Letters_11-30
Back to HomeLetters - July 28, 2011Letters: July 28
Re: Motorcross: What Price Good Neighbours?, Jennifer Scott
Re: Motorcross: What Price Good Neighbours?, Roxanne Wright
Re: Motorcross: What Price Good Neighbours?
would like to thank Jeff Green for his article “What price good neighbours?” (July 14, 2011), regarding the motocross track zoning application. In the debate concerning the use and enjoyment of a land owner’s property and which neighbours’ rights weigh more, I think readers are being misled. No one is disputing the personal right of Mr. Day to use and enjoy his property. On the contrary, Mr. Day is entitled to ride his motorbike or ATV on his property whenever he likes (within the noise bylaw), as are other residents of this township on their own properties. In this way, the rights of neighbouring residents to use and enjoy their own properties are protected. This issue is larger than a neighbourly dispute because it now becomes a case of the desires of hundreds of non-residents vs. the rights of residents? Which come first?
One of the points voiced by councillors in support of the track is that residents should be allowed to do whatever they like on their own land. If that were the case, why can’t we have chickens? There are bylaws in place preventing residents from doing many things (one of them prohibiting motor vehicle racing), and these bylaws are in place to protect the health and safety of residents, the environment and the long-term development strategy and rural character of the township. But I guess those bylaws don’t always apply and they are most often not enforced.
This issue does not only concern the relatively small number of opposing residents and we should not be compared to the stereotypical NIMBY (not in my backyard) complainers. Once this zoning change is approved by council, the door will be open for anyone in the township to apply for a zoning change for motor vehicle racing, and there will be no reason for council to refuse. A few years from now, you may also be facing the same issue in your backyard. And I find it odd that most councillors have said that they would not want a motocross track in their backyards, yet they are comfortable forcing this on their constituents.
This issue becomes everyone’s problem because there are no guidelines in place (besides the bylaw...if that means anything) to protect residents from this kind of development. If South Frontenac wants a motorsports park, great! But guidelines (property size, minimum distance to houses, etc...) should be determined before a suitable site is chosen. And I would not be satisfied with simply basing those guidelines on the characteristics of something that is already built.
As a resident, I expect my councillors to know about bylaws and to do their homework to become well-informed before making a decision that will lead to fundamental changes to the Township’s Official Plan. I don’t see how some councillors can be so dead set against chickens on one hand and so strongly in favour of motocross on the other. Just what kind of rural lifestyle are we trying to protect?
Jennifer Scott
Re: Motorcross: What Price Good Neighbours?
When it comes to planning for the future of our township there appears to be no unified vision. How can the motocross track, in its current location, possibly coincide with the vision to maintain the established rural character of our community? The motocross track borders the K&P Trail and is only meters from the Cataraqui Trail; trails created using planning and forethought with the primary objective of providing residents the ability to enjoy the natural beauty and serenity of lakes, forests and rural landscape.
The planner for South Frontenac Township, Lindsay Mills, has over 20 years experience as a planner. Mr. Mills is a graduate of Queen’s University with a Master’s degree in Planning and he has worked for the township for eight years. After 8 years one can assume Mr. Mills understands the vision, policy, goals and objectives as set out in the official plan. Mr. Mills is opposed to the temporary rezoning of the Day farm to permit motocross racing and accessory camping and has voiced his opinion that it is not compatible with the existing properties. Yet some councillors choose to ignore the advice of this professional. These same councillors not only ignore the expert but disregard the opinions of residents and the presentation of facts.
We were sent a notice of the intent to rezone, apparently council wanted our input. Now we are told our concerns are not legitimate and we are called fear-mongerers. To obtain a non-biased perspective each councillor will spend some time at the track to assess the impact. Somehow that is a better assessment than that provided by the residents who have already experienced a summer of the track and all it entails. The facts are that none of them want it in their backyard, so why is it okay in its present location where so many residents object?
If the temporary rezoning is passed, the residents most affected by the rezoning will be heading off to the have their concerns heard by the Ontario Municipal Board. Fortunately, the township’s professional planner agrees with the majority of the residents. Unfortunately, he will be speaking against his employer. The township will have to hire a planner who agrees with the councillors’ stance and is willing to represent them at the OMB. After reading the township’s official plan, that is going to be a challenging venture and no doubt costly as well.
I question the necessity of a planning department when some councillors feel they are better qualified to make decisions and ignore the recommendation of the professionals.
Roxanne Wright
