Fulton plan objectors have their say

BY KIRK STARRATT

Kings County Register

A couple of concerned citizens named in a recent presentation to Kings County councillors by Weston would-be developer Gerry Fulton have made their own presentations in rebuttal.

Fulton’s flawed math?

Leslie Wade asked Nov. 20 to correct some errors by Fulton during his presentation to council in October.

Reference was made to Councillor Eric Smith’s concern the county could end up paying to operate services on the property. Fulton challenged Smith to point out flaws in the Condominium Act. She asked, what if the developer goes bankrupt, as happened in a case in Hammonds Plains. She also asked if the act protects the county from culpability when a failing sewer system leaks into the water table.

Wade said Fulton inferred Spinazola couldn’t do her math when she referred to over 98 per cent of people at a spring public meeting regarding the proposed development on and adjacent to the Berwick Heights Golf Course being opposed to it. Wade said she’s curious how Fulton does his math, when he stated that only five or 10 people from Weston spoke against the project. She said she counted 13 tractors, 87 names on a petition from Weston and at least 50 people clapping at the meeting; all of which works out to a 90 per cent error margin on Fulton’s part.

Wade said there was a comment council chose to listen to 25 individuals from all over the county who spoke against the project, but there were well over 200 names on petitions and so many presentations at the public hearing, there wasn’t time for more.

She disagrees with Fulton’s statement about horse farming taking land out of food production. She said she knows her horse farm qualifies as a legitimate farm - it loses money like all the rest.

She said Fulton put the cart before the horse when he asked, if we don’t create jobs, who would eat the food we grow? Her point: if we don’t save the farmland, how can we grow the food?

She said she really likes Fulton’s suggestion council should either allow his development or close all the loopholes in the Municipal Planning Strategy so nobody builds in the agricultural zone.

“I vote for number two suggestion,” she said.

“This proposal is wrong because it is in the wrong location - just as the golf course is misplaced. It was given final stamp of approval by the province because it was viewed as land that could be put back into production, which allowed it to fit.”

Never a personal issue

Adrienne Saunders said this was never a personal issue for her, her family or members of the Concerned Citizens for Weston. A couple of councillors mentioned people might not want the development because of who the developer was.

“Let me reassure you that this was not - and is not - a fight against Mr. Fulton, but a disagreement of what he wants: a high residential development on agricultural land in Weston,” she said.

She said she isn’t a real estate expert, but it was mentioned land next to a golf course is desirable; she has been told it’s not golf courses that make money, it’s the developments around them. There are a number of properties for sale around the golf course now not selling, including a building lot owned by Fulton.

“Where are all these people that want to flock and buy real estate next to a golf course?”

Saunders said concern was expressed about the proposed development across the county and wondered how a high residential development on agricultural land wouldn’t set a precedent.

“Why wouldn’t all farmers transform their land worth, say, $1,000 per acre, into a subdivision and sell each lot for $25,000?” she asked.

Saunders said Fulton has announced, since he can’t build next to the golf course, he’s going to build 60 homes on 800 acres.

“I look at this as land terrorism: the county has not met one of his demands, so now there are consequences. Does this mean if you give in or reconsider and allow him to develop the approximately 51 acres next to the golf course, he will stand up and promise not to develop the 800 acres and take down the two signs on the land he has for sale now?

“No, you can never be sure.”

Questions on presentation Ps and Qs

Prior to the presentations, Councillor Wayne Atwater raised a point of order: councillors didn’t receive copies of the presentations before that morning.

As pointed out by Councillor Chris Parker, councillors didn’t receive anything from Fulton prior to his presentation in October. Parker said one of the presenters, Leslie Wade, did provide a summary of her presentation.

Councillor Madonna Spinazola had called a point of order during Fulton’s presentation, when he began questioning individuals who spoke against his proposed residential development on agricultural land in Weston, defeated by council in August. Warden Fred Whalen allowed Fulton’s presentation.

Atwater said his understanding was Whalen, not present for the November session, reviewed Fulton’s October presentation beforehand but no one received copies of Wade’s or Adrienne Saunder’s presentations until the 11th hour. Deputy Warden Diana Brothers, chairing thismeeting, allowed Wade and Saunders to proceed.