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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday August 1, 2008 - 7 DON'T PAY RETAIL! Impact of school development overstated FACTORY OUTLET SALE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The letter to the editor (Oakville Beaver, July 30) about St. Thomas Aquinas being an "environmental disaster" is preposterous. The Exxon Valdez oil spill is an environmental disaster. The Chernobyl meltdown is an environmental disaster. The massive deforestation of the rain forests in Brazil is an environmental disaster. I don't really think that the development of 12 acres of property that legally belongs to the Halton Catholic School Board for the development of a new school to replace one that is in desperate need of repair constitutes an "environmental disaster" of earth shaking proportions. And where were the protesters when the forested area of Shell Park was clear cut for development, an area by the way that dwarfs the St. Thomas Aquinas proposed development? A development that had a huge environmental impact on wildlife in the Bronte area. Where was the outrage then, I ask? Wildlife forced out of their natural habitat, tree coverage decimated. Lots of silence on that issue. Lots of silence, too, on the issue of clear cutting by developers in considering a new tree bylaw or the environmental impact of development of large tracts of farmland for new housing in response to the province's desire to add 75,000 to the population of Oakville over the next 10 years. No protests of environmental disasters there. I hardly think that the proposed development for St. Thomas Aquinas falls into any of those categories and is especially not a "disaster" What is objectionable is anecdotal evidence, speculative protests of "light and noise pollution" not to mention the intrusion into the rights of property owners to develop and maintain property that they legally own. Then we have the claim that "world will be looking on Oakville's environmental disaster". Hogwash! My advice is if you wish to remain credible, lose the emotional knee-jerk reaction and provide hard evidence. If the environmentalists have their way there will be no development and we will all be living in a forest. This is the real world folks, and we need new schools, new facilities to keep our youth occupied and off the streets, new facilities that will benefit the community. I might point out that lots of people live around Bronte Athletic field and it certainly is not "an unpleasant place to live in." There is room for a balance on these issues and there is no evidence that the proposed plan for St. Thomas will not in the end find a balance to satisfy the general population. But in the absence of hard evidence to the contrary, I suggest environmentalists mind their own business. I am reminded of a quote from Shakespeare's play Hamlet: "The lady doth protest too much, methinks." Give it a rest. We are all tired of these kinds of diatribes. If all you have to offer is the Chicken Little mantra then you really have nothing to offer at all. PETER SWIRZON INSTALLATION OF CROWN MOULDING, OUTDOOR & INDOOR COLUMNS COLUMNS New for the Do-It-Yourselfers premade corners for all our profiles Over 70 smooth or patterned profiles BY PROFESSIONAL FINISH CARPENTERS WAINSCOTING deas. Showroom In Home Design Consultation Available. Hours: Mon-Fri 9-5, 201 Millway Ave., Unit 6 (One light north of Hwy. 7 & Jane) Thurs until 7, or Sat 10-3 www.elitemouldings.com 905-760-1665 416-245-1115 5 OUTDOOR BLITZ Friday, August 1st - Monday, August 4th Lawnmover, trimmer BBQ & OUTDOOR & leaf blo e s FIREPLACES % Pool Chemicals 20 % OFF 25 OFF 20 % OFF Limited quantites available on all featured products. 40% OFF ALL TREES AND SHRUBS 399 Speers Road, Oakville (Speers Road and Dorval Drive) STORE HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 7:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. Saturday 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. 905.844.8010 Sunday 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Open Holdiday Monday 800 a.m.-5:00 p.m.