Yes, Highlands is taking down another house.
Yes we can be upset at Highlands, but frankly this Council and the previous Council (with four of the current members) have complete authority over passing a demolition control bylaw which they have refused to do.
I won't blog about it, because if you type demolition in the search engine on this site you will see there are more than 30 posts about it.
But do NOT let Council pass this off on staff, on Highlands, on the County on anyone but themselves.
Do NOT let them say they tried to establish a committee but no one volunteered. A bylaw like this needed expert input NOT ratepayers with little knowledge of bylaws.
Do NOT let them say they couldn't pass a demolition control bylaw because it would target one individual. What about the scrapyard bylaw they have spent untold $$$ on that was initiated due to two neighbours fighting?
We were told that within six months of this "new" Council being sworn in December 2010 there would be big changes.
Still waiting. Still nothing.
No strategic plan, no official plan after 6-7 years of working on it, no peer reviewers in place to comment by the prescribed date on the biggest quarry application ever filed in Ontario, despite assurance to ratepayers at a Council meeting in October 2009
"At recent council meetings, the gallery appeared pleasantly surprised to learn that township council has been assembling a team of professionals to review whatever studies The Highland Companies brings forth in support of its planned quarry application, and also to hear that the council does not support a huge extraction of limestone below the water table."
The offensive thing is a municipal employee, who's spouse works for Highlands, shows up today with kids in tow to watch the blasting, like it is some sort of sport.
ReplyDeletewasn't it a barn they tore down, not a house?
ReplyDeleteThey blew up the silo yesterday, the high hoes are in there and they have a demo permit and a fire permit and the rest will come down today and tomorrow. Drive by next week and there will be nothing to remind you that a farmstead stood there. Just like on the other properties they have razed.
ReplyDeleteTo August 3 at 10.39 pm. why would it matter that a municipal employee went on their own time and dime to anything.
ReplyDeleteHave to agree with August 5 @8:54 pm-own time, own dime no one else's business.
ReplyDeleteMunicipal employees can't do anything without reflecting the organization they work for. Am I right Karen? Eh? Eh? You know what I'm talkin bout.
ReplyDeleteThe municipality is under investigation for two meetings they held, potentially in contravention of the Municipal Act. Looks like there will be a third one coming up just real soon.
ReplyDeleteSay what you want about “rights”, but the municipality KNOWS this is a sensitive issue in the community. No permits should be issued by either township or county with an aggregate application pending, which includes a cultural heritage assessment on that specific property. Council should be hanging their heads in a corner not encouraging employees to bring the kiddies out to enjoy their three ring circus!
ReplyDeleteDon't forget, the elected officials PUT themselves out there and are the ones making the decisions, e.g. no demolition bylaw. The employees have no decision making in the matter. If we are going to put these types of restrictions on humans, then if you work for Ford employees can only drive a Ford? If you work for the City of Toronto, employees must vote Conservate? Municipal staff can only make recommendations to the politicans, the politicans make the decisions and MUST be the ones held accountable, NOT staff.
ReplyDeleteOf course, there can not be "restrictions," but a little common sense would be nice. My point is that the demolition is wrong to begin with and the fact that this staff person does not sense this, and is willing to "join in the party" is a refection, as you say, on Council not on the employee.
ReplyDelete