Residents fighting for Charlottetown green space

Last Updated: Friday, January 12, 2007 | 2:13 PM AT

CBC News

Developers are planning to break ground in the spring on a new subdivision on the old Upton Farm lands in the north of Charlottetown, but a group of residents is still fighting to keep it green.

'It has all kinds of recreational possibilities.'— Kirsten Connor

The 260-acre parcel of land, which straddles the Trans-Canada Highway at the western entrance to the city, was originally a cattle farm, then passed to Agriculture Canada for research, and is now in the hands of the Canada Lands Corporation, a Crown corporation that disposes of surplus federal real estate.

It has developed a plan to turn part of the old Upton Farm into a subdivision mixing apartments and single-family dwellings.

Local resident Kirsten Connor wants to see the whole thing set aside as green space.

Kirsten Connor believes it's not too late to stop the development.
(Rob LeClair/CBC)

"In October we forwarded a petition with over a thousand signatures to the prime minister and other politicians, and we named seven major reasons why it should be left as it is or used as green space," said Connor.

"It could become an urban forest. It has all kinds of recreational possibilities."

But Canada Lands, which bought the property from Agriculture Canada for an undisclosed amount in 2001, says the time for discussion of what to do with the land is over. It has held five public meetings on what should be done with the property, each attended by 40 to 100 people, so it says the public has been well consulted.

The development plans include 20 per cent green space.
(Rob LeClair/CBC)

The plan, says Don MacCallum of Canada Lands, would set aside 20 per cent of the land for green space.

"Typically, under municipal planning they require 10 per cent or cash in lieu of," said MacCallum. "We're up to 20 per cent."

The City of Charlottetown supports the development, saying it already has more than enough green space.

"We have a huge amount of parkland," said Kim Devine, chair of the planning committee.

"We are now in the position of taking the cash in lieu payments because we can't look after all the parkland that we have."

The current plan does not cover the whole of the old Upton Farm. The fate of the portion north of the Trans-Canada Highway is still being decided. But more homes or shops are the most likely plan.

Connor believes it's still not too late to stop development of the old farm lands.

The property borders North River.
(Rob LeClair/CBC)

"The land is owned by the people of Canada right now, it is public land, and should remain as such," she said.

"What we really need to do is engage the politicians at all three levels of government to come to a common vision and action, so the land can be preserved for generations to come.

"Once Charlottetown and the surrounding areas grow together, and become one big city, this will be the only area that will remain green for public use for miles around."

Connor has suggested Canada Lands give the land to the city, but it is the mandate of Canada Lands to get the highest possible price for its property.