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HPD SUBMISSION TO:
Committee of the Whole
November 7, 2005

REGARDING AGENDA ITEM 6.1:
Sale of City Owned Property – 863 Nebo Road to 6323812 Canada Inc. (Maple Leaf Foods Inc.) and Giuseppe DiCienzo and Vittoria DiCienzo. (PED05092/PW05104/FCS05093) (Ward 11)

Mr. Chairman, members of council.

I am Michael Desnoyers and I currently reside in the City of Hamilton more specifically in the former Town of Ancaster and appear before you today as Chairman of and representing Hamiltonians for Progressive Development.

The subject before this committee today is the proposed sale of city owned lands at 863 Nebo Road to Maple Leaf Foods Inc. for the purpose of constructing a Pork Slaughterhouse and Processing facility. This fact has been well publicized in the local media and there is NO ambiguity as to the intended purpose. With all due respect to staff Mr. Mayor, this decision goes well beyond a real estate transaction.

This decision is being considered and debated by council without having engaged the public or the communities surrounding the proposed site, in any form of substantive, collaborative discussion and input prior to this decision process. Although I welcome the opportunity to present today it does not constitute a meaningful cooperative mechanism whereby ALL aspects of this proposed development can be discussed and debated and where the concerns of the community are addressed with equal weight to those of the developers and Maple Leaf Foods Inc. This decision is of such significance that it demands that council go beyond the normal process.

As this council goes in-camera to further debate this issue I ask that you consider the following:

Has a complete and thorough evaluation of this proposed development been executed that addresses the principles and goals of a sustainable community as clearly articulated in Vision 2020? Has any substantive information with regards to the social, environmental and economic implications been provided to this council both good and bad to aid in the decision process?

More specifically, have any studies been completed which address the impacts on local neighbourhoods to increased traffic, noise, odour and overall quality of life? Have the total costs of servicing these lands, a land sale costs and worst case benefits analysis and a potential lost opportunity analysis due to the perceived negative image of a processing plant been completed and considered? What are the impacts to the existing infrastructure such as water and waste water treatment as well environmental impacts to the local watershed and surrounding lands? Have ANY of these vital pieces of information been provided to council to aid in this decision and to demonstrate adherence to the principles of Vision 2020? Unless ALL of these issues have been properly addressed it would seem the process is seriously flawed.

This council has before it Mr. Mayor a unique opportunity to stop these endless approaches to desperation planning and engage the community in a more collaborative process for a vibrant and sustainable community. The City of Hamilton has been given funds by other levels of government to provide the infrastructure needed to market the Glanbrook industrial Park as a shovel ready Prestige Industrial Park as it was originally intended and promised.

Reacting to comments made earlier by the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce Mr. Mayor, I have grave concerns that members of this council might even remotely consider the results of a heavily biased marketing poll in their decision process.

I implore upon this Council and respectfully request that you seize upon this opportunity and to delay the sale decision of these lands until ALL these vital questions are answered and the community at large can be engaged in a fashion that demonstrates the commitment of this Council to the will of the community.

Thank you.

Respectfully,

Michael Desnoyers
Co-Chair
Hamiltonians for Progressive Development
P.O. Box 57231 Jackson Station
2 King Street West
Hamilton, ON
L8P 4X1