The Collingwood Branch of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario, in co-operation with the Collingwood Heritage Committee Presents:

HERITAGE MATTERS!
An interesting meeting is taking place in Collingwood this week.

Hear from the presidents of two provincial organizations about the importance of heritage conservation as well as the latest developments and initiatives taking place in the
Collingwood Heritage District. 

Speakers include:

Catherine Nasmith, President of the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario
Paul King, President of Community Heritage Ontario
Ron Martin, Deputy Chief Building Official, resource to Collingwood
Heritage Committee
 
Date:          Thursday, October 18th, 2007
Time:          7:00 pm
Location:     All Saints Anglican Church, Elgin St. Collingwood
Admission:   Free

Following is the text of a letter received from Mayor Carrier in response to V.O.T.E.’s letter of August 22nd regarding the CSL Berm:

September 10, 2007

Dear Ms. Scheben-Edey:

Further to your correspondence of August 22, 2007, I have asked our staff and consultants to review your comments concerning the berm located at the CSL lands.  The Town appreciates your interest in this project, and the specific questions raised.  Provided below are responses to your comments.

You Are Invited!
Come on out to listen, learn, question and comment on issues of interest in Collingwood.

What:  A Town Hall style public forum
Date and Time:  October 4th 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Place:  Leisure Time Club, Minnesota Street
Admission:  No charge and open to the public

Details on next page....

A vigilant V.O.T.E. member noticed that there had been a change on one wall of the berm and that all vegetation had come off that section.  As a result, the Ministry of Environment did come to investigate last week and their findings are not known.

Prior to their visit, V.O.T.E. Collingwood sent the following letter to Mayor Carrier.

The following is the Town of Collingwood's official media release with respect to the Admiral Collingwood settlement.

Expert Development Canada’s Chief Economist Stephen Poloz stated Thursday that it is no longer “business as usual” and Canadian industry needs to re-think its strategy for future success.  Mr. Poloz took a side trip from the EDC Let’s Talk Exports tour, held in 18 cities across the country to appear in Collingwood at the invitation of Voices of the Electorate (V.O.T.E.) Collingwood.  Each year, EDC provides these tours as a means of keeping business decision-makers and investors up to date on the global economy and its implications for Canadian trade and investment opportunities.

Speaking to a crowd of some 150 people, Mr. Poloz provided a perspective on the latest developments in the global economy including Canada’s export outlook, interest rates, and the dollar.  His key message focussed on the evolving trade paradigm – the decline of traditional vertically integrated industry and the rapid expansion of the new world economy and international trade.  “We are now observing vertical disintegration as manufacturers come to recognize that they cannot be successful with internalizing production for all its products … It leads to an unsupportable cost structure.  The trade world is now flat, trade barriers are disappearing, and any product or element can be sourced from almost anywhere in the world.” 

The 24th annual Export Development Canada Let’s Talk Exports tour is taking a special side trip this year, to Collingwood.  Let’s Talk Exports is held in 18 cities across the country between April 25 and June 1, 2007 - from St. John’s Newfoundland to Vancouver.  Each year, EDC provides these tours as a means of keeping business decision-makers and investors up to date on the global economy and its implications for Canadian trade and investment opportunities.

The tour features Stephen Poloz, EDC's Senior Vice-President, Corporate Affairs and Chief Economist, who heads up EDC’s Corporate Affairs Group, which is responsible for strategic planning, corporate communications, public affairs, government and stakeholder relations, international relations, environmental risk, engineering, political risk, the information centre and economics.   Mr. Poloz provides perspective on the latest developments in the global economy including Canada’s export outlook, interest rates, and the dollar.  He also explores export strategies that may help Canadian companies minimize risk.  

As Collingwood grows and new developments rise around us, Collingwood has also spent considerable time looking to the past and in particular, to its historical architecture.  The last decade brought the Town national recognition when the downtown core was the first to be listed in Canada’s Register of Historic Places.  A Heritage District was proclaimed in 2003 and the Doors Open event attracted visitors from far and wide to look behind the hidden heritage treasures of Collingwood.  The demolition and reconstruction of buildings have been major talking points in the town over the last few years in regard to properties such as the former Admiral school site, the Lighthouse, the Palace Livery building or the new Library plans.

In another twist, the proponents for the Admiral project have filed their own appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board regarding the development.  A media release issued by Compenso Communications today follows.

