Cambridge residents will speak to the city's Heritage Advisory Committee Thursday night about the controversial Minister's Zoning Order in Blair Village.
There are plans for a one million square foot warehouse project, residents claim will be an Amazon facility, in the heritage district.
The site is east of Highway 401 and south of Fountain Street and the developer Broccolini Real Estate Group has said it will create up to 1,400 jobs.
But, the project has been the subject of public outrage because residents haven't felt they were properly consulted with before the zoning change.
MZOs fast-track development, giving the province power to determine land use.
Cambridge had endorsed developer's request for one from the province.
"It's been going on, for us, since April 6 of last year when city council voted to apply for the Minister's Zoning Order. For the city, it's been going on since December 2020 when Broccolini first approached the city. But, between December 2020 and April 2021, everything was completed behind closed doors and not visible to the general public," said Alan Van Norman, one of the delegates to appear before the committee Thursday night.
Van Norman lives within 200 metres of the identified "impact zone" of the project and is also a member of Blair Engaged.
On the table at Thursday's meeting are a Heritage Impact Assessment, demolition permits, and policy exemptions.
The Heritage Impact Assessment is required for any demolition and new construction in a heritage district and the developer wants to demolish three residential properties on Old Mill Road.
Recommendations will be made to council by the committee before the project moves forward.
Residents' concerns have included the size of the project, truck traffic, and how the warehouse will fit in with the historical district.
"We're hoping that the heritage committee will not accept the Heritage Impact Assessment and that they will take our concerns seriously and that that will be conveyed to city council. Hopefully, we'll be able to start a dialogue with city council," said Van Norman.
He said 400 to 500 emails and letters have been submitted to city council without substantive replies, so residents reached out to intermediaries and former politicians.
But according to Van Norman, city council and staff were advised by lawyers not to speak to Blair residents.
"We're going to keep fighting," he said.
The meeting is Thursday night at 7 p.m.
