Judd wants to give everybody an update on what’s happening! He reminds you that members of the Upton Farm Preservation Network will be at the Farmers Market on Saturday (tomorrow) with the petition to sign, “Save Upton Farm” license plates to purchase, and to answer any questions you may have about the progress made so far. Please drop by and say “Hi.” We appreciate your support!

NEWSLETTER

What started as neighbourhood concerns over increased traffic and loss of green space expressed by residents at a Town Hall Meeting hosted by two local MLAs (Wes MacAleer and Wayne Collins) has evolved into the Upton Farm Preservation Network.

Many people from all over Charlottetown and the Island suddenly realized that what was about to happen would be a loss for everyone.

The people who rest their eyes on the fields as they come across the North River; people who walk , run and bike on the lands; and people who feel strongly that we need to retain this as green space for environmental reasons wanted to join the neighbours.

‘The Network’ is large, but a small working group consisting of people from the Beach Grove area as well as a few from other parts of the City have volunteered and worked with our decision makers.

This work has resulted in Charlottetown City Council voting unanimously to ask the Canada Lands Company to withdraw their subdivision application, which would have placed up to 350 homes on the south side of the Upton Farm Lands. As well, the provincial legislature recently voted unanimously (on a motion put forward by Ron MacKinley and Richard Brown) to ask the Federal Government for an 18-month moratorium on the start of ANY development on this property.

Premier Pat Binns recently announced that this 18-month moratorium HAS BEEN GRANTED.

This is a great achievement, but is by no means the end of the matter.

The Network has asked that a working committee with representatives from the three levels of government (city, provincial and federal) be established to work on the next stages required to have this land permanently designated as public green space.

The purpose of this Newsletter is also to inform everyone that ‘The Network” has established a web site at www.saveuptonfarm.com , and want to invite all interested people to check in and see the latest news and views. Comments, suggestions and questions will be most welcome. Also if anyone wants to become more involved with the Network, please let us know.

As this is a non-profit volunteer group, the web site will in the future be our only means of communication.

Please share this news with anyone you know who may be interested.

Cheers,

The Upton Farm Preservation Network