Newmarket's Clock Tower Issue a Non-Issue Really

Clock Tower a symbol for what is happening to our town

For many, it seems the clock tower development issue is an important one. It's just too bad none of us matter in the scheme of things. And that has to change. Firstly our opinions and council vote on the issue matter not one iota right now - something I'm keen on changing for future town / Main St. development by striking up a committee tasked to identifying loop-holes in our Planning Act - presently used by developers to control what is being built in our town, on our farms and on our Main Street. B.C. has recently legislated one such loop-hole, making it tougher for residences to be made vacant, boarded up and neglected to forcing zoning changes for condo building, without penalties.

Right now, we can complain all we want but the decision will still come down to an adjudicator deciding, based on the law and no one's opinion. So that is number one. This needs legislated through our provincial parliament and to get it there we would need a committee comprised of various individuals including M.P.P.'s, municipal politicians, York Region Legal Clinic and Real Estate Lawyers among some partners at the table.

The Clock Tower attracts movie productions to Newmarket right now

I have a long standing, amicable, working relationship, with Dennis Bailey, CEO of the YR Legal Clinic and I'm sure I can get them on-board. This would be similar to the non-partisan "Square-Table" on Poverty" that I organized and chaired which had representatives from every level of government and included Belinda Stronach and Frank Klees as well as Regional Councillor Taylor, only our focus will be closing or narrowing loop-holes in our Planning Act that are frequently exploited by developers on unsuspecting towns and cities. Until we do this, any and all of our town's Main Street buildings and farm residences will continue be at risk.

Why Have An Official Plan if they can just do what they want? Why invite the public to participate in the plan process if they are just going to do what they want anyway? Tom Pearson

Nothing stops a developer now from buying up Main St and boarding it up until we do as they wish. Only TP has a plan.

Evening entertainment attractions need addressing

Unfortunately Sparro Restaurant closed down after less than a year. Did parking woes play a part?

TP has a graffiti plan

As far as my opinion goes, my opinion is we follow whatever our official plan states before the town's desire to amend it - which means 3 floors,  however, as I say, our opinion matters not in the process - only that of the law.

Not everyone understands how planning works, as we invite the public to the first meeting if they wish to participate, as interested parties, as participants and they can attend all planning meetings from then on unless asked to leave by the adjudicator. At that point anyone not named as a participant or interested party can no longer attend unless invited to do so, even a Mayor.

So that official plan is then formed, taking a number of variables into effect, such as for parking and access to highways, infrastructure and a number of variables most may not be privy to, so councils have no right simply waltzing in and changing a plan such as this - which also has the provincial stamp on it after its been approved. I feel there should be stringent criteria before official plans can be amended by a council as they can be used to appease developers or council's own wants over the town's Plan's or residents wishes without going through the proper process. We have a planning process for good reason, like to protect against future councils, mayors and property owners from imposing their personal wills on us - another loop-hole that needs addressing, again through amendments to the Planning Act and in some cases amending The Heritage Act as well.

Just outside Newmarket sitting empty

Right now no laws stop this from happening, on YR Road

In fact the Heritage Act and heritage bylaws designed to 'protect" heritage buildings are in fact being used by developers to destroy, not save, heritage homes. How? Well a heritage home not yet designated for it can be emptied of residents, then left empty and its repairs ignored until such time as they apply for demolition. Since the property has no official designate they may very well be granted a demolition permit without going through the process. even buildings designated are right now being held, unused, just waiting until they are no longer repairable - with virtually no process in place to hold the owners accountable. For example a tree growing in to a roof left unattended to will eventually destroy the roof and expose the home to the elements further ensuring it's demise. And we have nothing in place to stop this! Main St is not an exception - look at at Davis and Main - how long have those historic buildings been boarded up? Years and years now of eyesore-hood because no one has acted. But I will.



The developer is obliged, by corporate law essentially, to try and get the biggest return possible on that property within our laws and that is what they shall do. And we cannot fault them for that, so whatever is decided we must all get along and move forward, and I will support whatever decision the legals decide. I worry though about brick colour esthetics or a claim again in a few years that is not " sustainable", and then them applying to expand again (more loop-holes). 

 

Did you know the Town of Newmarket cancelled its after hours bird and reptile rescue service recently?

But I do hope they do their homework this time, as last time around we had numerous seniors displaced who had to move after the owner decided it wasn't " sustainable". All, presumably, after they'd done the math to find the maximum $''s they could get from a full seniors residence.

So with that in mind, I believe they can build something "sustainable" within the 3 floors designation of the original Official Plan, but that that, is a pipe dream.

Picture this Street off Main as Penny Lane for Beatle MAINia

With new high-rise buildings on Davis within walking distance of Main slated to open in 2017, and future redevelopment of a few other sites around Main, I believe we can achieve the  intensification sought without building grandiose, sky-scraper types all around our historic Main St. and we need to get that control back. We can't turn back time but we can act responsibly now that we are where we are.

Meantime we need an informed decision made now before we lose anymore time and ultimately tax $'s.

Click here for TP's up-to-date clock tower development info - Soil sample now in!

You can read more on Tom Pearson's vision for Ward 5 and for Newmarket here. 
Email: TomPearson4Council@gmail.com

Vote Tom Pearson for Newmarket Council  - I Really Do Care