SAVE BLAIR
Watch Below: Blair Engaged Community Meeting - Save Blair, No MZO!
- Amazon is fuelling North America's worst warehouse shortage — and it's right in Canada
- Cambridge should put brakes on Blair mega-warehouse
- Blair warehouse project needs public consultation
- Blair warehouse developer behind nine Amazon buildings in Ontario, Quebec
- Blair residents hire a lawyer to fight MZO
- Blair residents hire lawyer to fight against proposed warehouse
- Cambridge reaffirms decision on warehouse project in Blair
Video: City of Cambridge - Special Council Meeting - April 20, 2021
The discussion begins at the 1-hour & 11-minute point of the video.
On April 6, 2021, the residents of the Village of Blair in Cambridge, Ontario learned that the Cambridge City Council had voted unanimously for the approval of a one million square foot warehouse development to be built at the corner of Dickie Settlement Road and Old Mill Road in Cambridge.
The Cambridge City Council made this decision without any public engagement after only two hours of consideration that included one hour of closed-door “ in camera” private discussion.
The City of Cambridge wants to pretend that this massive new development is equivalent to the previously approved 14 lot small business plan that was the basis for a 2015 zoning change on part of the subject lands.
The City of Cambridge is trying to circumvent additional zoning change requirements and public participation by hiding its intention in a Minister's Zoning Order.
SAVE BLAIR
Watch Below: Blair Engaged Community Meeting - Save Blair, No MZO!
- Amazon is fuelling North America's worst warehouse shortage — and it's right in Canada
- Cambridge should put brakes on Blair mega-warehouse
- Blair warehouse project needs public consultation
- Blair warehouse developer behind nine Amazon buildings in Ontario, Quebec
- Blair residents hire a lawyer to fight MZO
- Blair residents hire lawyer to fight against proposed warehouse
- Cambridge reaffirms decision on warehouse project in Blair
Video: City of Cambridge - Special Council Meeting - April 20, 2021
The discussion begins at the 1-hour & 11-minute point of the video.
On April 6, 2021, the residents of the Village of Blair in Cambridge, Ontario learned that the Cambridge City Council had voted unanimously for the approval of a one million square foot warehouse development to be built at the corner of Dickie Settlement Road and Old Mill Road in Cambridge.
The Cambridge City Council made this decision without any public engagement after only two hours of consideration that included one hour of closed-door “ in camera” private discussion.
The City of Cambridge wants to pretend that this massive new development is equivalent to the previously approved 14 lot small business plan that was the basis for a 2015 zoning change on part of the subject lands.
The City of Cambridge is trying to circumvent additional zoning change requirements and public participation by hiding its intention in a Minister's Zoning Order.
History of the village
The Village of Blair has a tremendous history, dating back to the early 1800s, and is the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe, and Neutral Peoples.
The area is an environmental sanctuary of protected heritage and conservation lands. The ecosystem is home to 24 different habitats and over 4,000 species of flora and fauna, with many ranked "significant" or "at-risk" regionally, provincially, nationally, and globally.
The people of the Village of Blair, in partnership with local environmental and charitable organizations, have worked with care and tireless energy to protect and preserve the sensitive environment of this historic area.
History of the village
The Village of Blair has a tremendous history, dating back to the early 1800s, and is the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe, and Neutral Peoples.
The area is an environmental sanctuary of protected heritage and conservation lands. The ecosystem is home to 24 different habitats and over 4,000 species of flora and fauna, with many ranked "significant" or "at-risk" regionally, provincially, nationally, and globally.
The people of the Village of Blair, in partnership with local environmental and charitable organizations, have worked with care and tireless energy to protect and preserve the sensitive environment of this historic area.
The Village of Blair
The Village of Blair was founded on small business and continues to provide a home for successful small business enterprise blended into village life. For the last 20 years, the City of Cambridge actively pushed the preservation of the heritage and environment. Suddenly the City is completely contradicting itself. The injection of massive big business into a designated heritage community will dramatically destroy the heritage and environment of the village. Please act now and sign the petition to have Cambridge reconsider its reckless action.
