Warning: long post but shorter than the 3 hour portion of the meeting.

Not surprisingly, in a 4 – 3 vote, the Zoning By-Law Amendment Application was approved for 256 Dalhousie Street, making the Peddies’ plan to build a hotel possible. On April 1, the River Bookshop website mentioned, “We are creating an upscale boutique hotel in downtown Amherstburg with a beautiful ‘Industrial Victorian’ design and a scale that respects Amherstburg’s heritage. It was approved unanimously by the town’s Heritage Committee.” There was a plea for help to email members of council and Dr. Aspila, Manager of Planning.

Deputy Mayor Gibb stated it was suggested to him by a resident that he should be declaring a conflict on item number 13.8 as his insurance brokerage provides insurance services for some of the individual unit owners at 252 Dalhousie Street. He stated for the record that he has had extensive communications with the Integrity Commissioner on this subject and based on his advice, he will not be declaring a pecuniary interest in this matter.

At the April 24 council meeting Fire Chief Montone spoke at length, for about 41 minutes, when his report was on the agenda. He did it again at the May 23 meeting; his report was on the agenda and he droned on for about 40 minutes only this time he didn’t go back 40 years. Montone also appeared rude and argumentative by interrupting Councillor Pouget. I would encourage Montone to not use the term, ‘mobility challenged.’

Mayor Prue seemed to admonish someone in the audience for a comment. I’d like to see him consistently apply the standard to other council members’ and staff behaviour.

The traffic study, conducted over a two day period, seemed to justify the development but lacked details that other municipalities may require, for example, surrounding road networks, intersections and type of controls; transit stops and services; bicycle and pedestrian links and facilities, in this case e bike rentals; nearby curb parking and off-street parking; nearby developments and their access points; and proposed internal parking arrangement and circulations, not to mention the Open Air street closures and increased pedestrian use by all but some persons with disabilities.

Garbage was a hot topic; what will be stored where and then the big announcement that composting would be available which may be detected by its smell.

And then there was the ever present acknowledgement that yes, heritage would be embraced, as it was for the River Bookshop, a renovated historic building that lacks accessibility.

Colleen Peddie mentioned working with all of the attractions in town along with an upcoming collaboration with the Gibson Gallery which, to me, has nothing to do with the setback issue.

Questions were asked of staff that really should be limited to a set amount of time: Were Mr. Brown’s questions answered, what about accessible on street parking, a question regarding composting that Mayor Prue had to pass the gavel for, study downtown traffic in anticipation of 2025, the reason for setbacks in the 1999 Zoning By-Law, the Official Plan, back to the waste bins, comparing other downtown buildings setback approvals.

Mayor Prue said Councillor Courtney was getting a little bit argumentative and didn’t think he asked one question but anyway, maybe a couple of rhetorical ones. Prue just wanted to finish this so that they could get to the motion. He said they’ve been at this now for 3 hours; 3 hours. Well that’s what happens when timeframes are not set and strictly enforced as they are for delegates.

Councillor Crain then moved the item and Mayor Prue prompted him by asking if he was moving the recommendation. When Crain said yes, Prue asked if there was a seconder. He acknowledged Councillor Don and followed that with McArthur and said he was getting old and tired.

During Deputy Mayor Gibb’s speech, he said there’s traffic concerns with the laneway behind the buildings; again, it is a laneway it’s not a legal road.

I would argue that it is a legal road, as defined in the Highway Traffic Act Ontario: “highway” includes a common and public highway, street, avenue, parkway, driveway, square, place, bridge, viaduct or trestle, any part of which is intended for or used by the general public for the passage of vehicles and includes the area between the lateral property lines thereof.

Gibb also said we can’t just do what we think we have to do what we’re obligated to do under the law. But when Gibb voted in favour of Open Air, didn’t he say, to me, Open Air makes the downtown more accessible for people with in at least in wheelchairs, referring to his in-laws? I thought I made it clear that legislation is meant to ensure the equal rights of persons with disabilities.

Crain and Gibb mentioned the Official Plan and Provincial Policy Statement; Crain and McArthur mentioned the River Bookshop and candy shop.

Crain listed Peddies’ stores, followed by they have had a tremendous economic impact in the community. I fail to see how; regardless of the profit level, the taxes stay the same and we still don’t have a pool, an accessible town hall, pickle ball courts, etc. He regurgitated some details cited by a few staff members.

Councillor McArthur cited similar statistics and predictably, mentioned his kid and how too often around the council table, we look at the negative side of development; you have to look at the positive side. I don’t believe this is the first time he has mentioned economic development and can list each of Peddies’ shops by name – quite the cheerleader.

When discussing Honeywell property, McArthur said he thought they should focus on the potential and not problems that they can’t control and didn’t create. In other words, the positive, right?

Labeling or discounting others’ viable concerns as negative is getting stale.

Mayor Prue passed the gavel again; he said the question to him came down to the garbage and his whole concern about the garbage in the grease pit evaporated in one second. Because what they are saying about the composting is the new wave of the future. He shared a joke with his friends about traffic jams in Amherstburg. He reiterated his campaign platform, specifically the number one priority was economic development. And so one of the first things council did following the last election was develop the CIP Community Improvement Plan, voted on unanimously. Don’t forget we did that, he added. Oh yes, I’ll make note of that for the next election.

A recorded vote was held: in favour of the recommendation were Gibb, Crain, McArthur, opposed were Pouget, Courtney, Allaire and the tie-breaker in favour was Prue.

A lifestyle break followed and I stopped watching because, as Prue pointed out, they were already at this for 3 hours.