This is an edited version of a letter to members of Niagara-on-the-Lake town council. A copy was submitted to The Lake Report for publication.

I have some serious concerns regarding your amendments to our town plan.

Deputy Lord Mayor Erwin Wiens: As an elected official for NOTL, your election platform promised contextual zoning, openness, honesty, the preservation of heritage properties and the promise to limit the density of hotels to ensure that the natural fabric of the neighbourhoods remain intact.

What gives you the right to amend the town plan? Under your guidance, new builds can now be six storeys tall instead of the agreed upon three storeys. This amendment will break all of your promises.

Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa: As an elected official for NOTL, whose election platform promised good governance, what gives you the right to amend the town plan? You promised to control development.

How does good governance fit with amending the town plan? Good governance requires inclusivity. How does inclusivity fit with compromising a neighbourhood? New builds can now be six storeys tall instead of the agreed upon three storeys.

Coun. Wendy Cheropita: As an elected official for NOTL, your election platform promised to maintain the character and style of streets and neighbourhoods. What gives you the right to amend the town plan?

Please explain how a massive building more than 60 feet high can be integrated into a heritage neighbourhood. This is very much in conflict with your election promises.

Coun. Maria Mavridis: As an elected official for NOTL, what gives you the right to amend the town plan? Who provided the information/statistics that indicate we need more hotels? Whose information indicates we need more five-star hotels?

As a representative of the people of NOTL, you need to verify/validate these statistics. You might be working with incorrect, incomplete or misleading information.

In a perfect world, town council would be held accountable for its actions and be subject to voter recall. “Failure to respect the wishes of the community” is very serious.

I ask that you please review your decisions and reconsider your actions.

Brian Lillos
NOTL