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pr "" Scugog Citizen Tuesday, May 7, 1996--3 Fate of park up to the OMB The Ontario Municipdl + Board (OMB) has reserved Judgement on the fate of 2.5 acres of parkland in Blackstock that Scugog Township wants to éventually sell as three building lots for single family homes. After hearing three days of testimony in the Township council chambers last week, OMB member W. E. King .. said she would hand down hér decision "in writing with reasons at a later date." Asked by the Citizen "how late is a later date", Ms. King declined to be specific, but said she has a backlog of other judgements to write before preparing this one. At issue is the parcel of open space land at,the corner of Old Scugog Road and Greensborough ~~ Drive. Scugog Township has approved a zoning change that would allow the in front of Ms. King Friday afternoon, all three argued that the Townghip should not be turning parkland into housing, and that once houses are built the land will . be gone forever for recrgation purposes. "Will this park be missed? Yes, it's a pleasant and very impbrtant part of the north end of Blackstock," said Mr. Ford, who has waged a campaign to stop its sale for the last couple of years. There is no Playground or other recreation facilities on it now and Mr. Ford told the heating there is nothing wrong with a passive park where people can have a game of catch or fly a kite. "Why does it have to be organized? Why do people seem to get upset with a vacant piece of land?" he He went on to say that by getting rid of the park, "we lity tg e lly divide the land into three building lots of about 8/4 of an acre each. Funds from the sale of the lots would be put towards improving and up-grading the recreation facilities at the Fairgrounds in Blackstock. But council's decision was opposed by three Blackstock residents--Fred Ford, Donnalee McKenna and Tom Ansell---who asked that the Municipal Board hear evidence and make a ruling. In their fingl summations are getting rid of an area where people ble, get enyironmental aspect before you make your decision," she said. Mr. Ansell, who lives immediately north of the McKennas, argued the Township should never. gell parkland unless there is one to replace it. He noted that money is tight for the municipality and re-development of the Fairgrounds (junior and senior baseball diamonds, tennis courts) will.be very slow. Ona personal level he said "I don't want to stand in history. and say we lost the park because I didn't try to save it." Port Perry lawyer Michael Fowler, a veteran of sqyeral OMB hearings on behalf of the Township spent close to an hour with his final summation, stressing the decision by the OMB should be based good land use planning, rather than the together. They can do things in that park they can't do in their back-yards. "I really think it would be a mistake to give up parkland in the hopes of improving another situation" fairgrounds) he stated. Mrs. McKenna, who lives on Old Scugog immediately to thé north of the land said" the loss of parkland is "of great concern to our family." "I urge you to see the proposal from the otion of losing p He said when the former Cartwright council accepted the land in 1971 as part of a subdivision approval, it had no chaice. Today, councils can accept "cash in lieu of parkland," and in all likelihood the Township today would take money and apply to it recreation areas elsewhere. oo' He noted technical evidence given at the hearing which found the land is suitable for septic systems; wells will be drilled to different aquafers than the surrounding shallow 'wells, and there wil be no adverse impact on groundwater conditions or drainage patterns from the three lots. He called the development of the three lots' "routine" from a technical standpoint. The 25 acres, he said is not large enough for tennis courts and/or a baseball diamond, and is not a suitable location / for intensive use recreation. 'The only value it has is for passive recreation pusposes, he said and it is not necessary in that area because of the large lots of the surrounding properties "which are ample for local 'and personal uses." There could never be baseball diamonds on this property, he said. just would not work," because of the size. As for impact on the. McKenna property to the north if three houses are built, Mr. Fowler agreed there will be some. "The test is whether that impact will be reasonable." He suggested that if council ever made a decision to provide lights for gight tennis the negative impact on the McKenna property would be far greater. Mr. Fowler agreed this is an emotional issue, but said the Board must base its decision only on the land use planning aspects. David Essig in concert David Essig, one of Canada's finest Interpreters of original contemporary and folk music, will perform at the Greenbank Hall evening, May 25. Essig was first Introduced to Canadian audiences In 1971 at the Mariposa_Folk Festival. Today,.25 years later, his intense performing style and intisive wit have made him a favourite with audiences around the world. This show will close out the winter season for the Greenbank Folk Music Soclety. Tickets, at $15 each, are avaliable at Circular Sounds and Jayson Callan Music In B Port Perry. TT a » a 0) - u al LJ ISOTONER SLIPPERS Sale Price $17.95 BABY WEEK : (le ou | plus ll To - u Recelve a ne a. FREE HIE bt Writing Set Te 2 {BA rT --- : Wl %= = = : i i \ } 2 % \ EC i SAVE 25% || |t '38! AE hr on all our BABY FASHIONS ia LJ : oof szes HM Baby's Own HM Krickets ix - yy OFF , 0024 m\Vetibec MW Minitogs - ~3 10) 0 SAVE 25% Za onhs im Fit Knit Beauty : ns {JI . wf - al = RL bd S 1] Hi BR@CICS | BROCKS wae § IMLS am Service, Quality and Style since 1881 ¥ K ids PORT PERRY rv} w--- \ ; = Al 168 QUEEN ST., PORT PERRY or | 985-8797 hd - [ i Libis dil iy Sid ik 3 ey il a8