Going, going, gone! Tweedsmuir Ball Park will be decommissioned. In its place, five housing development lots will be created along Strathcona Drive and Ethel Street.
Tweedsmuir Ball Park will be decommissioned. In its place, five housing development lots will be created along Strathcona Drive and Ethel Street.
The existing ball fields will remain in use until all fields located at the Outdoor Sports Complex are constructed and ready for use.
Moved by Councillor Mendocino, the amended Committee Services Report was voted in favour 7-4 by city councillors during Monday night's committee meeting.
Councillor Sarah Campbell, who seconded the motion and voted in favour of putting the five homes on the existing green space, said that it became evident to her that council had to hold and respect the intent of the original covenant, which was to create a balance of limited residential developments abutting the park and to ensure that the proposed park be visible for safety reasons.
Campbell stated that it's not just about creating available housing and bringing in families to live in the city.
"It's about generating revenue which will generate tax revenue in the future," she said.
Campbell, who says she cast her vote on behalf of the 'silent majority' on Monday night, was surprised by the 'all or nothing' attitude that was presented throughout the process.
She doesn't understand why the public is being so difficult since it now has the opportunity to embrace a new park.
"If you look at the planning, there's a lot of space here, we're talking about 3.4 acres in order to design what they want, whether it's trees, benches or a sport's field,” she said.
Campbell said that much of the mean spirited vocalizations given to council were unwarranted.
"What we we're doing was giving the people back its park!"
While the motion has been passed, a notice of reconsideration was filed by Councillor Tom Graham. The council will vote to pass during the next council meeting. The public will have no opportunity to speak further regarding this issue.
Councillor Dave Mendocino, who also voted in favour of the amended motion, said that in his mind, compromises were made on the side of council and the public was greatly acknowledged.
"When you add up the number of presenters and the amount of time that they spoke just not on this occasion, but on three other ones ... it's been hours and hours and I think that we compromised", Mendocino said.
"We've gone from originally putting on the table twenty three lots, selling the whole parcel to getting in the process and seeing what the neighbours and the public were saying and going to 2.3 acres of multi-use park and thirteen lots, and then from there, listening even more and compromising to the point where we saw tonight (3.4 acre park with five lots).
Councillor Mendocino like Councillor Campbell was taken aback by the public backlash.
Some members of the public even went so far as to disguise thinly veiled election vote threats to current members of council that are vying for re-election this fall.
"It's been the most contentious that I've ever seen and it got personal,” Mendocino said.
"It should never get that personal.”
RECORDED VOTE: 7-4
IN FAVOUR of rezoning of Tweedsmuir Ball Park: Councillor Mendocino, Councillor Campbell, Councillor Vaillancourt, Councillor Chirico, Councillor Kozial, Councillor Bain, Mayor Vic Fedeli
AGAINST the rezoning of Tweedsmuir Ball Park: Councillor Anthony, Councillor Graham, Councillor Vrebosch Mary, Councillor Mayne.
