Air Park meeting takes place; all survived – did enough happen to result in a second meeting and will they make a difference?

 

 

By Pepper Parr

BURLINGTON, ON. June 25, 2013.  That the meeting actually took place was a surprise to many.  Vince Rossi, owner of the Burlington Executive Air Park showed up and listened.  Tim Crawford was with him.

Most of those there didn’t come away with the feeling that there were measurable bankable gains; but Rossi did hear what the group of about 25 people, meeting in the hayloft of a barn that had been swept bare, had to say.

Barbara Sheldon reads her 12 requirements to Vince Rossi at a Rural Burlington Green Coalition.  Rossi did not respond.  Barn doors were left open to let in fresh air and a breeze, as well as the sound of a small aircraft that looked as if they might fly in through the openings.

The Gazette had agreed beforehand not to attend all of the meeting but to show up at the end to pick up some comments.  Getting the meeting to take place was the objective.  Everyone hoped Vince Rossi would show up – and he did – which will be seen as a success for the politicians and the Rural Burlington Green Coalition plus the residents who took part.

Scott Stewart invited people to make comments and gave Vince Rossi an opportunity to respond.  Most of the comments that had an ask to them were taken ‘under advisement’ by Rossi.

Along with Stewart there were two additional city staff and five Council members in attendance:  Marianne Meed Ward, Blair Lancaster, Jack Dennison, Paul Sharman and John Taylor.

Many had not met Rossi before and wanted to get the measure of the man and observe how he handled himself.

Scott Stewart pointed out that the meeting was a part of a several layer approach the city was taking to the issue of landfill on Air Park property.  City council will hear what the legal department thinks the possible options are and what the strategy should be.

Meanwhile, there are no trucks entering through the south gate but there are certainly trucks entering through other gates onto the property.

When the last person had spoken Appleby Line resident Barbara Sheldon asked if she could read a statement that set out what her requirements were.  While speaking for herself Sheldon made it clear that she had the consent of her neighbours as well.  Barbara Sheldon speaks in capital letters.

Vince Rossi, owner of the Burlington Air Park, seen by many for the first time, listened to what the Coalition had to say, shook some hands and left the meeting.

BARBARA SHELDON’S CURRENT EXPECTATIONS FOR AIRPARK’S REMEDIAL ACTIONS

1) IMMEDIATELY STOP ALL LANDFILL DUMPING.

2) DECONSTRUCT THE LANDFILL HILLS ON ALL SIDES TO RESTORE THE SCENIC VALUES TO MY PROPERTY – AND MITIGATE ALL NOISE, DUST AND DIRT TO MY LAND AND HOME IN THE PROCESS OF DOING SO, TO MY REASONABLE SATISFACTION.

3) REMOVE ALL OF THE LANDFILL WITHIN 30 METRES OF MY PROPERTY LINE – AND MITIGATE ALL NOISE, DUST AND DIRT TO MY LAND AND HOME IN THE PROCESS OF DOING SO, TO MY REASONABLE SATISFACTION. 

4) RESTORE THE LAND, INCLUDING HIGH-QUALITY GRASS (NOT HIGHWAY GRADE), WITHIN 30 METRES OF MY PROPERTY LINE – AND MAINTAIN REGULAR GROOMING OF THIS LAND.

5) INSTALL PROPERLY GRADED BERMS, WITH PROFESSIONAL LANDSCAPING CONSISTING OF HIGH- QUALITY GRASS SEED AND MATURE EVERGREEN TREES, TO BORDER THE AIRPARK’S REMAINING LANDFILL, THEREBY RESTORING PRIVACY TO MY LAND AND TO MITIGATE AIRPARK NOISE AND UNSIGHTLY VIEWS OF ITS OPERATION FROM MY PROPERTY.   MAINTAIN REGULAR GROOMING OF THESE BERMS.

6) RESTORE ALL THE NATURAL STORMWATER DRAINAGE PATTERNS TO THEIR ORIGINAL PATTERNS – AND ENSURE THAT NO PONDING EXISTS WITHIN 30 METRES OF MY PROPERTY LINE.

7) THOROUGHLY TEST MY WELL WATER FOR CONTAMINENTS, AS GUIDED BY THE MOH, FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS.

8) REPAIR AND RESTORE MY SOUTHERN ACREAGE TO ITS ORIGINAL CONDITION AND GRADING INCLUDING FULL REPLACEMENT OF THE RICH, FERTILE SOIL THAT WAS THERE BEFORE THE LANDFILL DUMPING OCCURRED.

9) REPLACE AND PLANT ALL VEGETATION, TREES AND BUSHES ON MY PROPERTY THAT WERE DESTROYED BY THE FLOODING CAUSED BY THE LANDFILL DUMPING.

10) REPAIR AND RESTORE MY LANEWAY TO ITS ORIGINAL CONDITION BEFORE IT WAS DAMAGED BY THE DUMP TRUCKS.

11) REPAIR ALL ECOLOGICAL DAMAGE TO MY PROPERTY INCLUDING INAPPROPRIATE GRASSES AND WEEDS THAT HAVE INVADED MY LAND, AS ASSESSED BY A QUALIFIED ECOLOGIST (AT AIRPARK’S EXPENSE) – AND RESTORE MY LAND TO ITS ORIGINAL, PRISTINE STATE PRIOR TO THE LANDFILL DUMPING.

12) PROVIDE COMPENSATION FOR EVERY YEAR OR PART THEREOF THAT THE AIRPARK LANDFILL DUMPING OPERATION HAS DESTROYED AND/OR DIMINISHED MY PROPERTY VALUE AS WELL AS DESTROYED OR DIMINISHED MY ABILITY TO ENJOY, LIVE AND WORK TO THE FULLEST EXTENT IN MY HOME AND ON MY LAND.

It is fortunate that the Sheldon requirements were read out at the end of the meeting.  Rossi might well have let his well-known short fuse get lit and use its force to propel him out of the room.

The meeting closed quietly, it wasn`t a screaming match and there were no bodies on the floor when it was all over.

But you will not win any bet that there will not be trucks on the road Tuesday morning.


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3 comments to Air Park meeting takes place; all survived – did enough happen to result in a second meeting and will they make a difference?

  • Teri Jaklin

    This is an issue captures all aspects of a healthy democracy. Responsible planning, due process, fair jurisdiction, competent leadership and the essence of living in community where the health and well being of the citizens and their physical environment is safeguarded from uchecked recklessness. The City and indeed the Region have identified the urgency and severity of this issue, which has the potential to turn Burlington/Oakville into a new Malton. This matter concerns every resident of those two cities, not just the individuals who are fighting the fight.

  • Realize that large-scale fill operations are a province-wide problem taking advantage of the jurisdictional finger-pointing for aerodromes and lax rehabilitation laws for exhausted pits and quarries. As Gord Miller, Environmental Commissioner for Ontario says, “This is not your problem. Let’s get it solved where it should be solved – at Queen’s Park in downtown Toronto”. Follow-up with your MP and make sure that you’re heard!

  • Stephanie Cooper-Smyth

    WOW – that photo of Rossi underscores his behaviour. He truly looks like the devil incarnate!

    Here’s hoping the City can shut his landfill dumping operation down AND force him to restore all the neighboring properties.

    I believe all the citizens of Burlington, rural and urban, can help. We pride ourselves on residing in a LIVEABLE region, a UNESCO designated World Biosphere – and this man is single-handedly destroying this!

    Send your opposition to this destruction in an email to the Burlington Airpark and cc’ the Mayor and this newspaper!