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Winona slams development
(Stoney Creek News, Mike Pearson, May 23 2013)

Winona residents shouted down a development plan that could see their community expand by 17,000 people over the next two decades.

More than 300 residents packed the former Stoney Creek council chambers on Thursday, for a community meeting hosted by Ward 11 councillor Brenda Johnson.

City planning staff will present a proposed secondary plan for the Stoney Creek Urban Boundary Expansion (SCUBE) for approval at a June 4 meeting. The SCUBE area is bounded by Fruitland to Fifty Roads and Barton Street to Highway 8.

The proposed plan will include realigning Fruitland Road and open up land for residential development throughout Winona, starting with the properties east of Fruitland Road.

But members of a citizens advisory committee said the proposed secondary plan going to the planning committee is not the plan they endorsed.

Cal Di Falco, advisory committee chair, said the plan threatens Winona’s small town character by allowing high density development, with stacked townhouse units up to six storeys.

“The plan you’re seeing here today has lost its way,” said Di Falco. “I can’t stand here today and support this.”

Residents expressed a litany of concerns, including the new placement of the Fruitland Road bypass.

Grant Cook, advisory committee vice chair, said the new bypass route would re-direct heavy truck traffic into a residential area at the corner of Barton Street and Sunnyhurst Ave.

Other residents were concerned by the impact of large scale development on property values.

Michelle Sergi, city manager of community planning and design, said the SCUBE area will be designed with a goal of 70 people and jobs per hectare, to ensure the community meets the guidelines of the province’s Places to Grow legislation.

Johnson plans to oppose the secondary plan when the document is presented to the planning committee.

“I’m not recommending this; the city (planning) staff is recommending this,” she clarified for the audience.