As everyone knows, King is growing and that often drives change. As Council member one of the more difficult issues I deal with is deciding whether the change is is really required. Will it deliver benefits? Is it worth the expenditure? When does it need to be done, if ever? This is demonstrated in the Staff report regarding upgrade options for 19th SDRD from Hwy 27 to Rebellion Way. There are several factors which make me very uncomfortable to approve what has been Staff’s preferred option (namely full road reconstruction.) i) I am one of those who like country rural roads; the Staff option would make this stretch of road less “country.” ii) Trees will be cut. Yes, trees do die but we need to maintain as long as possible as the replacements take decades to be mature. iii) Traffic volume is very low. But, as reviewed there are risks which we need to consider.
I welcome hearing your perspective about this.
Hi Debbie,
I would be the last person to deny that this section of road requires some major work but the full road reconstruction that is Staff’s preferred option is, in my opinion, overkill. This road is a beautiful country road bordered by many large heritage trees. It is of a rolling hills nature, like most of King Township.
The suggestion that the top of the hills be chopped off to improve sight lines for traffic is ludicrous. All that will do is enable many non-residents to turn this road into a speedway as they use it to bypass the Highway 9/27 intersection.
Destroying this beautiful section of road, especially the heritage trees would be criminal. I would suggest that this is Staff’s chosen option simply so they can utilize the $1,279,000 in development charges available only for a full road construction.
I, like many residents of King, are becoming most perturbed with the many changes occurring within the Township. In the name of progress the Township is losing its rural nature and becoming a duplicate of its southern neighbour.
Trees matter, nature matters and turning a gorgeous country road into an urban thoroughfare makes me wonder what is going through the brains of our bureaucrats.
Hi Mike, I appreciate your thoughtful comments on this issue. Debbie
Mike, you have so eloquently put into words what a lot of residents are thinking but do not have the ability to voice their opinions. It sometimes seem futile to do so, so I admire your courage for speaking out on our behalf. I can only hope that our council will listen. I think Debbie is doing her best to do so, but looks like she needs a lot of help to convince others.