Major LaSalle development plan could mean loss of key green space, advocate says

This is Part 2 of Lay of the Land, a CBC Windsor series examining the state of green space throughout Windsor-Essex.

It's being hailed as the biggest land use plan in LaSalle's history, with the potential to eventually double the southwestern Ontario town's population.

But critics say there hasn't been enough public input on the Howard Bouffard Secondary Plan — especially when it comes to its impact on the town's green space.

"It's a huge area to be developed," said John DeMarco, a concerned citizen with a background in conservation management. "That, to me, should be the subject of a very full discussion."

The municipality says there will be more chances to weigh in before final decisions are made.

The far-reaching plan would allow for development of land north of the Vollmer Culture and Recreation Complex, mostly for residential purposes.

A variety of densities are being considered, along with institutional areas (schools), mixed use and "neighbourhood commercial."

The municipality is looking at three different options for the area, at most projecting development of almost 17,000 new dwellings, effectively increasing LaSalle's population by more than 40,000 people.

According to DeMarco, all options of the plan that have been presented and discussed so far involve significant loss of LaSalle's wood lots and natural areas — some 40 hectares (nearly 100 acres), by DeMarco's estimations.

DeMarco is troubled there isn't greater public awareness of a plan of such magnitude.

"It comes across as very strange. The town seems to want to get this gigantic development approved as quickly as possible, with minimal discussion," he said.

Embarking on the plan in its current state, DeMarco said, would make it impossible to accomplish restoration of the region's natural habitat — a stated goal of the County of Essex.

DeMarco envisions a corridor of connected green spaces that includes the lands of the coming Ojibway National Urban Park.

"Every wood lot is important," DeMarco said. "This is our last chance, for all time, to reconnect Ojibway through a string of wood lots — right to here [in LaSalle]."

For a period of about two weeks ending Monday, Sept. 25, the municipality has invited public online comments on the plan via a platform called PlaceSpeak.

"That's ridiculous. I can't imagine why anybody would think that's adequate," DeMarco said. "The town sometimes holds meetings and open houses on much smaller issues than this. This is building a whole new town."

But LaSalle Mayor Crystal Meloche insisted more opportunities for public input are coming.

The "Emerging Preferred Plan" will be prepared in November, to be followed by a public open house in early 2024. PlaceSpeak will be reopened at that time for more online comments.

A public meeting on the plan is also slated to take place in early 2024.

Meloche said she expects a finalized version — which amends the municipality's Official Plan — will go before council in mid-2024.

"It's extremely important to hear from our residents," Meloche told CBC Windsor. "We want to make sure we have all the information gathered before we sit down and present it to the public, so that we can have a fair conversation."

Meloche attributed complaints about the plan to "a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding."

"The point of the secondary plan is really looking at the future growth of the town of LaSalle. That area is known as the area that will probably have the most development in LaSalle in the coming years. What we've decided to do is make sure we're considering everything, and go to all stakeholders.

"We've just started it."

While Meloche said conserving green space remains a priority for the municipality, she said achieving DeMarco's vision would involve the municipality purchasing large amounts of private land.

"It would be extremely costly to the municipality. I'm not sure it's a number our residents would stomach," the mayor said.

"I understand and appreciate Mr. DeMarco's passion. But at the same time, we have to make sure that this plan makes sense financially."

DeMarco said he can't help but feel the municipality has engaged in more discussion with developers and major land owners than it has with citizens regarding the plan.

"I think the consultation needs to be restarted in a proper way. I am all in favour of developing this area with affordable housing. The good thing is, there's enough area here that we can have it all: We can have a range of housing types... and not just minimal, but substantial green spaces."