(This letter was sent to the Whig Standard by KCAL reader Gerard Wyatt.)

October 26, 2004

To the Mayor and Members of Council,

I am concerned that decisions regarding the proposed LVEC seem to be being pushed ahead with undue haste. This project will have important impacts on the future of our city, and we need to get it right.

According to the Steering Committee Work Plan, the Geotechnical and Environmental Reports on the site are not expected until January 2005, and the Traffic and Parking study not until March 2005. Yet I understand that Council plans to decide on the feasibility of the site in December. This sequence makes no sense. The issue of traffic and parking, in particular, is crucial and has been seriously questioned for the Anglin Bay site. It seems to me that the clogging of downtown parking that would result from an LVEC in this location would be detrimental, rather than advantageous, to downtown business.

Even if the studies conclude that construction of an LVEC on the Anglin Bay site is feasible, it has not been reasonably established that this is the best site in Kingston for this facility. As the Task Force report points out, this is a "spectacular site". But why should a spectacular site be used for a sports/entertainment facility? And why should a waterfront site be used for a function that has no relation to the water, causing loss of the marina that is now located there?

I urge that Council defer decision on the proposed LVEC until the advantages and disadvantages of the Anglin Bay site, in comparison other possible sites, have been fully explored.

Gerard Wyatt
(submitted to the Whig 27/10/04)

 

Update: On Nov 2 2004 Gerard Wyatt reports

In response to my letter of October 26 addressed to the Mayor and Councillors, I have received a response from Mayor Rosen. He says that "the December date for feasibility of the Inner Harbour site for the LVEC was suggested prematurely, not having regard to the extent of the studies, the complicated nature and the manner in which the lands would have to be acquired. The decision will not be made until all our ducks are in a row, which will likely not be until mid 2005."