sust-mar: Preserving Integrity of Greenwich Park

Date: Fri, 10 Sep 2004 13:41:51 +0100 (BST)
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____________________________________________________________________________
Once again  speculative concerns regarding our plans
on land, adjacent to the Greenwich National Park are
capturing the headlines.  If there are legitimate
concerns being levied by the Canadian Parks and
Wilderness Society, (CPAWS) or the Canadian Nature
Federation (CNF) we would like to know about them and
invite these organizations to join us in our attempt
to maintain the integrity of the land.

We recognize Sharon Labchuk’s apparent preference to
confront and oppose any perspective that does not
support her fundamentalist, Deep Ecology religion. 
However, we prefer dialogue, cooperation and a
willingness to work with parties to come to mutually
beneficial outcomes.  Options, in this case which
strike a balance, as Primier Binns said, to foster
community development while also preserving the
ecological integrity of the National  Park.

The Parks Canada Study, under the Chretian government,
which Labchuk refers to, did in fact recommend that
Parks Canada move from a recreation orientation to
being  more conservation minded and to include natural
buffers around sensitive natural areas.  At that time
Parks Canada had plans to use the Schooner Pond lands,
adjacent to our property, as a public campground.
Those plans were changed in order to provide the
recommended buffers within the park as recommended in
the report.

We understand that during public consultations on
establishing the Park, Labchuk submitted her own
recommendations, on behalf of Earth Action, which
proposed that most of the private property on the
Greenwich Peninsula be expropriated, the residents
moved off, and the area declared wilderness - a
perspective that is  unrealistic and  dictated by an
uncompromising attitude.  

In 1999,  the national park’s boundaries were
determined under Park’s Canada’s new mandate.  It was
only after this process was completed that our
property was identified as suitable for resort
development and we purchased this land with the stated
intention of creating an eco-tourism /environmental
education resort.

On several occasions we have suggested to Parks Canada
that if they have any concerns about our plans they
could either purchase the land, a potion of the land
or our development rights.  On each occasion they have
told us that they have no interest in extending the
park boundary and have offered to collaborate with us
and offer their expertise as our plan develops. While
Parks has decided to not adopt Labchuk’s suggestions,
our plan voluntarily incorporates an additional 80
acre buffer which extends along the entire boundary of
the national park.

While the original zoning allowed for virtually
unrestricted scale of development, with potentially
hundreds of resort type units, our plan intends to
permanently limit development.   Investors will be
owners and therefore respectful stewards.  The
alternative, could be a brash condominium or hotel
type development attracting multitudes of day visitors
with little care or respect for the land or community.
 Despite our mounting debt, we have already turned
down a $3 million dollar investment offer by a
developer who proposed to build condominiums, all
within the special planning areas guidelines, which
would not have required any subdivision approval. 

Rather than ignoring the facts and trying to demonize
our character by capturing the media spotlight, we ask
that reputable individuals and/or organizations
recognize our life-long devotion to humanitarian and
environmental causes and our love for Prince Edward
Island.  We invite you to work with us to protect the
national park while also educating the public on
environmental issues which will impact us for many
future generations.

Sincerely, 


Phil Ferraro 

=====
Phil Ferraro and Nancy Willis
Institute for Bioregional Studies Ltd.
Fortune RR#4  Souris, Prince Edward Island Canada  C0A 2B0
Permaculture, Organic Agriculture Production and Leadership Training,
Food Quality and Safety Audits and HACCP Planning,
Independent Organic Certification Inspections,
Organic Farm Tours.


	
	
		
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