'Rollercoaster' turf war continues between Waterloo Region and Wilmot farmers
The local business community is weighing in on a land dispute between the Region of Waterloo and a group of Wilmot farmers.
The region is pushing to buy 770 acres of farmland between Nafziger Road, Bleams Road and Wilmot Centre Road.
The purchase would guarantee shovel-ready land for development, but as of Tuesday, the property owners have yet to accept the region’s offer.
“It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster,” said Alfred Lowrick, the designated spokesperson for the landowners.
Pushback on the purchasing proposal, he explained, stems from environmental concerns and a fear that new development would impact more than just the people living and working on the targeted land.
“There are some people on Wilmot Centre that have direct access to this property and their backyard is going to have a big factory of sorts,” Lowrick explained to CTV News.
In early April, the Business and Economic Support Team of Waterloo Region (BESTWR) penned an open letter supporting the Wilmot land consolidation. The group issued a second letter last Thursday reiterating the need for more development to help support community growth.
It read, in part: “[An] important discussion is underway on assembling land in Wilmot Township so the region has the option to consider multi-billion dollar investment opportunities that we have been missing out on for over a decade.”
“[The region] is going to have a million people in 20 years,” BESTWR chair Ian McLean told CTV News. “Are we ready?”
Kevin Thomason, the vice-chair of the Grand River Environmental Network, argues putting an industrial development in the middle of Wilmot Township could create significant environmental challenges.
“These are some of the most heavily protected farmlands in the entire country. This is prime agriculture. It’s absurd to be locating a mega industrial development out there, and it’s not just that, it’s the transfer of tens of thousands of people.”
Both the farmers and Thomason tell CTV News one of the biggest roadblocks is the lack of transparency from the Region of Waterloo.
“We’ve never had any facts,” Thomason explained. “We can’t get any answers, we can’t get any elected officials to speak on this. No one’s against development. We all want to see our region thrive and grow.”
McLean said if the land is sold the community can weigh in on what will be built on the site, but the property needs to be secured first.
“Until you have land assembled no one’s coming with a proposal for anything,” he added.
The BESTWR chair said the land studies and review can only be completed once the Region of Waterloo identifies what the land will be used for.
“There is going to opportunity to say: ‘Oh, X business wants to put X on this site.’ They are going to have to go through environmental oversight, site plan approval,” McLean stated. “This is going to be the most public of projects you’ve ever seen.”
The Region of Waterloo shared the following statement with CTV News: “While the details of the negotiations remain confidential, we are committed to engaging with the landowners involved and it is our goal to reach fair and equitable agreements for all landowners.”
The landowners said they’ve been told expropriation could be on the table if a resolution isn’t reached.
“If it heads that way, obviously, then all sides are dug in and it’s a legal exercise,” Lowrick said.
The landowners discussed the issue with Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles last week and Lowrick also has a meeting with Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie on Wednesday.
He said more consultation is needed between the landowners, Region of Waterloo and Wilmot Township, if there is any hope for a speedy resolution.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
From AI running wild to collapsing ecosystems, government report outlines future disruptions
From collapsing ecosystems to artificial intelligence running wild, a new Canadian government report outlines 35 disruptions that could rattle the country in the coming years.
B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton hospitalized after prison attack
British Columbia serial killer Robert Pickton was attacked and sustained life-threatening injuries in a Quebec prison Sunday in what officials described as a 'major assault.'
opinion Tom Mulcair: With Trudeau spiralling, Mark Carney waits in the wings
In his latest column for CTVNews.ca, former NDP leader Tom Mulcair argues that if there's an unofficial frontrunner in the eventual race to replace Justin Trudeau as Liberal leader, it has to be former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney.
Toronto Blue Jays fan struck by 110 m.p.h foul ball offered tickets, signed baseball by team
The Toronto Blue Jays have offered tickets and a signed baseball to a fan who says she was struck in the face by a 110 m.p.h (177 km/h) foul ball at Friday’s game.
Matthew Perry's death is being investigated over ketamine level found in actor's blood, reports say
An investigation has been opened into the death of Matthew Perry and how the “Friends” actor received the anesthetic ketamine, which was ruled a contributing factor in his death.
OPP continues to investigate boat collision north of Kingston, Ont. that left 3 people dead
Ontario Provincial Police continue to investigate a long weekend fatal boat collision on Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont.
Police in Ontario say suspects charged in armed home invasion near Toronto part of 'larger criminal network'
Police in Ontario say a group of suspects charged in an armed home invasion north of Toronto last year were driving a vehicle stolen in a carjacking in Calgary just one month earlier.
Air turbulence: When can it become dangerous?
Flight turbulence like that encountered by a Singapore Airlines flight on Tuesday is extremely common, but there's one aspect of severe turbulence an aviation expert says can lead to serious injury.
Orphan orca's extended family spotted off northeast side of Vancouver Island
Members of a killer whale pod related to an orphan orca calf that escaped a remote British Columbia tidal lagoon last month have been spotted off the northeast coast of Vancouver Island.