Look Boss, the Plan! the Plan!

The best thing I learned when in the automotove industry when my company became the first in Windsor to be certified for ISO/QS 9000 was "Say what you do, do what you say". (Zalev got credit in the paper for being the first in Windsor but my former company Rustshield was certified 2 weeks earlier according to the auditor)

The story that deserves front page coverage and should be every news lead story is the city of Windsor’s official review of the five year plan (Offical Plan Review - OPR). It was always my hopes that scaledown could contribute to the debate about the official plan.

Maybe it’s the idealist in me that says that if the real power in municipal politics is the actual five year plan. Hopefully its not simply naivete to think that politicians should remain beholden to this official plan above and beyond any special interest. The fulfilment of the 5 year plan should be the main indicator of how our politicians and administration have performed for our city. Every council vote be viewed as to whether it serves to progress or impede the official plan.

It was my hope that in the next municipal election the candidates platforms address how they can better implement the official plan ahead of their competitor. According to the city’s planning site “The PPS (Provincial Policy Statement) requires that municipalities set targets for intensification and redevelopment within built-up areas.” Our Downtown has seen a 10% decrease in population with no new residential developments planned in the near future. Currently the developer of a 40 unit residential bldg is fighting an uphill battle against many councillors to try to eliminate the after hour club obstacle to developing sellable residential units. Where is the official plan’s goals on their minds during this debate.

Many other areas in the core face the same fate. When was the last time you heard a municipal candidate state how he plan to accomplish that requirement. When the current council chose to freeze community improvement plans, where was their explanation as to how they could contradict this stated goal.

Its time that every resident of Windsor own and hold up a copy of the city’s official 5 year plan at every council meeting. That municipal councillors duty is to implement policies that follow the plan they adopt.

If those goals require development incentives, reallocation of resources, creating two tier development rates for intensification than that is what they should be doing.

It is Scaledown’s vision to connect every resident of Windsor to their own walkable neighbourhood filled with independent local businesses and artists that together create a vibrant economy. We think that this should be the vision of the official plan of the city of Windsor. Call 311 and tell them if you agree with us.

Please enter the debate by discussing what you would contribute to Windsor’s official plan at scaledown.ca so readers can call 311 or visit the cities official OPR website.