Private Investor Offers to Pay 3M dollars
What SCA is not telling us.
Since the city special levy vote, a group, opposing the $7 Million levy to be imposed on Stonebridge residents to "protect" the golf course, has been working diligently to find recourse.
We've been working on many fronts. The most relevant effort is an optional proposal presented to the SCA and to Councilors.
At the last SCA community update meeting, people asked Jack Stirling and the SWG if they would welcome alternate proposals or if the SCA option, conducted without due diligence and transparency, be the only proposal they would consider? Mr. Stirling stated clearly, witnessed by a few hundred people, the SWG welcomes other proposals.
The newly formed Stonebridge Community Advocacy Group (SCAG) went to work. Members met with a major Ottawa golf course operator to discuss possible solutions for protecting the course.
The operator, whose offer remains valid, proposes to purchase and operate the golf course immediately. The main points of their agreement include:
Operator will pay $3M of the $7M to purchase the course.
The community will pay the balance of $3M (not the $7M) reducing resident's financial burden and hence lowering the overall amount of the levy.
The operator commits to operating the golf course for 20 years ensuring the course is NOT developed during this time.
Why is this a better solution?
The proposal presented by the SCA and city Councillors left residents with many unanswered questions, no commitments, and leaving residents the large burden to pay a tax on land they will never receive. The main points below describe the operator's new proposal comparing it to SCA's agreement:
New proposal: Operator immediately commits to operating the golf course for 20 years upon closing of the agreement, NOT SCA's empty promise to POSSIBLY get the course in 10 years.
SCA proposal: no commitment to keeping the golf course - only a possibility the community may get it in 9-10 years. Even then Mattamy has the option to build on the land.
New proposal: The financial burden on residents property tax is reduced by more than half.
SCA proposal: Total possible cost is $7M. This is an SCA and Councillor's rough estimate. No contracts have yet been signed for this amount.
New proposal: It shortens the period to get the golf course from POSSIBLY 10 years to only a few years, conceivably down to 3 years while maintaining the spirit of the LOI.
SCA proposal: The minimum amount of time to pay the $7M levy is 9 years. This is conditional such that the SCA doesn't incur additional unforeseen costs or worse, Councillors decide to extend the special levy.
New proposal: Residents won't have to worry about managing the course or maintenance costs since it would be the operator's responsibility.
SCA proposal: SCA states they would manage the golf course operations (having no experience) or incur additional costs sub-contracting course management to a third-party incurring additional costs residents will be expected pay.
Conclusion
The operator's proposal meets and exceeds the Councillors and the SCA specific requirements:
It commits the land to remaining a golf course immediately, not in possibly 10 years
It reduces the financial burden on residents by more than half the amount SCA proposes
It ensures the golf course remains for 20 years without empty promises
As a resident, you must ask:
Why are your Councilors and the SCA silent on this proposal that exceeds their requirements?
Why are they adamant about proceeding with a developer (Mattamy) proposal, the same developer funding Councillor's election campaigns?
Why are Councillors and the SCA against listening or evaluating other proposals?
Please speak up! Please speak out! Demand the SCA explain their reasons. Demand Councillors Harder, Moffatt, and Meehan explain why you will be paying an additional tax for something you'll NEVER own under their current proposal.
Please contact the Stonebridge Community Advocacy Group (SCAG) at info@stonebridgefacts.com or join the Stonebridge Facts Facebook group should you require additional informatio