Media Release

Collingwood, Ontario.  January 22, 2007

VOTE Withdraws OMB Objection to Proposed Admiral Collingwood Development

The Collingwood ratepayers group, Voices of the Electorate, (VOTE) has today advised The Town of Collingwood that it will withdraw its Ontario Municipal Board objection to Collingwood’s Official Plan Amendment #5 and its implementing Zoning Bylaw.  The amendments would have permitted a mixed-use residential and commercial development on the site of the former Admiral Collingwood School.  The proposed height of 6 storeys and the design of the proposed replacement buildings were in direct violation of the Town’s Heritage District Guidelines.

MEDIA RELEASE – DECEMBER, 2006

In Thinking About It’s Future, A Town Discovers It’s Past

As second in command to Admiral Horatio Nelson in the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar, Lord Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood’s influence and legacy lives on in Collingwood, Ontario today.  Although no one seems to know for sure why this picturesque Ontario tourist town is named for the Admiral, his name is perpetuated in various developments and commercial establishments in the community.  An unusual story has given a group of Collingwood citizens a renewed connection to the British naval hero.

December 2006

V.O.T.E. extends it's appreciation and congratulations to all of the candidates who ran in the municipal election.  We look forward to working with the new council and wish them all the best.  We will continue to be a voice in the community working to promote and encourage open, accountable and fiscally responsible government.

V.O.T.E. Collingwood   P.O. Box 464
Collingwood, ON L9Y 4B2

October 26, 2006.

Dear Mayor and Members of Council,

In regard to the proposed sale of the Collingwood Terminals, I wish to emphatically point out that once again you have broken your promises of open public consultation before disposing of such a valuable publicly-owned icon.

The following media release was issued October 14th:

VOTE Collingwood Files Appeal of Admiral Collingwood Zoning By-Law

            In a not unexpected move, the ratepayers’ association VOTE Collingwood has filed an appeal this week to the Town’s passage of the Zoning By-law for the proposed Admiral Collingwood Place development.  The Zoning Bylaw would be the implementing bylaw for Official Plan Amendment #5, to which the group filed an appeal in July.
 

In preparation for the upcoming election, V.O.T.E. hosted two candidate meetings this past week.  The first, on October 11th, was for candidates seeking a councillor position.  13 of the 14 candidates were present and fielded open question, live from the floor with about 260 audience members.  Councillor Gretta Gill issued a media release boycotting the event.  The second meeting was held October 14th for Mayor and Deputy Mayor candidates.  While incumbants Rick Lloyd and Sandra Cooper also boycotted the meeting, councillor Chris Carrier, former Deputy Mayor Joe Gardhouse and Geoff Noble took the stage in front of about 220 members of the public.  After being asked two pre-established questions about municipal debt loads and about the growth Collingwood is facing, the audience again took over the floor asking about 20 questions of the three candidates.  For both meetings, particpants and voters alike commented that they thoroughly enjoyed the open, live, "Town Hall" atmosphere of the meetings which were a truly democratic and participatory exercise.

Minutes of the VOTE Collingwood General Meeting
August 23, 2006
Leisure Time Club

The meeting was brought to order by Chair Deborah Doherty at 7:05PM.  Doherty welcomed members, including new members, and guests, including Thom Patterson, President of the Creemore Area Residents Association, and CARA member John Crispo.

The group were brought up to date on the group’s primary activities since the last meeting of June 15, which were related primarily to the Admiral Collingwood development opposition and to Election Readiness activities. 

You Won’t Want To Miss This!

Collingwood is currently dealing with development applications that would increase the number of households in town by 70%! 

What are the implications of such rapid and significant growth?

 

Are we up to the challenges?

Media Release

VOTE Files OMB Objection to Proposed Admiral Collingwood Development

Collingwood, Ontario.  July 18, 2006

Deborah Doherty, Chairperson, welcomed the membership, at 7:05 p.m. She summarized the results of the election planning meeting held last March, in which we as a group identified the key issues going into the next election.  These include:

Accountability and Openness

Attracting clean industry

Affordable housing

Controlled and smart growth

Environmental protection

V.O.T.E. Collingwood

Box 464

Collingwood, ON

L9Y 4B2

May 18, 2006

County of Simcoe

Administration Centre

1110 Highway No. 26

Midhurst, ON

L0L 1X0

Attention:  Planning Department

Re:  OPA No. 5, Town of Collingwood

We are writing to make you aware of our objections to By-law No. 2006-46 to adopt OPA No. 5, passed by the Council of the Town of Collingwood on May 1^st, 2006. 

Deputation to Council

May 15^th, 2006

I am here not only on behalf of V.O.T.E. Collingwood but also personally as a concerned citizen with respect to the clean-up of the contaminated soils at the Shipyards site.  Thank-you for giving me the opportunity to share those concerns with you this evening.

