Once again, I am told, the City council of St. lazare has been at it, discussing the possible de-zoning of equestrian lands. This is a situation which should have been put to rest last year, but I believe they think if they do it quickly and quietly, they won't get the raucous reception they had last year. They are wrong. Again.
Who wants the dezoning? Let us really look at this question.
1- Real Estate developers who would benefit from the highly profitable development of residential lands (they can't develop equestrian lands...but if they re-zone equestrian into residential...well then it's free money)
2- Residents from the city who want higher property values so they can make big bucks on the properties they already own.
3- City councillors who are directly implicated in land development and real estate in St. lazare (this is reprehensible and I believe we should call for their immediate resignation on the basis of conflict of interest. This would include Mayor Carzolli)
4- City tax coffers which make more money from residential taxes than equestrian land taxes
I could go on...but do we see a common thread ladies and gentlemen? Yup...it's the ALMIGHTY DOLLAR.
Please don't get me wrong. I like money as much as the next person. It buys my food, pays for my house, takes me on vacation, pays my vet and hay bills, allows me to help refuge horses and a dozen other nifty things.
But how much money do you all need? What are you willing to sacrifice for it?
It seems that City Council would want to put these rezoning by-laws into effect SOON because the elections are coming up within the year I would think (not sure about this) and they need to get their ducks lined up because once they are voted out (on the basis of being IDIOTS) then they will be happy and busy tearing down forests and devastating the environment so they can make yet another dollar.
Here's what we're going to do...
1) Meet us for coffee at Restaurant Bravo at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday December 2, 2008 to hear each other's ideas and thoughts on the current council.
2) Attend as a group the City Council meeting being held.
From there...we will develop a game plan.
Let it be known that
**CITY COUNCIL WILL NOT DICTATE THAT WHICH IS NOT THE WILL OF THE POPULACE OF ST. LAZARE
**INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF ST. LAZARE ADMINISTRATION WILL HAVE TO ANSWER TO A GROUP OF CONCERNED AND ORGANIZED CITIZENS
**I WILL BE CALLING FOR THE IMMEDIATE RESIGNATION OF ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE KNOWN TO HAVE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST IN REAL ESTATE DEALINGS
Please help us save our equestrian lands.
Please help us take back the right to govern our community democratically
Regards,
**Night Mare**
1 comment:
St. Lazare announces proudly on its own web site - "Saint-Lazare stands out from other communities with its rural character, cycling trails, equestrian activities, its forests and peaceful housing developments, which are geared towards family living. Very focused on the environment, the Town has adopted environmental by-laws to protect the health of its citizens as well as its forests which covers more than 60 % of its territory. All social, cultural and sport services and activities definitely provide a quality of life that is second to none."
If this is truly the case, why are they seemingly so intent on getting rid of so many small equestrian properties? Makes you wonder who owns the adjacent land...
And it also appears that many of the complaints come from "city folk" who move to the country and then find, after the fact, that they can’t appreciate it for what it is, that the realities of country life are a tiny bit more real than they expected. So they want to turn it into Dollard West - big houses, small lots, too many restrictions….
I applaud your efforts as you fight this erosion of all that epitomizes St. Lazare. I think it would be a formidable weapon in your arsenal if you could state facts about land ownership and transactions undertaken by elected coucillors. So, OK - How do we find out who owns what as far as Coucillors go? Can this be looked up in pulic records somewhere?
I am on board with you here - and I am certain I am not alone. Can you post a list of what you need to go forward? Info on land ownership, info about whether complaints are logged or are anonymous (cowards!), info about future development plans on the drawing board...
Information is a potent weapon - tell your readers what you need and I am sure we will try to find it for you.
To borrow a phrase from a man I greatly admire - "YES WE CAN!"
signed,
AlphaMare
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