Townhall Meeting - Campaign to Protect Meadowlily Woods

“Smart Centres” has proposed developing a parcel of land on property next to Meadowlily Woods (east of Highbury between Commissioners and the Thames River).  Meadowlily Woods has been designated in the Official Plan for London as an “Environmentally Significant Area” (ESA). Many London residents do not believe that a Wal-Mart—with all its customer and goods traffic, noise and light pollution, and waste—is an appropriate development to locate next to an ESA. The Thames River has been the focus of considerable debate in London recently, particularly with the feature coverage received in the London Free Press. The Thames River is designated as a “Canadian Heritage River System” (CHRS), and building a Wal-Mart so close to the south bank of the Thames does not seem in keeping with the CHRS mandate “to ensure long-term management and conservation of their natural, cultural and recreational values”. In addition, London’s Environment and Ecology Planning Advisory Committee is recommending that the whole Meadowlily ESA needs a new Master Plan study before any rezoning is approved. (mention ReForest London?). In addition to valid environmental concerns, there is also concern about how this development will affect the quality of life and the property values for residents of London. Will you be expected to subsidize this development with property tax hikes? On July 16th the London Free Press reported that developers are paying less than half the actual cost to submit development applications—the citizens of London are paying the rest on their tax bills.  Do you really want to pay for another Wal-Mart out of your pocket? How many local businesses, many of them family operations with roots in the community, will be forced out of business?