Letters to Minister Clark
Sent: May 12, 2021 1 :32 PM
To: 'minister.mah@ontario.ca' <minister.mah@ontario.ca>
Cc: 'mannm@cambridge.ca' <mannm@cambridge.ca>
Subject: Cambridge Motion ... Reject broccolini MZO Application
“Minister Clark,
Below is a copy of the amended motion approved by Cambridge Council last evening May 11th, 2021 at approximately 10:38 pm. I have listened to the recording of the meeting to provide this to you. In the matter of the Broccolini MZO application before you for a Mega Warehouse in the Village of Blair, I would like to point out that the council has not met their requirement for this application based on the Motion approved last evening. The last sentence says it all. They are not to support any Minister Zoning Orders until the policies are brought forward by the end of 2021. As you can see from the preceding sentence there is due diligence required prior to submission. They have done none of this on this file. Clearly, Cambridge City Council is beginning to understand that there is a requirement they have not met based on the Policy your office has regarding submissions of an MZO. Please reject their request based on the fact they have not done adequate due diligence nor have they consulted with residents that will be impacted by this development.
Motion (Amended per vote)
THAT staff be directed to work on bringing forth policies to Council that allows for public consultation, heritage impact assessments, consultations with agencies and regional government, etc. prior to approving or not approving support for an application of a Minister's Zoning Order. which are in the best interests of the people and businesses of Cambridge and that these policies be brought to Council by the end of 2021.
AND THAT Council refuses to support any such Minster Zoning Order requests until the policies are brought forward."
Regards
Resident of Blair
Sent: May 12, 2021 11:31 AM
To: 'minister.mah@ontario.ca' <minister.mah@ontario.ca>
Subject: Broccolini MZO Application
"Minister Clark,
Currently, there is an MZO on your desk for consideration related to an application from Broccolini Real Estate for a Distribution Warehouse in the Village of Blair. As you are aware recently you opened the door for the City of Cambridge to engage their residents and perform due diligence related to their support for this submission. They have yet to do this.
Last evening after intense pressure from the community the council adopted a motion that would stop using MZO's in the development process until there was a clear city policy about when and how these will be used. The motion also highlighted the need for better governance and community participation. To date there has been zero engagement of the residents impacted by this development and the only due diligence has been done between the city and developer out of sight to the citizens.
This project is not an emergency as the MZO was being processed to expedite the build of this warehouse. The council has hidden the tenant from the community but there is wide speculation that it is Amazon. There is also an existing plan dating back to 2015 that was agreed to by residents which would support small business in our community and not a foreign multinational.
As a resident of Ontario, I urge you to reject this application and send a clear message to Municipalities that they must do their due Diligence and involve their constituents before supporting any MZO to the Ministry."
Regards
A Resident of Blair
Letters to Minister Clark
Sent: May 12, 2021 1 :32 PM
To: 'minister.mah@ontario.ca' <minister.mah@ontario.ca>
Cc: 'mannm@cambridge.ca' <mannm@cambridge.ca>
Subject: Cambridge Motion ... Reject broccolini MZO Application
“Minister Clark,
Below is a copy of the amended motion approved by Cambridge Council last evening May 11th, 2021 at approximately 10:38 pm. I have listened to the recording of the meeting to provide this to you. In the matter of the Broccolini MZO application before you for a Mega Warehouse in the Village of Blair, I would like to point out that the council has not met their requirement for this application based on the Motion approved last evening. The last sentence says it all. They are not to support any Minister Zoning Orders until the policies are brought forward by the end of 2021. As you can see from the preceding sentence there is due diligence required prior to submission. They have done none of this on this file. Clearly, Cambridge City Council is beginning to understand that there is a requirement they have not met based on the Policy your office has regarding submissions of an MZO. Please reject their request based on the fact they have not done adequate due diligence nor have they consulted with residents that will be impacted by this development.
Motion (Amended per vote)
THAT staff be directed to work on bringing forth policies to Council that allows for public consultation, heritage impact assessments, consultations with agencies and regional government, etc. prior to approving or not approving support for an application of a Minister's Zoning Order. which are in the best interests of the people and businesses of Cambridge and that these policies be brought to Council by the end of 2021.
AND THAT Council refuses to support any such Minster Zoning Order requests until the policies are brought forward."
Regards
Resident of Blair
Sent: May 12, 2021 11:31 AM
To: 'minister.mah@ontario.ca' <minister.mah@ontario.ca>
Subject: Broccolini MZO Application
"Minister Clark,
Currently, there is an MZO on your desk for consideration related to an application from Broccolini Real Estate for a Distribution Warehouse in the Village of Blair. As you are aware recently you opened the door for the City of Cambridge to engage their residents and perform due diligence related to their support for this submission. They have yet to do this.
