Residents of Fox Run Estates object to the idea of Puslinch divesting itself of open space/parkland to adjacent homeowners.
Stephen Musy and Mary Christidis were at council on Feb. 7 to present petitions of objection to the idea.
The presentation acted as a follow up to a letter they gave to councillors in January.
Musy said residents of the subdivision are not in favour of divesting the Fox Run Drive Park.
He contended 90 per cent of the homes are not in favour.
Musy said that number includes 10 of the 14 homes that either back onto or are adjacent to the right of way to the park.
He stated residents want the area preserved as open space.
“It is clear that this community does not want to lose its park and request that the township keep it zoned as open space for the purpose of a low level park and greenspace to be used by the community directly,” he said, adding residents are also concerned with the potential loss of funding for future development.
Musy said it appeared council was more interested in keeping mill rates low, but not providing services to its residents.
He suggested there be resident input to further develop the parkland – and it should be paid for with development charges.
Musy said he believed the budget to equip a one acre park is $500,000.
“We have not had any financing for our Fox Run park,” he said.
The park was developed initially as an open space with maintenance limited to grass cutting.
Councillor John Sepulis stated he did not favour losing greenspace.
CAO Karen Landry said the initial resolution from council was to contact the landowners’ association to get input.
She added a public open house has yet to be scheduled.
Residents would have the opportunity to present input and indicate a preferred option.
That information would be brought back to council.
Councillor Ken Roth said he was reluctant to spend additional money on the park, when there is a more accessible facility just down the road.
He pointed out the Fox Run park has limited access in terms of the general community.
He said if the township did develop the park, it would need to be opened up to everyone.
“I don’t think it is right for us to install equipment in a park and then limit who can use it,” Roth said.
Councillor Matthew Bulmer noted the park was originally created to serve the residents of the development.
Councillor Susan Fielding said she was not ready to provide a commitment at this time.
Mayor Dennis Lever said Puslinch will likely always have a low tax rate because it has the highest assessment rate.
“I believe council has always looked for a balance between keeping a lower tax rate and services offered,” he said.
He added Puslinch has a parks master plan, which is how the discussion first began.
But each individual recommendation is reviewed before a decision is made.
He noted one of the other reasons this came up was the annual grass cutting costs, which on the surface appeared to have no particular value.
Lever said the issue became complicated by an individual who believed the township intended to sell the park.
“That was never the case, it was never discussed by this council. He went off with a bee in his bonnet and raised a lot of ire,” Lever said, adding there is a formal process where everyone can voice their expectations.
