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Open letter to Mayor Lovell and Owen Sound City Council

July 27, 2009

July 21, 2009
Open letter to Mayer Lovell and Owen Sound City Council
Re. Sydenham Holdings development proposition and proposed change in zoning

Dear Mayor Lovell and Council,

Last night, I attended a portion of the Council Meeting after reading Christy Hempel’s column in the Sun Times. Unfortunately, I did not read the article until five minutes before my arrival at City Hall, too late to hear the presentation of Sydenham Holdings, citizens input or the debate. Thus if my remarks are redundant, I apologize.

Firstly I wish to acknowledge the very difficult job you are faced with in these difficult economic times and facing challenges of a magnitude such as climate change hitherto undreamed of, or should I say unnightmared of! Additionally, I want to say, knowing several of you personally, I am sure of your sincerity in desiring a sustainable future for the citizens of Owen Sound.

Having said that I wish to share some comments and concerns arising from the reading of Ms. Hempel’s article and subsequent attendance at the Council meeting.

Let me vigorously voice my support for the substance of Ms. Hempel’s column, specifically her call for development in accordance with Ontario’s “Smart Growth” policies. I would as vigorously support her suggestion that council “review the long-range vision for our commercial area on the east side”.

Last night I heard several councilors talk about the responsibility Owen Sound has as regional centre. Hear, hear. I also heard enthusiastic reference for the prospective increased tax revenues that would ensue as a result of this development proposal. One question this raises is this proposal part of a sustainable solution to the economic problems we face as a city?

In about 1965 Owen Sound in what certainly seemed a good decision gave, as in zero cost, a piece of land to PPG to build a plant. It can’t be argued that this did create both revenue from taxes and many jobs for over forty years. With the recent closure, by definition, this has to be deemed, by definition, a non sustainable initiative. Was there an alternative that could have been pursued that would have been sustainable? I don’t know. Could the council of the day been more perspicacious in their decision making? It is hard to imagine given the virtually consonant world view at time.

These same conditions do not maintain today. We have knowledge of climate change. We have knowledge of peak oil and natural gas. With the greatest of respect to LEED(Leadership in Environmental and Sustainable Design) Gold designation, to point to having a big box retail development, epitomizing urban sprawl, achieving a LEED Gold standard as an example of sustainable development is akin to applauding the attachment of flotation devices to deck chairs on the Titanic.

In conversation with local Engineer Jim Farmer today, he told me the cost gap between goods imported from China and those manufactured locally has narrowed to five percent from the previous 20-30 percent. What happens when the products contained in “Big Box” retail are not cheap because of the cost of shipping, regardless of manufacturing costs? What happens when people won’t drive distances to shop because the cost of fuel has doubled tripled or quadrupled in cost. These circumstances, according to lots of people way smarter than me are a when not an if proposition. Not to mention the morality of burning carbon in a climate change crisis world.

May I respectfully suggest that Owen Sound can take a real leadership role in developing a sustainable, region with a healthy economy by helping to develop a regional plan based on self sufficiency and vertical integration That is, we eat food and consume goods and services produce and process and manufactured here. I moved here because I saw in Grey-Bruce the possibility of a sustainable, self-sufficient bio region for my children and future grandchildren to live in.. And I am not saying 100 percent. I want my fair trade coffee too. But could we shoot for 80 percent self-sufficiency.

I would urge you; no beg you, on behalf of the future generations, to be the exception as political leaders and develop a long term vision that is truly sustainable, not just pay lip service to the notion and be complicit in “Greenwashing”.

After attending last night’s meeting I called a friend, a local business man deeply involved with local affairs who cares deeply about a sustainable future for our community. I asked where were the people who share these values at last night’s meeting. He said sadly, “people don’t believe that council will listen”. I am sure that is not true of all of the councilors all of the time, but for it to be said at all, for me, is a problem.

Prove him wrong, please.

Sincerely,
Kevin Best

Written by Deb · Filed Under Community, Guest Post, theOwen 

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