102 Fountain Street South (former Preston Springs Hotel) | 26, 24 & 22 fl | Proposed

[bravado]

Councillor Hamilton comments' have been summarized and I suspect they will reflect the arguments used in the OLT in a few months about this project:

“The details of the revised motion just came out of the blue,” Hamilton said.

“They weren’t discussed with all of council, and we didn’t, as far as I know, consult any engineers or architects about them. So, things like building height, design materials and appearance, that just came out of the blue from council and the 11th hour.

“We are not planners, we’re not engineers, we’re not architects, we’re not city builders. So, to put applicants, developers, and the public through years of costly work, doing the designs, doing the blueprints, attending and hosting meetings, going to different council sessions, and then at the very last second to suddenly revise the entire proposal, just literally transform it, according to completely subjective criteria that hasn’t been discussed with council. I think that’s pretty wild.”

Hamilton felt it was important the city continued working with the developer while they still had a say in the final build.

“We can use change to our advantage or if we fight against it, it will be implemented against our will in a piecemeal fashion that ultimately damages the economic and social prospects of the city going forth,” he said, noting he wished he had spoken during the meeting. He said he was caught off guard, there was little discussion and he was still collecting his thoughts on the amended proposal when the vote was called.

“If it does go to the OLT, and we know that in 97 per cent of the cases the OLT rules in favour of the developer, then the city loses all control and we spend many thousands of dollars from taxpayer dollars; paying to lose.”

“This is the exact area of the city that we need housing. We need density for the LRT, for the gateway to the 401, for the revitalization of Preston, and to take what is an emaciated corner and breathe life back into it again,” Hamilton said.

“I just think this is a super dangerous precedent that council set by changing around such substantial plans at the very last second, without even bringing it to all council first, the planners or staff or anyone. I was blown away.”

https://www.cambridgetimes.ca/news/cambr...91fcd.html