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Page 18, Whitby Free Press, Wedricsday, April 13, 1994 Lynde Shoresplndetielsuvie FROM PAGE 1 In additi >n te housing, there are plans for one separate and two public elementary schools, as well as a commercial block on the southwest corner of Victoria and Gordon. A 185-jicre industrial pA north of Victoria between Je ey and Gordon streets wiIl be built byDurham Region. While the committee had no concerne about the Rose Corp. proposaI, it had reservations about the province's intentions. Despite viewing a slide show presentation which etressed that it wili resemble other Whitby housing developments, no coun- cilior was prepared te embrace the governments plans. "I don't know o any developer that would corne here and try te, get what y ou want and then market it,» Drumm told a delega- tion of government officiaIs and consultants. Of the 1,577 unite in the pro- vince's proposaI, 1,251 are either medium or high density, he noted. '"That absoîutely sucks for a poical agency te corne in here adtryt foist this on us," said Drumni. "I give credit te, Rose. I don't know how they will sell their's when they have this stuf down there,,» he said. (Rose's proposai calle for 188 detached homes, 128 link houses, 162 street townhouses and an 82-unit apartment block. (Company spokespereon Ken- neth Ferguson tel d comrnttee hie firm would prefer not te develop the site as an apartment building, but must include it in the subdivision plan since Whitby'e officiai plan designates it as such.) Drumrn adnioniehed the governrnent representatives for wanting te develop 38 p er cent of their holdings as high deneîty. «You must think that I fe 1 off a chip truck," said Drumm. "Io it because we have a social- ist government that will be out in a year and a haîf that you're doing this?" hie asked. "can tell you in two words and seven letters what I think ... take your pictures and slidee and go ore ys Councullor Don Micell could not understand why the govern- ment was invoived in the Udeve- lopment business" and expressed concern that up te, 35 per cent may be designated as low-incomne Mitchell feared the province could be creating a 'weifare worid» if it cannot market the units. "Itm concerned about what happens te these type of build- in s when no one buye theni,» he sid. S pkesperson John Perdue repied that the government entrusted the Ontario Land Corp. with the authority te, deve- !op surplus public lands for hous- ing. 'Mheprovince wili service the lande and sell it off te local builders,» he said. The marketplace wiil deter- mine how soon the high density components are built, Perdue added. Although Town officiais are now concerned with the develop- ment's actuai appearance, several people argued that no building ehould be allowed near the marsh. Any development at ail will threaten the future of the largeet remaining wetiand between Osh- awa and Hamilton, opponents fear. But as councillor Ross Batten comrittee chair, explaineci throughout the meeting, the decision te permit development was made in 1989 when the Lynde Shores Secondary Plan received approval. Batten also stressed that "al government guidelines are being adhered to in the proposaI. He noted that former environ- ment minister Ruth Grier rejec- ted the need fl an environmen- tai assessmen of the project, despite roceivi ga .4,500-na me petition dem an in one. Grier waas 4gisfied that the EMP addressed ail of the minis- try'e concerne, Batten said. In fact, the governmeni j tout- ing the plan as a model Which should be copied by other Ontario conimunities. he added. land swap proposed Although his group etili op oses deveoprent, Tom Moore of Durham Wetlands and Watersheds said many of their concerne could be alleviated if the province and Rose Corp. engaged in a land swap» ~e Rose Corp. could build on oenment land east of Jeffrey Street, while the company's pro- Se rty would remain as is to further buffer the maréh, Moore euggested. Perdue did not know if such an idea had ever been considered, but he doubted that the govern- ment would entertain it. Drumm added that the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority once atternpted to acquire the Rose pro eie but the former owner would not sel it. "If he would have, we would not be here tonight," eaid Drumm. Despite the committee'e assurance that the marsh wili be protected the critie were not convinceci. "If the marsh was to go through the natural process we wouid know what it would be like in 20 years," eaid John Mann of Eastbourne Beach Road. "But with development, I believe that in 20 years we will not have anything rnuch better than a mudhole,» he predicted. The three applications will now. be circulated for further ublic and agency comment bore comming back to commit- tee later this.year.