Meadowlily Meeting - July 29th

“Smart Centres” has proposed developing a parcel of land on property next to Meadowlily Woods (east of Highbury between Commissioners and the Thames River). Meadowlily Woods has been designated in the Official Plan for London as an “Environmentally Significant Area” (ESA). Many London residents do not believe that right next to an ESA is appropriate site to locate Wal-Mart, with all its customer and goods traffic, noise and light pollution, and waste.

The Thames River has been the focus of considerable debate in London recently, particularly with the feature coverage received in the London Free Press. The Thames River is designated as a “Canadian Heritage River System” (CHRS), and building a “ big box” development so close to the south bank of the Thames does not seem in keeping with the CHRS mandate “to ensure long-term management and conservation of their natural, cultural and recreational values”. The Environment and Ecology Planning Advisory Committee is concerned about the area, as is Reforest London.

In addition to valid environmental concerns, there is also concern about how this development will affect the quality of life and the property values for residents of London. Will you be expected to subsidize this development with property tax hikes? On July 16th the London Free Press reported that developers are paying less than half the actual cost to submit development applications—the citizens of London are paying the rest through their tax bills. Do you really want to pay for another Wal-Mart out of your pocket? How many local businesses, many of them family operations with roots in the community, will be forced out of business by such a “big box” development?

IT’S TIME TO LEARN MORE AND VOICE YOUR THOUGHTS!

COMMUNITY TOWNHALL MEETING
When: Tuesday July 29th, at 7pm
Where: Summerside Community Church at 1447 Commissioners Rd.
Why: to have a community discussion about this possible development.
Who: You, your neighbours and other concerned residents. Irene Mathyssen (MP, London-Fanshawe) and Peter Tabuns (MPP Toronto-Danforth, Ontario NDP Environment Critic) will be on hand to discuss the issues, as well as Gina Barber from London City Council and a guest from the Guelph City Council (The City of Guelph opposed a Wal-Mart development for many years. Although the development was finally approved, but the experience has not been a positive one and a recent “expansion” request by Wal-Mart was denied.).

Contact: Michele Girash at mgirash@yahoo.ca for more information.
Online Petition: http://www.meadowlilywoods.ca/
Facebook: search Meadowlily Woods