Dear editor:

The June 13 edition of The Lake Report is rife with rage from various NOTL residents about the plans of Niagara developers to simply ignore local concerns before erecting huge structures that do not fit with the ambience of the town.

Neither developer Rainer Hummel nor Benny Marotta have shown any interest in designs that fit within the heritage conservation districts of Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Even outsiders, such as me, are astonished at continually reading about one after another inappropriate development. What are the town planners thinking?

As one letter to the editor notes, it appears that padding their personal pocketbooks is the only thing that matters to developers.

Another asks who is rubber-stamping these development plans.

The letter that stands out is from the gentleman who has a PhD in hydrogeology and expresses concern that the shallow water table on Queen Street and the planned deep underground parking are incompatible.

I hope the council will show more respect to the citizens of the town who are not against development, but simply ask for well thought-out, well-designed appropriate development.

Gail Benjafield
St. Catharines