will mitigation measures emanating from a formal environmental impact assessment. Will an EIA be done for this proposed development?
I can't help but think that a 200+ mixed unit development on the Hendrick farm runs counter to "green" planning practice. While inclusion of green efficiency measures are always welcome, there is no particular virtue is being more efficiently unsustainable. How is a 200+ unit development, even inclusive of green space, remotely green?
As the nearest property owner to the Hendrick farm, I'm obviously concerned how this proposed development will impact my family. Increased traffic, impacts on my water quality/quantity, noise pollution, and safety all factor as concerns. I would most welcome more information on the actual design, including access roads, height restriction of buildings, water groundwater drawdown and impact on nearly wells such as mine.
Thanks.
Andrew Spezowka
Chelsea, Quebec
Thank you, Andrew, for your comments. I would like to make clear that I do not have firm plans at this stage. As draft plans materialize, I will post them here and ask for your feedback. Your questions are very much why I set up this blog and my hope is that people will not only voice concerns, but also voice their ideas about what they would like to see happen with this development. I recognize that this is only one piece of the public consultation process, but I hope that it can be a vehicle for positive brainstorming as well as a place to voice feedback. I have expressed some ideas that I have for what could happen with the development: perhaps a riding stable, mixed housing based on the principles of conservation development, preservation of a maximum amount of green space, and an extension of the village core. I have made it clear that whatever plans materialize, they will be consistent with Chelsea’s Master Plan and reflect feedback I have received from the community.
A lot of people do not like development and change – particularly if that change is happening in their back yard. I understand that. I think we have an opportunity to collaboratively plan the change in this case and I hope that I can encourage you and all of my other neighbours to make suggestions for what you/they would like to see. I very much appreciate your engagement in this process and I hope you will continue to participate in the discussion. Please let me know what you would like to see happen.
Sean
Sean, I appreciate your prompt reply to my post.
My question, for clarity, is this: will an EIA, in accordance with the Règlement sur l'évaluation et l'examen des impacts sur l'environnement, be conducted for the proposed development of the property you intend to purchase from Mr. Hendrick?
I appreciate your allusion to people's apprehension about development and change, but as a professional development planner I don't count myself among those with knee-jerk NIMBY syndrome. My concern relates more to how citizens of Chelsea, particularly those directly effected by this proposed development, exercise their rights to control development around them.
Too many communities across Canada have allowed incremental encroachment of rural lands to become self-perpetuating. Loss of rural landscapes are almost always initiated by seemingly minor by-law amendments on housing density. I fear a similar pattern emerging here.
In reply to your question about what I'd like to see happen, to be frank, I'd prefer that a land trust be established to conserve the Hendrick farm. In place of 'conservation development', I'd like a conservation covenant for this property established under Quebec law.
I appreciate the need for smart growth and welcome your commitment to green development. That said, you are open to entering into a legal conservation easement with the Nature Conservancy of Canada or a similar registered body in Quebec if you indeed close the deal with Mr. Hendrick?
My neighbours and I most welcome your thoughts on these questions.
Thanks again,
Andrew Spezowka
Chelsea, Quebec
Andrew,
Thanks for your response. To answer your first question: Yes, there will be an environmental impact study. On the question of green space: I have every intention of preserving as much natural space as possible as I move forward with the development of the farm.
Sean
Post a Comment