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| Hamlet of Columbus striving to disconnect |
| July 29,2009 |
Dear Editor, When people ask about the ‘Oshawa Please Release Us’ signs in Columbus, I would like to point out the following: Our boundary realignment proposal is very narrow and specific and only relates to the tiny Hamlet of Columbus and the contiguous properties along the one kilometre section of Columbus Rd. W. to the Whitby border. The Hamlet of Columbus’ situation is very different from Raglan’s. Raglan is not impacted by the 407 extension to the extent that Columbus will be. The 407 interchange at Simcoe will be less than one kilometre from our Hamlet’s southern boundary and Columbus is a community with many residential driveways fronting on Simcoe Street where Raglan has none. Raglan is in the greenbelt and as such is not affected by the Growing Durham, Region Official Plan 2009 Amendment rezoning agricultural lands to urban and industrial the way Columbus is. Raglan is further removed from the Village of Brooklin, not the same easy walk or biking distance from Brooklin that Columbus is. Raglan does not have the same high number of historic buildings as Columbus does. In fact, the concentration of 43 identified heritage properties in the Hamlet of Columbus are most suited to compliment Brooklin’s small historic village. Raglan has a vital commercial enterprise within its hamlet boundaries (the Whitefeather County Store), whereas Columbus has no commercial business now for the first time in 170 years. Columbus was randomly forced to join Oshawa in 1974 with the creation of the Region of Durham. The Hamlet’s disconnection with the city has been there all along. In addition to the shameful neglect of Oshawa to notify and engage Columbus residents in the Growing Durham Plan process, its handling of last year’s decorative lights petition served as a catalyst for the Columbus movement to join Whitby. The 407 extension will serve as a physical barrier between Oshawa and Columbus and disconnect Columbus residents even more. However, Brooklin, like Columbus, will be north of the 407. Rosemary McConkey Columbus resident |
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©2008 Dowellman Publishing Corp, All Rights Reserved
