Windsor's Flawed Planning

An Impossible Dream? Below is an infographic explaining the flawed data Windsor's elected and unelected officials used to drive the zoning of Sandwich South, the 400 ha (1,000 acre) subdivision --- to be built on existing farmland --- anchored by the planned new hospital. Strangely, there is no data suggesting a foreseeable future need for this new development; neither population nor employment growth projections support it. For such a colossal investment with such long term economic and social consequences, the masterminds behind it should have solid data to support it. Residents and especially Windsor taxpayers, who will shoulder the costs in perpetuity, deserve nothing less.

For more information, go to our infographic data sources: 1. Page 19  2. Table 13.3  3. Page 26

A 100% Windsor taxpayer subsidy for industrial employers As we showed in a chart in our June 2, 2019 email, the industrial sector's share of developing Sandwich South is expected to cost $38M. This infrastructure development will be 100% subsidized by Windsor taxpayers, whether or not any future industrial employers materialize.

For example: The still unused top-scoring GEM site (passed over for the selected hospital site on County Road 42) is situated within an already fully developed and serviced industrial/commercial location, paid for by public taxes years ago. Many other sites in Windsor already designated for industrial/commercial use are also available. On the map below, the magenta area identifies the GEM site location. It is surrounded by established Windsor neighbourhoods and minutes from the neighbouring municipalities of Tecumseh and Lakeshore:

Why are we planning to subsidize the development of even more land for future industrial use?  What is the likelihood of any major new employers on Windsor's horizon? A round-up of recent comments from our friends and neighbours: "This $60K milestone equals the approximate percentage of people who disagree with the planned site of the hospital. Their reasons are diverse and legitimate. Let them be heard." ~ "I'm with the BIAs! County Road 42 is a bad location and that's what CAMPP is fighting - they are not "denying us our new hospital". The number one location choice on Tecumseh Rd. E., which would have required no infrastructure upgrades, was rejected by David Musyj in favour of this location nowhere near a highway interchange and on a two-lane road with no infrastructure, which Windsor taxpayers would have to spend millions of dollars upgrading." ~ "I vehemently oppose the use of perfectly good farmland for the site of a megahospital" ~ "If located out in the boonies as is proposed [it] will only serve to encourage (rather than discourage) urban sprawl in direct conflict with other major cities seeking to curb urban sprawl." ~ "Is a single “Super Hospital” serving a population base of less than a three County ½ million population sustainable? Specializations required will always opt for London as the Regional Centre for South-West Ontario. Such skills require a population base that will support the multiple challenges faced, entities required, equipment and facilities provided for achievement of purpose." ~ "The so-called “wins” espoused by this esteemed group of leaders would apply equally to a more rational plan for a full-fledged acute-care facility in the city core and another central to the county, which would have the same benefits of healthcare modernization and economics of spending billions of dollars." ~ "Keep up the great work!"