NEW LOCATION:
Repair Upgrade
LOCAL TECH SUPPLIER
44
SAVE $20
37799 Reg. 397.99 ea
LAPTOP
TABLET
STAND
See store for details. While supplies last.
Set-up Protect
FROM YOUR TRUSTED
NOW WITH ON-SITE TECH SUPPORT! FROM $
HP Stream X360
TechPlus
THE BRANDS YOU KNOW... THE HELP YOU NEED.
TENT
1 Union St., Elmira 519-669-2201 www.schelterofficeplus.ca Office & School Supplies • Print Copy Courier • Computer IT Supplies
09 | 08 | 2016 VOLUME 21 | ISSUE 35
A MUSICAL INTERLUDE FOR ETC TONIGHT ARTS PAGE 20
COMMENT PAGE 6
FALLING SCORES SHOW PROVINCE CAN’T DO THE MATH
Residents unimpressed with plan to provide more employment land in Wellesley twp.
NEW SCHOOL YEAR, NEW SCHOOL
Wellesley approves trail plan, minus most contentious bits
Residents remain opposed to Greenwood Hill Drive stretch deemed invasive and too close to properties there
WHITNEY NEILSON
WHITNEY NEILSON
THE PROSPECT OF FACTORIES popping up on what is now agricultural land adjacent to their homes had residents of Crosshill and Hawkesville out in force Tuesday night, eager to let councillors know exactly what they thought of the plan. The public meeting was part of a process that would see Wellesley expand the amount of available employment land in the township at the behest of Waterloo Region. Township planner Geoff van der Baaren presented some scenarios before opening the floor to hear citizens’ concerns. “The region prepared a land budget and identified the need for more employment lands in the township. Flowing out of that process the township and regional staff have prepared an employment land strategy. That strategy is still considered a draft document, it hasn’t been adopted by council and that documented a need for 12 new acres of employment land,” van der Baaren explained. The three potential parcels of land LAND | 5
www.OBSERVERXTRA.com
Grayson and Lily Conley were all dressed up and ready for their first day of school on Tuesday morning at the new Riverside Public School in Elmira. [WHITNEY NEILSON / THE OBSERVER]
A CONTROVERSIAL TRAIL PLAN for Wellesley Village will go ahead, but the most contentious section remains to be reworked in the face of strong opposition from residents. Like the community itself, councillors meeting Tuesday night were also split, with a slight edge to those in support of an as-yet-finalized plan from the Wellesley Trails and Active Transportation Advisory Committee. Still to be tackled is a stretch of the trail system along Greenwood Hill Drive from Queens Bush Road to Ferris Drive that needs to be altered to address residents’ concerns. Four residents spoke at Tuesday night’s meeting in council chambers ahead of council’s decision. Hugh Cameron and Mary Stewart expressed
their support of the trail, citing her paralytic polio as an infant that requires her to walk with crutches for short distances or a wheelchair for longer treks. When they moved to the township they were thrilled with how accessible the stores and services were in town. “The shock is that there are so few sidewalks. This is a potential danger and very discouraging when my partner and I are out for a walk in the evening. This also impacts individuals, families and children, the elderly,” Stewart said. She said she was pleased when she heard the township was considering building a trail system in the village. Her partner, Cameron, said he left the public meeting in May angry and hurt by the opposition. He said a lack TRAIL | 4