Concerned citizens group levels accusations over planned one-million square foot distribution facility
Posted Jun 22, 2021 09:05:00 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The ongoing battle in the Blair area of Cambridge continues, as concerned citizens group Save Blair works to halt the development of a one-million square foot “mega-warehouse,” rumoured to be an Amazon distribution facility. Arguing that the planned development and its yet to be approved Minister’s Zoning Order conflicts with an agreed upon parcelling of that land, that group has been vocal in their opposition to the project, hosting virtual information sessions and protests, writing open letters and distributing “Save Blair” road and window signs.
Speaking to the latest developments in the ongoing battle was Tim Armstrong, a concerned Blair resident and a recent guest on The Mike Farwell Show. Arguing that the Save Blair group is doing its “due diligence” in researching the project, Armstrong noted that the MZO, supported by Cambridge council, includes a piece of property north of Old Mill Road that’s still owned by a local resident, as he alleged that individual has been “harassed over the last five years” by property owner Broccolini Real Estate Group.
“To this point, they’ve refuted that – but with this MZO hanging over their head, I don’t know how they’re not going to sell. It’s unconscionable that council missed this in their due diligence, or they were party to putting this person in this position. It’s absolutely disgraceful,” said Armstrong. “I think the mayor as a minimum should contact this person and apologize – and revoke this MZO support that they have… because it’s not the right way to go about removing somebody from their land.”
570 NEWS has since reached out to the Cambridge Mayor’s office for comment, as a member of staff responded that the issue is a “private sale between the landowner and the developer.”
Armstrong said that Save Blair members have conducted both a “deed search and a title search,” noting that as of last week, that property is still owned by that individual – though they are not interested in speaking to anybody as they’re “terrified of what’s going to happen to them.”
“This is not right and needs to be corrected,” said Armstrong. “It’s just not right what they’re doing to this family.”
While work has reportedly begun on that sizeable parcel of land in the area of Dickie Settlement and Old Mill Road, Armstrong said that experience working with the Wellington Water Watchers group has lead them to believe that the activity is an “intimidation technique,” deployed in the hopes of discouraging residents into thinking they’ve lost their ongoing battle.
“We haven’t – the minister has not approved the zoning order, and he’s been sitting on it for over 60 days which is not normal,” said Armstrong. “We believe we’re having an impact.”
While decision still hasn’t been made by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Armstrong said Save Blair is prepared to be “very vocal” should the MZO be approved. With a provincial election looming, Armstrong implied that action from the concerned citizen’s group would not be generous to the election campaign of the Progressive Conservative Party. With a municipal election looming as well for the City of Cambridge, Armstrong extended that same messaging as he said that the citizens group has a “strategy” in place should the MZO move forward.
While rumours have arisen of the facility being an Amazon distribution warehouse, Armstrong said he and the concerned citizens group are “very confident” that the retail goliath is the tenant for the property – going so far as to launch a “boycott Amazon” campaign in the coming days. Armstrong said that Save Blair has had “many communications” with Amazon’s board as well as the representative responsible for community relations in Canada, noting that at no point has the company denied their involvement.
“… based on the content of the communication, that would have happened were they not the tenant.”
Moving forward with that initiative, Armstrong said Save Blair will be printing and distributing lawn signs to supporters and residents that “have a gripe with Amazon.” Plans are also in place to share research into the company’s conduct with the public on the citizen’s group website, as Armstrong insists tat they are “not a corporation you want in your community.”
“They are notorious for negotiating to locate in your community not to pay local taxes. They don’t pay taxes on the profits they make, and they have a horrible environmental record,” argued Armstrong. “We also have all kinds of research on how they treat their employees that’s quite alarming. They’re not the most upstanding employers.”
According to Armstrong, continuing efforts to raise concerns and establish a dialogue with members of Cambridge council have not been fruitful, as he said he’d like to hear from Cambridge Mayor Kathryn McGarry as to “what’s going on here in Blair.”
“The only councillor I have any respect for is Jan Liggett – she’s responded to our emails. In fact, when I raised this issue about property ownership, she’d communicated back to me that she was surprised because she was led to believe that the developer owned all the property,” said Armstrong. “She’s been the only one that’s responded to us in any way shape or form. It hasn’t been a lot of response, but at least it’s been some response.”
Armstrong also noted that he had been able to speak to Regional Councillor Karl Kiefer regarding a “regional issue,” though he emphasized that it’s been “crickets” otherwise.
Aiming to raise awareness to the issue, Armstrong said the Save Blair group will be holding a public meeting with a well-reputed public planner on July 6 to review the proposal by Broccolini, inviting the public, members of council and the ministry to attend the virtual event.
When asked to explain how this planned development impacts residents outside of the neighbourhood of Blair, Armstrong argued the impact would be “tremendous” – again alleging that the rumoured tenant would negotiate around paying property taxes.
“I know the council is big on the fact that they’re contributing 10 million dollars to road work, but now that we understand the road work that’s going on – that’s not even a quarter of what it’s going to cost us as taxpayers to modify the roads for all these trucks,” said Armstrong. “With hundreds of tractor trailers coming down these roads, it’ll be expensive to maintain. There’ll be repairs required.”
570 NEWS has also reached out to Cambridge Ward 4 Councillor Jan Liggett for comment, as well as Ward 1 Councillor Donna Reid, as her ridership encompasses the area of the proposed warehouse and the citizens of the Save Blair group.
