Gateway to the Forest City a Shopping Mall?

This post is about an opportunity to protect and conserve biodiversity within our own City of London, Ontario, and the related topic of how things work downtown at City Hall.  This is one of those rare situations where there is "something for everyone".  

The topic is the "Pen Equity Significant Woodland" near the 401 in the south end of the city.  I am involved in the process of trying to protect this wetland and woodland, and I am asking you to take a few minutes of your time to write a letter.  There are many facets to this issue and the conservation of biodiversity is only one of them.  Other factors to consider, especially if you are a permanent resident of London, are: urban design, i.e., do we want yet another mall in London, and even if we do want another mall, do we want it at the outskirts of the city? And, do we want it at the expense of a wetland and a forest?  Also, do we accept that our City Councillors and Mayor Fontana have disregarded our own Official Plan and the Provincial Policy Statement on the protection of Ontario's biodiversity?  Finally, the proposed development of a shopping mall and cinema has been called "the Gateway to London".  Do we want the "Gateway" to London to be a shopping mall? I have an idea.  How about this?  We leave the forest and the wetland, and we make it the gateway to our Forest City. 

Please feel free to use my letter, copied below, or write your own.  You may find additional information on this issue at the following links:

Reforest London, http://reforestlondon.ca/news/penequity-woodland-update
Citizen Corps, London, http://citizencorps.ca/post/61610799647/penequity-appeal-to-david-otoole
London Free Press (there are many articles on topic, this is mine),
http://www.lfpress.com/2013/09/06/letters-to-the-editor-sept-7-2

Send an email letter (copy mine below, copy one from links above, or write your own) to one or all of the following people: 

David O'Toole, Deputy Minister, MNR (david.o'[email protected])
Laurie LeBlanc, Deputy Minister, MMAH ([email protected])
Hon David Orazietti, Minister of Natural Resources ([email protected])
Hon Linda Jeffrey, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing ([email protected])

Time is of the essence and letters should be emailed asap, but no later than Tuesday, 25 September.

My letter:
David O'Toole (david.o'[email protected])
Deputy Minister, MNR
Whitney Block, 6th Fl, Rm 6643
99 Wellesley St. W.
Toronto, ON  M7A1W3

Dear Deputy Minister:

A recent decision by the City Council of London, Ontario has approved the destruction of a parcel of land that not only contains a wetland, but has been evaluated as a Significant Woodland.  This parcel of land is now known as the "Pen Equity Significant Woodland".  

The proponent's own consultant, the Ecological and Environmental Planning Advisory Committee of the City (EEPAC), and City staff all agree that the parcel of land is a Significant Woodland; it exceeded the minimum requirements to be deemed "Significant" per London's Official Plan (OP).  London's OP is consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS) 2005. London City Council's decision to allow development within a Significant Woodland is in direct contravention of London's OP and the PPS on preserving Ontario's biodiversity and natural heritage. 

The City of London's actions should comply with their own OP, which is approved by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and with the PPS that protects Significant Woodlands. As a citizen of London I am at a loss to understand how elected officials are allowed to not follow their own OP, and the PPS. I am asking you to use all means available to stop the destruction of this wetland and woodland, and to enforce the requirements of the Official Plan of the City of London, and Ontario's Provincial Policy Statement.

Thank you very much for your immediate attention to this matter.  I look forward to hearing from you. 

Best Regards,
(add your full name and address)

/End

Thanks, and have a great weekend!