Eagle Place residents, environmentalists and native activists are expected to turn out in force tonight to an open house called by developers, to show plans to build four adjacent subdivisions in a contentious area.
The proposed developments, totalling nearly 300 homes, are for a mainly open field bounded by Erie Avenue, Baldwin Avenue, Dover Avenue and Birkett Lane where cash crops are grown sporadically.
The open house is scheduled for 7 p. m. in Bellview Public School.
Some proposals have been the subject of neighbourhood opposition and native protests during the past two years.
On display will be:
-A 99-house subdivision at Erie Avenue and Birkett Lane that Cambridge Heritage Management Corp. has been stymied by repeated native protests every time a contractor hired by the city has tried to install a water and sewer service line.
-A 95-unit subdivision of semi-detached and townhouse units planned by Gord's General Contracting, run by Gordon and Jennifer Stewart, just south of Baldwin Avenue. It also was the subject of protests by native activists during preparatory work a year ago.
-plex on Erie Avenue by Multani Custom Homes Ltd. -plex also by Multani on Dover Avenue.
Bob Phillips, of J. H. Cohoon Engineering Ltd., the agent for all of the developers, said the meeting will be a chance for people to see the full plan for the area. Parts of the proposals have been several years in the making.
Six Nations activists keep their protest activities focused on the area because they claim it is native land never surrendered that is part of the Eagle Nest Tract.
Ward councillors Marguerite Ceschi-Smith and John Bradford have several concerns they want answered.
Ceschi-Smith said the plans "need a lot of work yet" before they will pass muster with her.
"They're mostly individual developments and not considered as a whole," she said.
"You can't look at this as isolated projects just fused together by streets. From what I've seen, the planning should have been done together more, because the whole thing will have a big impact on the neighbourhood."
She also noted that the waterfront master plan process is looking at that area because of its potential for massive development.
The master plan, which is still being written, envisions a lot of green, open space and environmental sensitivity in the development of the area.
"Their plans need to reflect an awareness of that," she said. "It has to be thoroughly discussed."
Bradford said he's not opposed to the development plans in principle, but added "I want to see a comprehensive neighbourhood plan that shows their plans in conjunction with other developments I know are proposed for the area, and how everything will work with what is already there."
He also said he wants to see a comprehensive storm-water management plan so the development will not adversely affect the neighbours, and wants to know what the Grand River Conservation Authority thinks of the developments because they will be in a flood-plain area.