Sent via email on March 27^th, 2006

Mayor and Members of Council,

We note that the Master Development Agreement for the Shipyards is on the Council Agenda tonight for ratification.  We have expressed these concerns before, to yourselves and to the County, and we will reiterate them again in advance of your meeting.

Opening Speech Sewell Presentation

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.

Margaret Meade 

 Well here we are together tonight – a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens.  I welcome all of you to the first Annual General Meeting of VOTE Collingwood – The Voices of the Electorate.   Thank you also to the members of the Media for joining us tonight.

The John Sewell event at the Gayety Theatre was very successful and we're pleased to present hereunder, notes from Mr. Sewell's speech. 

John Sewell Speech to VOTE Collingwood

Tuesday, February 7, 2006, 8:00 p.m.

Gayety Theatre, Collingwood

1.         Thanks for having me.  It is good to again have the opportunity to speak about Collingwood. 

Some of you might have heard the lectures I gave three years ago, tracing the history of Collingwood and concluding with thoughts on where the Town was headed.

Deputation to Council re: FRAM Memorandum of Understanding

January 23, 2006

 This deputation is to urge Council to engage in open Public Consultation before entering into a memorandum of understanding with FRAM to sell the Grain Elevators and the Contact Centre.  In addition, I urge that disposition of these properties should be through a Public Tendering process to ensure that the municipality garners maximum value for the properties. 

The following is a letter that Paul King, President of Community Heritage Ontario sent to the Enterprise-Bulletin on November 22nd, 2005, and which to-date remains unpublished.

November 22, 2005

Mayor Terry Geddes & Council
Town of Collingwood
c/o the Enterprise Bulletin

Dear Sirs:

As President of Community Heritage Ontario, I sent you an email in May requesting that you carefully consider your decision to demolish the Admiral Collingwood Public School . I was disappointed to learn that, even thought there were major objections, council voted to demolish the building . I understand as well that a number of members of the municipal heritage committee resigned in protest - no wonder. You had the authority under provisions of the Heritage Act to impose conditions on demolition (such as approval of redevelopment plans prior to issuance of a demolition permit), but you decided not to do so and, as a result, the building was demolished.

As I pointed out in my email, your decision could probably have been appealed to the courts because it clearly undermined council's earlier decision to establish the Collingwood Heritage Conservation District. Your decision was not consistent with the earlier decision, was not consistent with Article 7 of your Official Plan, and was not consistent with provincial policy statements designed to conserve heritage resources.

CONTINUED...

January 16, 2006

Dear Mayor and Members of Council


In reviewing the agenda for tonight's Committee of the Whole meeting, I was  surprised to see the staff report recommending that you enter into a memorandum of understanding with FRAM concerning the possible sale of the Grain Elevators and the Contact Centre, without a Public Meeting or a Public Tendering process. 

I wish to herewith express strong objection to that recommendation for several reasons. These two structures are among of the most significant heritage landmarks owned by the Town – the people – of Collingwood.  Indeed, the Grain Elevators have become an internationally recognized icon of the Town of Collingwood.   While you may or may not be
required by law to hold a public meeting or to publicly tender for offers to purchase for the properties, in my opinion you are shirking your moral responsibility to the taxpayers by disregarding public opinion on the sale 
of these public lands.  While redevelopment as proposed may or may not be the best alternative, there has not been an opportunity for full public discussion on this.  The value of the properties may be significantly higher than 
what can be assessed through an appraisal that lacks valid sale comparison - only full exposure to the marketplace could establish what a buyer is willing to pay.  Further, the deal with FRAM appears to be contingent in some degree 
to a deal or exchange that may or may not be the best use of the sale proceeds.

Shouldn't the public have an opportunity to fully flush this out before you agree to it? I would respectfully request that you do not agree to enter into any arrangements until there has been an opportunity for meaningful public consultation.

Yours Truly,
Deborah A Doherty
Chair, VOTE Collingwood

V.O.T.E. members, and the public, will soon have a rare opportunity to learn how we can prepare for Collingwood’s November, 2006 municipal election from one of Canada’s most renowned and respected public figures, John Sewell.

V.O.T.E. Collingwood

Box 464

Collingwood, ON

L9Y 4B2

December 8, 2005

Deputy Mayor Sandra Cooper

Town of Collingwood

97 Hurontario Street

Collingwood, ON  

Dear Ms. Cooper,

During the December 5^th meeting of council you said in reference to a conversation you had with the CAO for Simcoe County, that, “There seems to be small groups of 'anti' people in all communities..."  Since you made this statement during discussions about V.O.T.E. Collingwood’s letter in regard to the Culham house demolition permit, we assume you were referring to V.O.T.E. in your “anti people” comment and as such, feel compelled to respond to your public statement.

