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Continued from page I nificantly" disappointed with Environment Minis- ter John Gerretsen's seven-page response that a Class Environmental Assessment wasn't necessary and that he was satisfied with the mitigating meas- ures and other environmental provisions the city had committed to move forward on the project. "The city can now proceed with the project. subject to the conditions I have imposed and any other permits or approvals required," wrote Ger- retsen in a letter received last Thursday. "The city must implement the project in the manner it was developed and designed. as set out in the adden- dum, and inclusive of all commitments made dur- ing the review of the Part ll order requests, mitigat- ing measures, and environmental and other provi- sions therein." Opponents wont stop fight for reserve But the response leaves Brouwer and the other opponents he made the Class EA request with, Linda Nagel and Patricia Blower, with a lot of unanswered questions. They wonder how the mitigation measures will protect the flora and fauna once the continuity of the lands is broken up? And how is that in keeping with its supposed transition to a more natural state of old field meadow? "They've hired the same consultant to tell them the exact opposite of what they originally pro- posed," said Brouwer. "We can shoehom it in if we do X, Y and T, but why would you even go there? "That's the question." More importantly, they don't think the minister or the city itself has addressed why the location on the east side of Westmount Road is more ideal than the 180 acres across the street. Wouldn't building the sports field in conjunction with the new west- side library branch and YMCA make better sense in sharing of parking and other facilities and costs? "The real question here is why the university would choose the environmental reserve as a loca- tion for these sports fields when they have 180 acres of developable land right across the road," said Brouwer. "From the minister's response it is environmentally sensitive land because it requires extensive mitigation measures to make it work, so why would they pick the environmentally sensitive lands. have complementary facilities close together than splitting them up and running them on two Mer- ent sites. Brouwer and his group have tried to schedule a meeting with the University of WUterioo's board of governors to express their concerns but have yet to be granted an audience. But he said they're not prepared to give up the fight. . Waterloo CAO Simon Farbmther. who has been one of the main architects behind the more than $30-million plan to build a joint YMCA and library branch in addition to the sports fields, said the city is prepared to go forward with the project now that it has the minister's approval. V RWe're prépared to fight it," he said. "But we've still got to meet about strategy and stuff." . _ "it says the land is suitable for active use if uid-. mately council decides that's what they want to do with it," said Farbrother about the correspondence the city also received last week. Faxbrother was hoping to have some resolution of the Class EA request in the fall so the city could have begun the planning process sooner. "It's taken longer that we originally hoped for but now we can plan to.move forward," he said. As i/stands, it has delayed the project by about 18-months, and Farbrother doesnt expect to have a shovel in theground until next spring. -- - _ "The logical next step is to come to council with the conceptual design of the building and put in a request to do detailed design work," he said. "That's where we're in the process now. "it'll be an. 18 month ieriod until we get from tender approvals to tht opening of a by.ildipF" . Farbrother also said the delay could add to the total cost of the project because of inflationary costs associated with waiting "There is always an inflationary component but until you physically go out and tender a project you don't know exactly what the cost is going to be," he said. While final approval still has to come to council, and Brouwer and other opponents plan to make some delegations, he thinks the sports fields are a done deal between the city and the university. “The city is legally bound by the original agree- ment with the university to go ahead with the sports fields," said Brouwer. "That has been one of the contradictions with the whole process. wArERu9oCmtoNK-doe-rdsMk2+i5