|
The Winnipeg Free Press - letter to the editor
Friday, October 3, 2003
City Council is throwing away a valuable resource to make a quick
buck from housing developers.
City Council has rezoned north St. Boniface to allow new housing
to be built. As a result the city will have 100 new homes to provide
revenue in the form of property taxes (on which Mayor Glen Murray
is currently trying to reduce the city's dependence.)
The only cost to citizens of Winnipeg is the loss of priceless
riverbank and open greenspace in a beautiful parcel of land bounded
by the Red and Seine rivers.
In the last decade, the city and outlying communities have subdivided
and sold off miles of riverbank property so wealthy people can
have a river in their backyard.
As developments encroach on riparian zones (the corridor of land
that border rivers and streams) less wealthy citizens loose access
to our public waterways, and the river ecosystem suffers tremendously.
As lots are cleared so the homeowners can build their houses
and have a clear view of the rivers, erosion is increased due
to lack of trees and roots to hold the soil in place. As a result,
the city has to spend millions of dollars on riverbank stabilization
projects.
Flood control measures have to be built to protect these homes
from the flooding that inevitably occurs (something that is very
well known to anybody who has spent a few springs in our city).
If the owners of the houses recently built their homes along the
Seine River find their homes flooded in the next "flood of the
century," will they ask for compensation from the city or province?
Phosphorous, nitrogen and pesticides run into the river with
every rainfall as they are washed off the green grass that has
replaced riparian vegetation. Perhaps in an effort to ensure flood
proofing and stabilization costs are adequately recovered, the
city will levy higher property taxes on these properties.
With greenspace being developed at The Forks at an increasing
rate, perhaps the city will reconsider its plans for the land
before it sells out to another property developer. Perhaps the
city will have the vision and integrity to preserve riparian zones
and restrict development along public waterways.
DAVID KITCHEN
Winnipeg
© 2003 Winnipeg Free Press. All Rights Reserved.
Back
to
In
the
Media
Back
to
Main
|
