NEWS |
THE OBSERVER | Saturday, October 31, 2009
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Ghost stories set the mood at Halloween show...........................................»22 Illness strikes as Jacks drop pair
»21 VOLUME 14, ISSUE 43
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2009
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DRESSED FOR THE OCCASION The edss cafeteria and gym were packed with costumed kids getting a jump on Halloween during the great Pumpkin Party Oct. 24. duncan sproule (left) emerged from the bat cave to attend the festivities, while Trinity Barnes, Taejah Russell and Cassie Cowan showed what difference a little face paint can make, transforming them into a cat, medusa, and a witch. For more photos, see page 16-17.
Showdown looms over Victoria Glen development plan Opponents prepare to fight as council set to discuss staff report in favour of turning part of park into subdivision STEVE KANNON Expect some sparks to fly in Woolwich council chambers Tuesday night as the community reacts to a report asserting the township should go ahead with a developing a portion of Victoria Glen Park in Elmira. Public response was immediate following the release late last week of a staff document in favour of clearing part of the woodland to build small residential subdivision: e-
mails, web postings and phone calls launched opponents into action. “We’re very disappointed,” said Elmira resident Cheryl Fisher in an interview this week. “It seems the money is more important than preserving this area.” The money is some $1.5 million the township thinks it can raise by developing the parkland, funds it says it needs to help pay for its recent spate of capital projects, including the newly opened Woolwich Memorial Centre.
Opponents, however, want the municipality to come up with other options, maintaining the community voiced its displeasure at a public meeting in June, and in subsequent communications. “Are you going to listen to us? The people of Elmira have spoken,” said Karen Orr, who lives near the parkland in the town’s north end. “We were all under the impression it was a park – it should stay a park. There seems to be a definite majority of the town feeling the same
way.” The proposal would see a developer clear part of the forested area to make room for residential development. The properties in question are bounded by Victoria Glen Street, Snyder Avenue North and Dunke Street North. The Kissing Bridge Trail runs to the north. The parkland under discussion runs along a portion of the existing Victoria Glen Street, and would front on either side of that route’s extension on an unopened road al-
lowance between Dunke Street and Snyder Avenue. David Brenneman, Woolwich’s chief administrative officer, called the plan a fair compromise, turning 20 per cent of the park into needed cash while helping the township meet provincial requirements for infilling projects rather than so-called greenfield development. “We feel the township has a very good track record. This could be done in a responsible manner to ensure there is good See VICTORIA GLEN »02
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