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DEPUTATION BY DR. TED BEATON REGARDING MOTION 15-G-030, RAINSCAPING LOW IMPACT DEVELOPMENT (LID) GARDEN PILOT UPDATE (WARD 4).
Dr. Ted Beaton provided a deputation in opposition to motion 15-G-030 concerning the Rainscaping Low Impact Development (LID) Garden Pilot Update. Mr. Beaton discussed the history of his association with Sunnidale Park including the Save the Park Campaign and the Sunnidale Park Master Plan Steering Committee.
Dr. Beaton provided his assessment of the proposed rain garden project, noting that he likes the idea of the project, but feels that the proposed location in Sunnidale Park is wrong. He commented that the Staff Report had indicated that other park locations throughout the City had not been considered, only the 3 sites within Sunnidale Park, with the old playground site being the preferred location. Dr. Beaton also noted the slight discrepancies in the location detail of the appendices. He provided his thoughts on the disadvantages of the preferred location for the garden project, including it being a distraction from the vista, the cost of the project, whether the soil conditions and design would provide the intended demonstration, the possibility of vandalism, the establishment of a precedent and lasting monument to the Lake Simcoe Regional Conservation Authority (LSRCA), the potential to locate the garden in the vicinity of the Dorian Parker Centre; precedent setting for other organizations to place similar types of gardens in the park and impact on the passive park; that the City does not have to accept items that are donated, and that there is already publicity about the importance of rain gardens by the LSRCA.
In closing, Dr. Beaton recommended alternatives to the recommendation contained in motion 15-G-030, including to change the modus operandi for communicating the benefits of rain gardens through joint communication by the LSCRCA and the City of Barrie via the web, distribution of rain garden "how to books...
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