(Niagara At Large is posting the following two media releases from the Niagara, Ontario-based Citizens Coalition of Greater Fort Erie, a group battling plans to build a giant NASCAR track on rural lands in the municipality, for our readers information.)
SPEEDWAY CONSORTIUM DELAYS APPEAL DUE TO LACK OF COMPLETED STUDIES, April 4, 2011
Fort Erie, ON – The consortium hoping to build a motor speedway in Fort Erie is not ready to face-off before the Ontario Municipal Board and instead, has requested that the OMB delay the prehearing originally scheduled some time ago to take place on Friday, April 8th.
Architects' rendering of how the NASCAR speedway stadium may look in rural Fort Erie.
The OMB is charged with conducting appeal and review hearings in order to examine all facets of a proposed development project and ultimately rule on its’ viability for the community. The prehearing represents the first phase in this process.
Late last week, the Citizens Coalition of Greater Fort Erie (CCGFE) received notification from the lawyers for 1746391 Ontario Inc. advising that “based on the issues raised in the appeal and the status of various reports to be completed by our client in response to such issues, and certain other outstanding issues which are in the process of being resolved… (We) request an adjournment of the upcoming prehearing.”
CCGFE and other registered appellants have been preparing for the April 8th prehearing for some time and were ready to proceed. However, in the spirit of cooperation and transparency, CCGFE agreed to allow the deferment.
“The issues raised in the appeal are the same issues we have been addressing since news of the speedway project was first announced to the general public almost two years ago,” stated CCGFE President, Sandy Vant, “and we are perplexed that the proponents seem to be dragging their feet with regard to the many environmental studies that must be completed and peer-reviewed before the OMB can make its’ ruling.
Understandably, concerned citizens in Niagara expect them to do their due diligence on important matters that will greatly affect our quality of life; such as noise and air pollution, traffic control, and other environmental and public health impacts.”
The speedway group has officially requested that the Environmental & Land Tribunals of the Ontario Municipal Board defer the prehearing to sometime in June at the earliest.
Incorporated in 2010, CCGFE is a grassroots community group whose primary objective is to support responsible development that will enhance and protect the cultural and ecological assets of Greater Fort Erie and Regional Niagara.
Fort Erie Speedway Fight Attracts National Attention from Environmental Watchdogs, April 4, 2011
Fort Erie, ON – As the Citizens Coalition of Greater Fort Erie prepares for its David vs. Goliath speedway fight before the Ontario Municipal Board, several powerful environmental and conservation groups have aligned themselves with CCGFE in a show of support; including the David Suzuki Foundation, Ontario Nature and the Preservation of Agricultural Lands Society.
The David Suzuki Foundation has been addressing the phenomenon of what is termed ‘urban sprawl’ for almost ten years, with a recent focus on the loss of natural spaces in Southern Ontario. “Urban sprawl doesn’t pay,” explains Dr. David Suzuki, the award-winning scientist, environmentalist and (CBC) broadcaster. “Along with negative conservation and quality of life issues attached to the proposed development, this type of expansion across agricultural lands will also result in huge costs due to the infrastructure, as well as ongoing costs associated with the environmental and public health impacts.”
The decision of Municipal and Regional Governments to override the Official Policy and create a ‘special policy area’ to allow the speedway to build on the 821 acres they have ear-marked in Fort Erie, paves the way for urban sprawl across agricultural lands, protected wetlands, creeks and forest areas.
Likewise, CCGFE has had several communications with Ontario Nature, an agency charged with protecting the wildlife and biodiversity of the province; who is currently reviewing the impacts of the proposed development and will be closely following the OMB proceedings.
The Preservation of Agricultural Lands Society (PALS) is yet another prominent conservation group that is ever watchful against the threat of urban sprawl in their efforts to protect the agricultural industry and natural heritage areas of Niagara. PALS will also be presenting their case against the speedway development before the OMB as a co-appellant in the proceedings.
Coincidentally, the Carolinian Canada Coalition has just published the Conservation Action Plan for Niagara, which notes that the Niagara River corridor includes some of the most biologically diverse natural areas in the Golden Horseshoe; and it is interesting to note that several of the 11 goals outlined in the Niagara CAP would be compromised should the speedway project be allowed to move forward.
“It is rare that a single issue can attract the attention and support of so many watchdog agencies,” said Sandy Vant, President of CCGFE, “which certainly serves to bolster our commitment to fight the environmental nightmare that a speedway in this location represents.”
The OMB prehearing was originally scheduled to take place on April 8th. However, late last week CCGFE received a notification from the proponent’s lawyer requesting that court proceedings be delayed due to the fact that their client still had not completed the necessary environmental and health studies that must be provided to the OMB and all appellants. In the spirit of cooperation and transparency, CCGFE agreed to allow the delay. The purpose of the prehearing is to identify all the parties in the case and establish a format for the actual hearing. It is open to the public and CCGFE encourages all those who stand in opposition to the speedway development to attend. Also, for more information on this issue, concerned citizens are urged to visit the CCGFE website at www.ccgfe.org.
Incorporated in 2010, CCGFE is a grassroots community group whose primary objective is to support responsible development that will enhance and protect the cultural and ecological assets of Greater Fort Erie and Regional Niagara.
To view information by the NASCAR track proponent, posted on the Town of Fort Erie, Ontario’s website visit http://www.cdnmotorspeedway.com/
(Visit Niagara At Large at www.niagaraatlarge.com for more news and commentary on matters of interest and concern to residents in our greater Niagara region and beyond.)
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I feel that the Speedway Project is not the most desirable endevour to come to Fort Erie but this basket case of a Town will not get anything better, the Province back in 1972 decided that Niagara would be Tourism/Recreational so the writng was on the wall , no industry for our area, after all our jobs bailed out of Fort Erie for Mexico after the passage of NAFTA. we are in the position we have to bribe anybodyto come here, free land etcetra, beggars cannot be choosers,the location in question will do less damage to the environment there than any other location chosen, the land is basically foot of top soil with a base of limestone, no depth to really grow much, the creek is polluted by the Town dump and the sludge lagoon where the sewage effluent run off pollutes the water, nobody gave a damn before, so why now?The Town also moved this creek without asking permission of the NPCA.
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Come on PEOPLE. Have you ever been to a Nascar car event.
The people are great and the MONEY that is pumped into the area is great.
Why dont you try going to an event and see for your self.
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