With the exception of Spring Hill (the condominium for seniors on King Road in King City), the reality of development has not hit Ward 5 yet….but it’s coming.  And in the last few weeks, the importance of communication with current residents has been hi-lighted.  As all would agree, I think, developments which are not to one’s personal satisfaction are bad enough; but, not understanding what is happening, or the details of the decisions being made makes it far worse.

I keep asking myself:  how can I best serve my constituents?

I have tried to provide answers to the question from Kings Cross constituents as to how it is possible that a developer would even suggest there is space enough for 100 lots at Mary’s Lake.  (In case you wonder too:  the 1999 OMB hearing which culminated in the current King City Community Plan is the answer.)

Using my email addresses I have alerted residents of upcoming agenda items to supplement mailings from Township Staff.  At Monday’s Council meeting I tried to address more systemically the chronic complaint of residents of either short notice OR no notice by asking Staff for a proposal as to how we could address this issue.

At same Council meeting I also asked Staff for a proposal for a feedback loop to residents on suggestions/ideas presented at public meetings.   For example:  many Kettleby residents consider the concept of an “internal road” to serve the 6 new lots on south side of Kettleby Road to be a good solution to address several issues associated with this development.  As they learned at April 4^th Council this idea is not being pursued; and from their perspective the identified issues have not been remedied in another fashion.   On the assumption that the suggestion was seriously considered and rejected for valid reasons I think there should have been a feedback loop on this.  If we want the public to engage, they need to know that their input has been valued.

If the right connections have not been made with Staff I make the bridge.

I seek to explain the “why” and if I don’t understand I find out.

I seek to understand the issue so  I can  work with others to identify what the solution might be and try to make it happen!

So back to where I began:  over the next couple years there will be a number of proposals and decisions leading to building permits for Ward 5.  I welcome suggestions as to how I can meet your needs.