RE: 019-7739 - In 2005 when…

RE: 019-7739

- In 2005 when we purchased part of 256 Book Road West, the Greenbelt was established, the lands on Book Road, Ancaster, were not included in Greenbelt and remained as whitebelt.
- The area landowners invested in studies to support their proposals that would design a neighbourhood
- in 2016, the subject lands were placed into the Greenbelt without justification and against our wishes.

The media overreaction and protest groups have blown the greenbelt situation out of proportion and these groups were spurred on by local politicians as I watched them congregate at the public meetings:
Where was the MEDIA OUTCRY on this changing of the Greenbelt border in 2016?
Where was the concern of DEMOCRACY when the rules changed in the middle of the game on these generational landowners?
Where was the concern with regard to these landowners’ RIGHTS and why were they ignored? Why were they not compensated for removing their intended land use ?
Why was it OK to change the Greenbelt border without full public discussion in 2016 and hearing the concerns of those landowners impacted, but some feel it is an outrage in 2023?

We request the Province to permit Book Road to continue its plans to develop housing and a complete community because Book Road was not in the original Greenbelt until the liberals interference in 2016 to stop our development plan. Stated differently, why would the Conservative government be supporting the Liberal tampering that took place in 2016 that froze these lands unscientifically and without due process, when it can make a legal and fair judgement based on the evidence that can advance an excellent housing option for the GTHA?

The problem seems to be a political problem, an optics problem for this government, and they feel the need to stop housing on these former greenbelt parcels. Perhaps for some of these parcels, there should be a pause if there is not the scientific support for removal. But Book Road is defendable and must be permitted to proceed, one way or another.

Please return Book Road to its original (pre-2016) whitebelt status.

Highvalley Holdings Limited
Christa Parente