Raise the Hammer
By: Ryan McGreal
Published: 2007/07/13 (Category: Drive-Thru)
A recent report by Citizens at City Hall (CATCH) casts some serious questions about how the municipal government operates. According to the report, Tim McCabe, the new manager for the department of planning and economic development (EcDev), won't even consider a ban on drive-throughs for at least a year, even, apparently, if directed to do so by council.
"I can tell you I am not in favour of the city-wide ban on drive-thrus," Tim McCabe told the planning committee yesterday. "It will have to be selective if we go at all."
He said the change would require an official plan policy preceded by a review of principles that the staff will be undertaking as part of their schedule to complete a new official plan by the spring of 2009.
McCabe was responding to a query from Brian McHattie for an update on a motion adopted by the committee in May at his urging which stated "that staff be directed to review the possibility of a City-wide prohibition on drive-thrus, through zoning or other by-laws, including the implications of such a prohibition, and to report back to committee."
But McCabe says "there is not going to be a separate report" because of the need to change the official plan. He declared that "it is the nature of business to have drive-thrus" and any further restrictions would require "policy strengths" similar to those used to support and existing ban in the downtown area.
So, just who governs this city, anyway? The elected councillors or city staff?
(Thanks to Nicholas Kevlahan for drawing my attention to this report.)
Bear in mind folks, McCabe was director in charge of development and real estate under former EcDev manager Lee Anne Coveyduck and was hip-deep in Larry DiIanni's fast track investment shop to cut through the 'red tape' of doing business in the city.
This is the guy who sat in the back rooms and negotiated the Lister demolition and the Maple Leaf deal -- two very smelly proposals. DiIanni likes him. Andrew Dreadful likes him. City manager Glen Peace likes him.
Should we be surprised when he favors giving developers what they want and doesn't want to submit to public oversight and input?
Joejoe's got it right. This guy is a developer's dream.
the worst part is, I follow local politics and don't know who this guy is.
Never heard of him or read about him.
Seems our EcDev department has quit banging down the doors of department stores and other worthwhile ventures for our downtown and spends all of their time trying to open farmland for more sprawl.
EcDev needs a serious overhaul.
By Ryan | http://www.raisethehammer.org
Posted 7/16/2007 9:45:07 AM
Andrew Dreschel, the Spec's city hall columnist, dedicated a couple of columns back in May to the, er, gentle ouster of Lee Anne Coveyduck from the head of EcDev, and the selection of Tim McCabe as his replacement.
Council goes for a no-nonsense manager
http://www.thespec.com/article/197183
Embattled manager ponders her options
http://www.thespec.com/article/200512
Interesting reading there.
There's another recent CATCH report about rezoning industrial land to commercial up on the east mountain, which is directly in opposition to EcDev's stated (ad nauseam) religion - creating more 'shovel ready' land for industry (because industry creates the best paying jobs, and pays more taxes), which on the face of it is puzzling.
What I can only conclude from these examples, and the hundreds of others I've observed re Staff recommending and Council approving development is less about the individual merits or disadvantages of each proposal, or these folks being in bed with the developers.
They just can't turn down ANY proposal (unless there's a terrific outpouring of public opposition) and will find any way to justify each development as it comes along, as they are desperately chasing 'assessment growth' of ANY KIND due to the catastrophic state the city budget is in.
What's the solution to that?
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By joejoe
Posted 7/13/2007 12:13:38 PM
Wrong on both counts Ryan - it's the developers!
The City has so many intractable processes it's ridiculous.
"We can't do that...it violates our process" seems to be their mantra.
What's more worrying is the Dev Manager's outright refusal to comply with the request. He should (he is obliged to) be helping the coincilor work through the red tape to fulfil his request.
It's no wonder nothing ever changes in Hamilton.
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