Last evening after intense pressure from the community the council adopted a motion that would stop using MZO's in the development process until there was a clear city policy about when and how these will be used. The motion also highlighted the need for better governance and community participation. To date there has been zero engagement of the residents impacted by this development and the only due diligence has been done between the city and developer out of sight to the citizens.
This project is not an emergency as the MZO was being processed to expedite the build of this warehouse. The council has hidden the tenant from the community but there is wide speculation that it is Amazon. There is also an existing plan dating back to 2015 that was agreed to by residents which would support small business in our community and not a foreign multinational.
As a resident of Ontario, I urge you to reject this application and send a clear message to Municipalities that they must do their due Diligence and involve their constituents before supporting any MZO to the Ministry."
Regards
A Resident of Blair
What is an MZO, and why is it so dangerous?
The new development was greenlit by way of a Minister’s Zoning Order (MZO). An MZO is a ruling made by the Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister, allowing for land developers to expedite their development projects with no chance of appeal by municipalities, citizens, or environmental groups.
Since the Fall of 2020, Minister Steve Clark (the current Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister) has issued over 33 new MZOs. Fourteen of the MZOs were issued in 2020 for residential and mixed commercial/residential projects, and another six were issued for industrial and commercial projects.
The new warehouse will have a minimum of 100 trucks coming and going daily and 700-1,400 employees working out of the facility. As a result of the large increase in automotive traffic volume and frequency, the massive development is a significant threat to the surrounding habitats and wildlife. The development will inevitably give rise to a huge increase in light pollution and noise, thereby negatively impacting the natural environment as well as the flora and fauna in the surrounding area. As well, the development will create a disturbance to area residents and will place a strain on the existing local infrastructure.
Land development and job creation are both instrumental to the continued growth and success of our region. However, when the interests of the environment, citizens, and community stakeholders are prioritized without consultation, and due process is circumvented in order to expedite economic development, we cannot stand by and allow such violations of democratic foundations. No matter what side of the Canadian political spectrum you are on, bypassing due process for corporate benefit goes against the democratic fabric of our society.
The use of an MZO, in this case, is an abuse of power and must be stopped. Furthermore, alternate sites and land are widely available in the area, with pre-existing infrastructure and mass opportunity for rezoning or repurposing existing buildings/space. The next application of a Minister's Zoning Order could be in your neighborhood.
What is an MZO, and why is it so dangerous?
The new development was greenlit by way of a Minister’s Zoning Order (MZO). An MZO is a ruling made by the Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister, allowing for land developers to expedite their development projects with no chance of appeal by municipalities, citizens, or environmental groups.
Since the Fall of 2020, Minister Steve Clark (the current Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister) has issued over 33 new MZOs. Fourteen of the MZOs were issued in 2020 for residential and mixed commercial/residential projects, and another six were issued for industrial and commercial projects.
The new warehouse will have a minimum of 100 trucks coming and going daily and 700-1,400 employees working out of the facility. As a result of the large increase in automotive traffic volume and frequency, the massive development is a significant threat to the surrounding habitats and wildlife. The development will inevitably give rise to a huge increase in light pollution and noise, thereby negatively impacting the natural environment as well as the flora and fauna in the surrounding area. As well, the development will create a disturbance to area residents and will place a strain on the existing local infrastructure.
Land development and job creation are both instrumental to the continued growth and success of our region. However, when the interests of the environment, citizens, and community stakeholders are prioritized without consultation, and due process is circumvented in order to expedite economic development, we cannot stand by and allow such violations of democratic foundations. No matter what side of the Canadian political spectrum you are on, bypassing due process for corporate benefit goes against the democratic fabric of our society.
The use of an MZO, in this case, is an abuse of power and must be stopped. Furthermore, alternate sites and land are widely available in the area, with pre-existing infrastructure and mass opportunity for rezoning or repurposing existing buildings/space. The next application of a Minister's Zoning Order could be in your neighborhood.
3 WAYS TO HELP
Contact the Council
Let the City of Cambridge councilors know how you feel and make your voice heard:
Sign the Petition
Click the link below to sign our petition, it's the simplest way to help:
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