In light of the current controversy, lack of community consultation and high impact of Artscapes' proposal for a development at 76 Wychwood on the local community The Hillcrest Residents' Association directs a re-assessment of the Car Barns process by:

1. Returning to Option 4 as illustrated and described by City Staff in their August 2000 report, specifically, a residential component of 3 lots on the South end of the site, the retention of the 1913 barn only, for community use. Community use means people who live in the area.
Option 4 was the result of 2 years of large community based working group meetings with City Staff, and addressed issues such as park deficiency, parking, traffic and population.
Option 4 had the support of the local electorate, and five separate surveys, one by the city, one by Rob Davis, one by the Wychwood Park Ratepayers Association, one by Joe Mihevc, and most recently, one by Neighbors for 100% Green Park have confirmed the 100% Park option was and is the most favoured option.
This option was killed on June 26, 2001, when Joe Mihevc made a motion in city council to bring in Artscape to transform the site into an Arts Centre. Leaving aside for a moment whether this is or is not a good idea, there was clearly no community consultation to justify this radical departure from the neighborhood-sanctioned Option 4.

2. Establishing a real community reference group to work with city staff and park planners to create an implementation report for Option 4. This is what city council asked for in October 2000, and we still haven't seen it. A genuine community reference group would contain a substantial number of local residents, and include diversity of opinion, as well as diversity of age and income. There should be representatives from all the local Ratepayers Associations, Hillcrest, Wychwood Park & Bracondale. It should not contain interested parties such as board members of potential developers.

3. Keeping the lines of communication open with local residents & ratepayers associations, always holding public meetings before going to either city or midtown council with motions regarding the site, and making written copies of any intended motions available to local residents well in advance of city council meetings. I think we need to bring some integrity and inclusiveness back to this process, and this is the best way to do it.

Councillor Joe Mihevc was in attendance, and his assistant, Sean Hill, took the names of the many ratepayers who came forward to be part of the community reference group referred to in Part 2 of the motion.