Duelling news releases this week from a developer in Collingwood and the town’s mayor, as a major development planned for the corner of Hume and Hurontario streets continues to sit unbuilt.
In a nine-page release, Steve Assaff comments on the content of Chris Carrier’s website with regard to the Admiral development, a hot election issue four years ago.
On Carrier’s website, a tab opens to a page detailing the Admiral issue, Carrier writing about the approvals process for the site and the Ontario Municipal Board hearing that was scheduled regarding it.
Carrier’s website claims the necessary approvals were never in place to begin construction,
In his response sent to local media outlets, Assaff takes issue with Carrier’s comments about the development’s approvals, saying the approvals were in place but rescinded by the current council.
Assaff further claims it was Carrier’s idea to reverse the previous council’s approvals of the site and that with those approvals, the development would already be built and occupied, with property tax revenue pouring in to the town.
A one-page news release has been released by Carrier, in response to media requests for comment on what Assaff has had to say.
In it, Carrier says the disagreement comes down to differences in opinion about whether the development ever had received final approvals.
Carrier also repeats that it was a majority vote of Collingwood councillors, and not just his own decision to withdraw a Heritage Impact Assessment.