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Photo Credit: Stefania Galluccio @mystoo
1144 - 8/25/2021 12:21:01 PM  

Residents March to Oppose MZO for Mega-Warehouse in Heritage Village
 

Released For Publication - August 12, 2021

Through chants of “Hey hey, ho ho, we don’t want no MZO!” Cambridge residents marched alongside the non-profit residents’ group Blair Engaged to show opposition to Cambridge  Mayor & Council’s request for a Minister’s Zoning Order (MZO) from Steve Clark (Minister of  Housing & Municipal Affairs ) to build a mega-warehouse in historic Blair Village. 

The group started their walk at the former heritage site of the Preston Springs Hotel, another  controversial site which was unceremoniously demolished in late 2020 amidst Cambridge  residents’ efforts to further protect the historic building.  

Blair Engaged member Ed Vos spoke to the symbolism of starting their journey at the  demolition site saying, “We thought it was appropriate to start the march here because when  this very iconic hotel was demolished last year, a lot of the citizens were shocked and had  questions for council, but it was too late. It’s not too late to stop the MZO in Blair and demand  democracy prevail in Cambridge.” 

The residents of the heritage village note they are not opposed to development on the site, but  rather the lack of due diligence from Mayor & Council on the new project proposal for a mega warehouse. Most of the project site had formerly been approved in 2015 for a 14-lot small  business park through an extensive public participation process – a compromise with  Cambridge residents to honour the heritage designation of Blair while also creating economic  opportunities for residents. 

Blair resident Andrew Rowbotham noted, “The project that was  approved in 2015 does not bear any resemblance to the mega-warehouse project now being  requested by developer Broccolini.” Rowbotham added, “Why then would Cambridge Mayor &  Council support an MZO for this new proposal?”  

Alan Van Norman of Blair Engaged spoke after the twenty-five person group (maximum allowed  under current public health measures) marched to the warehouse site. Van Norman described MZOs as “the atomic weapon of planning” because they allow developers to bypass regular  planning processes that protect the environment, give consideration to various potential  development impacts, and allow citizens to provide input into the future of their city.  

Residents marched with a banner reading, “Do the right thing – rescind support for the Amazon  warehouse MZO.” 

Speaking to next steps, Van Norman said, “We have an opportunity here to  keep this debate going. We’re going to take it and we’re going to try to protect our  community.” He added, “We demand restoration of the original 14-lot business subdivision.”

With honks of solidarity from passersby filling the air, Rowbotham concluded his remarks  saying, “There’s one thing the Cambridge City Council does not want to see and that is growing  public support because it’s also the one thing that will keep Minister Clark from issuing an  MZO.” 

Blair Engaged demands the Cambridge City Council 

rescind their support for an undemocratic MZO 

engage in meaningful public consultation for the proposed project 

follow all planning processes which apply in Blair, including the Heritage Act of Ontario  and those pertaining to provincially significant wetlands 

This march through Cambridge is part of the third week of the Ear To The Groundwater tour  organized by Wellington Water Watchers. The purpose of these walks is to raise awareness of  how Doug Ford’s open-for-business agenda hurts local democracy & the environment, including  the impacts of MZOs and expanding gravel quarries, which contribute to urban sprawl. 


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About Blair Engaged: Blair Engaged is a citizens’ group who opposed the issuance of a  Minister’s Zoning Order in Blair Village for a mega-warehouse, instead in favour of meaningful  public consultation and adherence to local & provincial planning processes for the  development.  

About Wellington Water Watchers: Founded in 2007, Wellington Water Watchers (WWW) is a  volunteer-run, non-profit organization based in Guelph, Ontario, with a focus on the Grand  River watershed. WWW is committed to the protection, restoration and conservation of  groundwater. WWW works to influence local water policy and protect water sources. 





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