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<p class="MsoNormal">Hi Lulu and others in GREN,<br>
<br>
The Melancthon mega-quarry, as proposed by billionaire Boston investor Seth
Klarman (through his Baupost Group hedge fund and Highland Companies shell
outfit), is one of a number of urban-development-related projects that sets a
new standard for egregiousness. The Waterloo West Side and Kitchener's
Hidden Valley (and also the Doon-Strasburg area of SW Kitchener) are two more
examples of the extreme lengths that greedy already-rich investors are going
to, in order to get their way.<br>
<br>
Here is another one that caught my attention. This one is in BC, but the
man behind it, Ender Ilkay, is one of the now-mega-wealthy developers behind
the Toronto-area urban sprawl. In brief, Ilkay bought forestry land west
of Victoria.<span style=""> </span>He paid just $2 million for
283 hectares (700 acres) in 2007.<span style=""> </span>This
works out to less than $3000 per acre, which is a steal.<span style=""> </span>This land was originally designated as a buffer
zone for the Juan de Fuca Provincial Park, located west of Victoria. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">To get around urban-expansion restrictions, Ilkay wants to
build his new settlement as a large resort-and-vacation-housing (257 houses,
plus spa and luxury resort) complex. This would sit alongside one-third
of the famous 47-kilometre Juan de Fuca Marine Trail. The septic systems
for such a development would cause serious groundwater concerns, given the local
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</style><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";">Meanwhile, the ecological concerns are too numerous
too list in detail. </span><br>
<br>
The proposal violates the local Capital Regional District (CRD) Regional Growth
Strategy (RGS), in a number of ways. The CRD-RGS states that growth
should be compact and focused on existing urban areas, that urban settlement
should be compact, and that natural resources and the environment should be
managed sustainably. (The new Regional Sustainability Strategy, which is
due to be released soon, should emphasize environmental protection even more.)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Essentially, what Ilkay wants to do is to create a completely
new settlement—a subdivision located far from existing urban centres, and one
that violates all the principles of sound planning practices and common
sense. The project, like the proposed Melancthon mega-quarry, would be
both a planning disaster (e.g. completely car-dependent and unsustainable) and
an environmental nightmare (e.g. all sorts of rare species impacted).</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And, like the subdivision developments that surround
Waterloo and Kitchener, Ilkay’s proposal needs to be evaluated in conjunction
with all other developments near it, both already-constructed and
proposed. The reason for this is also spelled out in a description of how
the CRD-RGS came to be: the need to shift from growth to sustainability.
The same document notes that “many wildlife species and natural habitats were
threatened” by the current ad-hoc approach of unplanned development. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The piecemeal approach to development seems to be just as
common in BC as it is right here in Ontario, and it explains many of our
current problems.<span style=""> </span>Each developer comes
forth and gets their approval, with insufficient consideration being given to
how overall natural habitats and farmland and groundwater-recharge areas are
incrementally being whittled away. Each developer argues that their land
only eats a tiny portion of the available farmland/habitat/recharge area.<span style=""> </span>But it is the cumulative impact of everything
together that matters.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br>
For those of you interested in submitting a letter to various BC Government
officials (including Premier Christy Clark) regarding this issue, there is a
link on the Sierra Club BC website. You can personalize the suggested
letter, or write an entirely new one (as I did).<span style=""> </span>More background on Ilkay's proposed project
can be found by searching online, or you can e-mail me for a list of links.</p>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br>
<a href="http://action.sierraclub.bc.ca/actions/protect-juan-de-fuca-park">http://action.sierraclub.bc.ca/actions/protect-juan-de-fuca-park</a><br>
<br>
Thank you,<br>
Michael Frind.</span>