In 2021 the Glernway West developer, Marianneville, made a charitable donation of 16 acres of land to the Town of Newmarket. In return, the Town gave the developer a tax receipt (or tax certificate) which could be used to offset tax otherwise owing to the Canada Revenue Agency.

The valuation by Bottero & Associates made the "extraordinary assumption" that the two stormwater ponds on the donated land could be filled in and the land used for a town house development. I cannot believe this assumption was ever presented to the Town's engineers or planners for their comments. They would have immediately raised objections.

The Town of Newmarket's Comprehensive Stormwater Management Master Plan (2017) gives figures for the original design protection levels for the two storm water ponds on the donated land together with the catchment area and pond storage capacities. The ponds are being reconfigured and I do not immediately know the capacity of the new ponds and how they will compare with the old ones. But the plain fact is they are staying and not being filled in. They have a continuing practical function, going beyond the aesthetic of having a nice water feature on your doorstep.

"Definitely required"

Last night (6 May 2025) the Town consulted residents on its early thinking on how the donated land could be enhanced and turned into an attractive open space, designed to benefit the neighbourhood and the local environment. Residents who tuned into the Zoom presentation were told the storm water ponds were "definitely required" to prevent flooding downstream.

The cost of this project will, I suppose, fall on Town residents and on the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority. We wait for further details. Years ago, as part of the original deal, the wily developer, Marianneville, offered to pay for the trails provided signs were posted at intervals along the paths reminding the public of the developer's generosity.

Clearly, we need to revisit the Bottero valuation. If its central premise - filling in the storm water ponds and using the land for a town house development - is invalid then we should say so.

It was inaccurate in 2021 and it is proved to be inaccurate today.

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Update on 7 May 2025: The YouTube clip was shot on 25 April 2025 and sets out the position on that date as I understood it to be. The information from the Zoom meeting on 6 May 2025 has moved things on.

Update on 9 May 2025: This morning I received this from the Town’s engineers concerning the storm water ponds:

"The two ponds provide stormwater storage and some quality treatment for the neighbouring subdivision. Filling in these ponds would increase damage and the risk of floods downstream during storms and snow melts events by removing upstream stormwater storage capacity.”