I781MAIN ST.#1 &2, MILTONI IMM"1 87 85 A Metrotand Community Newspaper Vol. 140 No. 31 Friday, July 2, 1999 24 Pages 750 (GST included) Prickly 7e00 meeting revisited By IRENE GENTLE The Champion Advocates on either side of the proposed E.C. Drury develop- ment deal are getting another kick at the can. The issue will retumn to council Monday, JuIy 5. Delegations are welcome to appear at the meeting provided they contact Town clerk Helen Lisi witb their intention. It could be the st in a senies of Town- level bgttles over the development of' a senior's retirement subdivision bebind the E.C. Dniry complex. A I 80-bed nursing home is stili under consideration on the 33-acre site, whicb is the largeat open green space in urban Milton. Though council voted to kibosh the application by H.D. Investmenta, the deal will not be sealed until the minutes of that meeting are approved, said Ms Liai. By lifting the item from the previous meeting' a minutes, council can vote to reopen the issue, or simply approve what they have already donc. "I tbink it's neceasary that tbey take that vote again," aaid Ms Liai, adding that the June 7 meeting had not gone very well. The meeting was marred by a series of controversies. The firat occurred when acting Mayor Art Melanson called a vote on the devel- opinent issue before hearing from 10 liated mme E.C. DRURY on page 3 Editorial péage 6 Datolns 14-16 Sports 17-19 Classitieul 21-23 aM&M Menu *OukvilIm séplist Church (IR) * 8mrs * ehoppers Druc Mart SmItty's Photo by GRAHAM PAINE V1Cool1ing off Six-year-old Hayley McLean gets a face full of cool relief at Rotary Park's SpIasli Zone, which along wlth the local outdoor pool la now open for the summer. QOHE 5EE OLI~ 5ELEQTION 0F ,~Q~W4Q WA~E Over2iyearsofDedîcwedProfessmnoJService i. Wishes ail Miltonians a Hap Canad Day! Join us for Summer Services at the Seniors Activity Centre, 500 Chulds Drive ,, - .Worship Services 10:30 a.m. udu '-Full Children'à Ministry ~~ ~876-3586 ~~2 Chamber .is anxious over bu*lding bylaw By IRENE GENTLE The Champion A local development charges bylaw that spells out the cost of doing business in Milton is now in place. It passed at a recent special council meeting despite objections from the Chamber of Commerce that the rates were too high. "Wbat you've offered is good, but is it good enough to make Milton competitive?" challenged Chamber president George Takaki. He was backed up by Chamber member Carol McDonald. "If we are not competitive, then the model for growth goea right out the window," she warned. "If a business comes in at year one and atarta paying taxes, tbe Town t is already benefiting." Their commenta bore a familiar Rlck Malboeuf ring to Councillor John Challinor. He recalled tbe time when the old lot levies were traded in for the firat development chargea bylaw. 'The presentation by the Chamber looks eerily fainiliar to wbat tbey said in 1992," he said. "At that time we heard a number of presentations on how development chargea would negatively affect our ability to grow." The freeze out didn't happen then and will probably not happen now either, aaid Mr. Challinor. 'Il don't think it bas been a factor one way or another." Under the new bylaw, developera will pay $1.93 per square foot for industrial and commercial growtb. Previously, non-residential developers forked out a total fée of $1 .48 per square foot. That was broken down to 74 cents for Town services and 74 cents for hydro. There is no hydro charge in tbe new bylaw. Reaidential devel- opers will shell out $5,240 for a single family dwelling. The charges were drafted by Town staff and consultants C.N. Watson and Associatea. In bis experience, other elements rank higber wben businesses look at relocating, said Councillor Lieven Gevaert. "The development cbarges is really a rather amaîl tbing," be said. "It was almost a by-tbe-way compared to otber issues tbat are important." But Councillor Rick Malboeuf worried tbat Milton may price itself right out of business if its charges are too bigh. 1I don't like what 1 sec here," be said. "I tbink we're pricing ourselvea out of tbe market." New business will pay for itself tbrough increased assesament even if development cbarges are scuttled altogether, aaid Councillor Rick Day. a mm PHASE-IN on page 7