Monday Feb 6, 2012

Today in council chambers Councillor McMahon spoke in favour of the motion to petition the Province of Ontario to remove the city of Toronto from the jurisdiction of the Ontario Municipal Board that passed with a majority vote. Councillor McMahon pointed out that residents are very concerned about the evolution and development of their neighbourhoods and “most of all they want input and consultation, the chance to be heard”

She noted that the long term environmental and social costs of sprawl are well documented and that developers, for the most part, just want to build the homes and shops to house our growing population. Everyone will benefit from greater clarity and local accountability.

Councillor McMahon stated that “none of this can happen however with an OMB hovering over us and overriding our decisions and second guessing our residents, our planners, and our municipal process.”

Councillor McMahon went on to say that there was a time when the OMB was much needed here in Toronto, but that time is past  “At this point, tthe OMB is ultimately a destabilizing force, creates distrust and instability,” she said. “No one feels they can trust anyone or any plan because they fear that a six storey buildings opens the way for eight storeys, ten storeys, and so on. Good design for the common good is getting lost in the fray.”

In closing Councillor McMahon stated that everyone benefits from greater clarity and consultation in planning, developers, residents, planners and businesses. “It’s time we made our own decisions about planning our own city and neighbourhoods.”