INTRODUCING GEORGE COMRIE - CANDIDATE FOR COUNCIL - WHITESTONE 1) I have chosen to run for Whitestone Council this year because, as an experienced director, manager, and management consultant, I believe I can help the Municipality to improve its governance and management processes. 2) We need to improve our organization, staffing, and employee relations - problem areas that I have addressed many times in other settings. With limited fiscal resources, Whitestone needs everyone pulling in the same direction, starting with the Council. We need to set clear goals and performance objectives against which we can measure performance. In the process, we can build the organizations capacity to deal effectively with external challenges without increasing taxes (like the downloading of additional costs from the provincial government, for example). 3) Since Lorimer Lake has been designated in Whitestones Official Plan as at capacity for development, I think the default assumption should be that applications for subdivision or severance would be denied / opposed by the Municipality, and that building permits on existing building lots would be issued in accordance with the provincial guidelines. There is no fundamental right to develop land, and I do not see lakefront development as a strategy to increase revenue for the Municipality at the expense of the quality of our lakes. Once building is completed and an occupancy permit has been issued, compliance with any development conditions or other by-law provisions reflecting the provincial guidelines can generally be enforced only on a complaint basis. That basically means that someone has to report non-compliance to our Building Official or By-Law Enforcement Officer, who are tasked with following up on such reports / complaints. If you have evidence that that follow-up is not occurring, I would be happy to hear about it. On WahWashKesh (which is not yet at full capacity for development), we have had some controversy over recent developments and redevelopments that some neighbours feel should not have been permitted - although l believe that permits were issued in all cases. The WahWashKesh Conservation Association is in the process of setting up an ad-hoc committee to monitor development activities for compliance with environmental and other zoning conditions. Your lake association might want to do likewise. 4) The conditions and covenants you have cited are quite restrictive, and may not be applicable (or necessary to achieve environmental protection) on existing lots in all cases. Engineering judgment may be required in such cases to assess what conditions are necessary to protect the environment adequately. In summary, I am sympathetic with your concerns for lake quality and protection of our environment. My family continues to hold undeveloped - and pay taxes on - a substantial length of shoreline on WahWashKesh that could be developed, together with a sizable area of wetland, in the interest of preserving the environment unspoiled. George
Posted on: Sat, 04 Oct 2014 21:27:27 +0000
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