NOT IN MY PARK - Apr. 22, 2010
Kathy Bockus/Courier
These residents of Riverview Villas on Prince William Street are against the proposed rezoning and sale of Granville Park. Instead of selling the greenspace, the town should fix it up and restore swings and picnic tables removed two years ago, they say.
BY KATHY BOCKUS
kathy@stcroixcourier.ca
ST. STEPHEN – Not in my backyard.
That’s the message David Boyd and other residents of Riverview Villas on Prince William Street will deliver to the local Planning Advisory Committee (PAC) at its meeting Monday night at 6 p.m. in town hall.
Boyd said he and all but one of the 11 condominium residents plan to fight tooth and nail against a proposed rezoning and possible sale of Granville Park next door to their homes.
“We are absolutely opposed to this and we’re going to do absolutely anything within reason and law that is allowed and permitted,” stated Boyd.
Two local businesses have formed a partnership and approached council with the idea of buying the property after it is rezoned to build an apartment residence for senior citizens. The developers are scheduled to appear before a meeting of the PAC April 26. This is the first step in the rezoning process. The PAC will listen to the presentation and then make a recommendation to town council on whether the project should go forward, but council has the final decision on whether to proceed with the rezoning.
Boyd says he doesn’t understand what council must be thinking. In a letter to this newspaper today, Boyd states the board of directors of the former Chipman Hospital saw fit to donate the land to the town upon which the town’s first hospital sat.
Council is but temporary custodians of Granville Park and have a duty to ensure “this special place” is preserved for future generations of citizens, he charged.
The idea of a rezoning and sale of the park makes Betty White sick. She has lived next door to the park for three years and enjoys the birds singing in the morning as well as the trees and the peaceful nature she can view from her windows.
Eva Hanson, a nearby resident for 11 years, said she is “certainly against” any development of the park.
“I really enjoy the park,” she said. “Part of being here is enjoying the park, being able to sit in my window and enjoy the trees and the sunsets.”
Barb Christie, who has lived at Riverview Villas for five years, said she fears any development will “take away our peace and tranquility.”
Doug Bartlett is the president of the condominium residents’ association. One of the first things that enticed him and his wife Pauline to purchase one of the homes for his mother Rachel was the park where she could go and walk around and get onto the walkway and go into town, he said, adding that the park has declined a great deal over the years.
“They took everything out of here.”
It has been at least two years since there were any picnic tables, benches or swings in the park, he said.
White tells of seeing young families coming to picnic in the park eat off their cars because there were no tables where they could sit.
“They used to have nice flowers in the centre there, but they didn’t last year.”
Boyd has started a Facebook site and is seeking support from St. Stephen residents here as well as former residents.
Joan Williams is a member of the Charlotte Gardeners, gardening enthusiasts who develop and maintain gardens at Lincourt Manor, the Charlotte County Museum and at Lonicera Hall.
She said she thinks a housing development at Granville Park is a terrible idea.
“People need green space,” said Williams. “Even if you are just driving by, it’s a place to rest your eyes. Once we lose green space we will never get it back.”
Williams said several years ago Aldona Satterthwaite, editor-in-chief of Canadian Gardening Magazine, visited St. Stephen and was amazed and pleased at the amount of green space in a town of St. Stephen’s size.
“She said this was something we should preserve and be proud of,” said Williams.
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