-/Mayor gets failing grade from NE protection group The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, November 4, 2003-3 By JASON MISNER The Champion Mayor Gord Krantz says he's "fot surprised" he's been slapped witb an F grade by an enviroomen- tai watchdog group for bis work on the Niagara Escarpruent Commnission (NEC). It's the second time he's received an F from. the Coalition on the Niagara E'scarpment (CONE), the firat commng in 2000. "If 1 supported everytbing they (CONE) wanted, 1 would get a good grade," Mr. Krantz said. "If you're not in their agreement, you will get an F every time." CONE released their report T1hursday. It graded each of the eight commissioners who were appointed by the provincial Cabinet to represent tbe municipal- ities the escarpruent crosses. A total of three municipal members were given an F. A report card mncluding grades for ail 17 commissioners is slated for release in January. CONE's executive director, Jason Thomne, said Mr. Krantz has voted "in violation of the Niagara Escarpment Plan (NEP)," but noted "legisiation doesn't require the commission to follow the plan." The NEC makes land-use deci- sions regarding the escarpmnent. He said the report waa releaaed deliberately before the November 10 municipal election to give vot- ers information before making their choîce. "The people want the escarpment protected and they need to let counicillors know that." CONE identified 17 significant development cases that went before the NEC between April 2000 and October 2003. Mr. Krantz was present for 14 of those decisions and voted 'against the NEP's provisions for 12 of them. Decisions regarding Dufferin Aggregates' proposai to, expand its quarry and lot severance were highlighted. Mr. Throne said NEC staff rec- ommended agasnst accepting Dufferin's expansion proposai in September of 2002, but the com- mission eventuaily voted in favour of it. This suntinier regional counicil ovcrwhelmingly approved Dufferin's plan to extract more minerais. It will go before a Mmnistry of Natural Resources and a joint hearing of the Ontario Municipal Board and Environmientai Review Tribunal in January for final approval. Also, an application for a lot sev- erance permit for Springridge Farmi waa approved by the NEC in September 2001 and waa appealed to, tbe Envirornentai Review Tribunal on behaif of CONE and a local neighbour in January of 2002. The tribunai tumned down the original application, but last December, then-Naturai Resources Minister Jenry Oueilette ovenruled. the tribunal's decision and approved Springridge's applica- tion. The Town of Milton must stili approve the creation of a lot for tbe existing bome to become a legal property, and also approve a build- ing permit for construction of the new home. Despite being given the F grade, Mr. Krantz defended ail of bis deci- sions, saying bie uses "common sense" wben voting. "One of the tbings I've said is I'm not there to rubber stamp (cases). Each case has to be weighed and meaaured on their own menits. "Policies and procedures are ail well and gond, but why do you think there are 17 commnissioners? Sometimnes you bave to deviate from policies and use common, sense." The bottoru une, Mr. Krantz said, is the escarpment us a valuable asset and hie wants to keep it that way. "The escarpmnent is very, very important because 1 waa bom and rassed within the shadow of the escarpmnent, in Milton Heights. I'm une of tbe strongest defenders of is, regardiesa of what CONE thinks." Jason Misner can be reached at jmisner@miltoncanadianchampi .- on.com. 200 PUlhift ~mnàflli MSRP $37,795 CASH Sals Price 7 Passenger, quad seating, loaded Stk#135538 s'n 'a5 jB 2003PtIfltIa MiGfttUff MSRP $34,560 CASH Sale Price 7 Passenger, quad seating Stkf135586 $:5,2W.I 2M0 PUhU~ MIliUbU MSRP $39,59 CASH Sale Price DUD Videa Entertainiment System Stk4237757 lu7,~1d 200 -elbc &UfiI!8 MSRP $20 140 CASH Sale Price 2 door coupe, auto, air Stk#116212 21H1 fflt GIIl~PiGI MSRP $35,035 CASH Sale Price Leather, sunroof, loaded SuklOflo W I»,24 2m0 CiiIilI EnCabhII msRP $79 o6o CASH Sale Price FuIly loaded S31fl5112 $4~~j 200 (dIaioe Eç&.ahidi MSRP $81,800 CASH Sale Price Loaded, white dlamond SUM16 *ix k 2M0 hflhUC VU»hI GTi MSRP $29,130 CASH Sale Price 1.8 litre, 6 ipeed SMU327 M2 ,O 200 SMI Enffl~~ &1I MSRP $54,365 CASH Sale Price Absolutely louded SMOMs4e 4 ~jIJ,21 an OM POwelO.l. 5 yr/5OO.OUU pe Ac, ABS. olstdo 185 lis V6, 4 se auto. 3. IL V6 engine, 4 Spe auto, AC, CD stereo, doors,~~~~~~~~~~ PL SPI tstCDsCOPoedorok, pt folding rear seat, power t Wb5 ths parchas or le of any new, used or Osais osiicl. rof ad chr Wehes *AIl cashs purcisase prices +adi n tax + licesing. AU prices quoteri Inclade factory rebats; 0% ad casis rabats cannosi b. cosbineci PITTW80 6-î-TrïTITI-L