V.O.T.E. is pro Collingwood and it is the very reason for our existence as a residents and ratepayers group in the town.  Our mandate is to encourage good local governance that:  a) respects and promotes our quality of life by understanding that the unique and special character of Collingwood should guide growth decisions rather than having growth affect the character of the town, b) is open and accountable, c) is fiscally responsible and d) makes sound decision for our present and our future.

V.O.T.E. Collingwood

Box 464, Collingwood, ON., L9Y 4B2

November 30, 2005

Mayor Geddes and Council

Town of Collingwood

97 Hurontario Street

Collingwood, ON       

Dear Mayor Geddes and Members of Council;

Re: Culham House Demolition Permit

On May 9th 2005 Collingwood Council voted to allow a demolition permit for the Culham House (263 Hurontario St.). The permit was officially issued to the applicant on May 25, 2005 by the building department.

As council is aware, the Culham House is located within the Collingwood Heritage Conservation District. This building is one of the oldest in the downtown and is rated as an exceptional heritage building in Collingwood’s Heritage Inventory.

Subsequent to the issuance of the demolition permits the developer presented detailed plans for the redevelopment of the site that do not conform to Collingwood’s Heritage District Guidelines. As council also knows, the proposed redevelopment of the site is in conflict with Provincial Policy Statements on heritage, and the town’s own Official Plan, and is also contrary to the spirit and intent of the Heritage Act (Bill 60).

V.O.T.E. COLLINGWOOD

First Public Meeting Minutes

Sept 27 05, 7 pm

CCI, Collingwood

Our Town. Our Voice. Our Future.

Attended by:  approximately 120-130 people

Meeting was called to order at 7:07 pm, by facilitator, Bob Wiele.  Bob started with an introduction to V.O.T.E. and discussed the agenda.  He presented a 30 second basketball video, which illustrated how when we’re very busy focusing on one thing, we can miss noticing other things happening around us.

Bob introduced Deb Doherty, Chairperson, who gave a speech on the background, mandate, and interim board members of V.O.T.E.  A transcript of her speech follows:

Attended by approximately 125 people, our first public meeting was a great success! 

Several of V.O.T.E.'s interim board members gave the background of the organization, together with some of the issues about which we had concerns.

 FORMER ADMIRAL COLLINGWOOD SCHOOL
VS.
PROPOSED NEW BUILDING
Drawn to Scale

V.O.T.E.
COLLINGWOOD

is having it's first PUBLIC MEETING

on September 27th, 2005

at Collingwood Collegiate Institute (CCI)
(Hurontario and Cameron Streets)

at 7:00 p.m. Sharp to 9:00 p.m.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Seating is limited and first come, first seated. 

Membership registration available.

In January, Toronto Life magazine featured Collingwood with a headline that read “Sprawlingwood” and it’s no wonder why.  According to the last census data from 2001, Collingwood had 8515 private dwelling units.  Between 1991 and 2001, we grew by 875 households averaging a growth rate of about 1% per year.  Today, a recent report on the number of subdivision and condominium applications reveals that there are 4700 new units currently under development or proposed which represents a 55% increase in the number of households!  Can we afford the operating costs of such growth?  Is it sustainable?

According to the development map, there are about 4700 housing units (single family and condominium) as well as other forms of development in progress or planned in the community at the present time.  Click HERE to download a larger PDF version of the Development Map. Here are some questions that we have posed to our Town Planners, but so far they have not met with us:

·         At what stage are each of these developments in the planning process?

·         Are copies of site plans available?

·         For those with draft plan approvals, what conditions have been imposed by the Town?

·         Do all of these projects have committed sewer allocations?

·         Are there time caps for these developments?

·         Are there any new parks, public pools, meeting rooms, tennis courts, etc being built by any of the developers?  If so, who would maintain them? 

·         What is our water and sewer capacity to meet these projects and, if expansions are required, are costs being recaptured now through development charges?

·         To what degree are developers required to follow the Town’s subdivision guidelines?

·         What is our current density per acre in the Town and, what will it be when these developments are all completed?

·         Has a financial cost-benefit analysis been done on the impacts of this level of growth?

·         How many of these planned new developments will be serviced by public transit?

Collingwood’s recent discussions with Zenon Environmental about the potential sale of our water utility, should give us pause regarding P3’s – public-private partnerships, or ‘privatizations’, which are at the furthest point of the PPP spectrum and essentially mean the substitution of  private, for-profit business for government agencies for the delivery of public commodities and services.