Sifton's request denied, wetland earns protection

London Free PressTue, September 30, 2008 By JONATHAN SHER

Ignoring legal threats from a developer and legal warnings from its own solicitor, city council voted yesterday to go to the mat to protect a wetland in north London. The vote by council to rebuff Sifton Properties came after politicians met behind closed doors to receive a five-page memo from city solicitor Jim Barber. "I know what we're getting into and I haven't changed my mind," Coun. Nancy Branscombe said. "My resolve is strong." Sifton wants to build two estate lots west of Stoneybrook Heights and north of Fanshawe Park Road in an area surrounded by wetland that would have to be crossed by a 60-metre driveway and water and sewer pipes. Its plans to build have been fought for a decade by residents, who say the wetland has been placed in harm's way by mistakes at city hall and a decision by Ontario's Housing Ministry to disregard the Ministry of Natural Resources. Sifton says its plans would minimize harm to the wetland, a position adopted last year by a member of the Ontario Municipal Board -- and one that makes council opposition yesterday vulnerable. "We're stewards of public land but we're also a steward of the public purse," Controller Gord Hume said. Hume pushed to delay a decision so city staff might seek independent legal advice, but council rejected delay and voted unanimously to reject Sifton's request.