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The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Review: Mike Lovatt's Brass Pack: 'Perth Festival breaks new ground'
Perth Concert Hall PERFORMANCES by youngsters from across Perth and Kinross are always a thread running through Perth Festival of the Arts, but this may have been the first time they have featured in the event's closing concert. The young musicians topped and tailed a festival debut by trumpeter Mike Lovatt's Brass Pack, adding some Marvel and Pixar movie modernity to a programme that majored on Hollywood's earlier Golden Age. Anyone who expected the Brass Pack Cubs opening performance of The Avengers Theme to evoke images of Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg as John Steed and Emma Peel was living in the past. The nostalgia-fest came later, when Lovatt's unusually-configured ensemble took the stage and he and arranger and conductor Colin Skinner – and later vocalist Anne-Jane Casey – guided us through a programme that included music from My Fair Lady, Kiss Me Kate, Funny Girl and Chinatown amongst others. Informative though their words were, there were possibly rather more of them than the evening really required, even if the concept of Lovatt's band does need some explanation. Derived from a 1958 recording by Billy May, arranger of classic sessions for Frank Sinatra, it eschews saxophones in favour of French horns, tubas and a harp. Skinner – paradoxically a saxophonist himself – has mastered May's musical language with superb versions of Bidin' My Time, Young At Heart and (Love Is) The Tender Trap. Read more Those individual numbers were more successful than the medleys. In the set's opening Hollywood Overture, the scratch horn section, led by the BBC SSO's Lauren Reeve Rawlings, was not the only part of the band that took a while to get its intonation set, and the later John Williams tribute only showcased the Brass Pack's unique sound when it reached the Indiana Jones theme. Casey, for all her seasoned stage confidence, had a couple of lyrical slip-ups too, but dependably hit her stride for Don't Rain on My Parade. The fruit of workshops earlier in the day was the Pixar music, with Randy Newman's Toy Story hit You've Got A Friend In Me at its heart, bringing the professionals and the brass-playing school-pupils together at the evening's end. This was new ground for Lovatt and his team but clearly a direction they relish, and another indication that Perth Festival is heading confidently into the future.
Hamilton Spectator
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- Hamilton Spectator
Stouffville Withholds Ticket Data as Automated Speed Camera Program Grows
● The Town plans to activate four new Automated Speed Enforcement cameras by late Q3 2025. ● Councillors are fielding ongoing questions from residents about the program, including inquiries regarding the number of tickets issued and amount of revenue collected. ● Town Staff say disclosure of early figures could be misleading and are withholding data to preserve the 'integrity' of the program. ● A full report is expected in fall 2025, earlier than originally planned, to provide a more accurate picture of long-term trends. ● Councillors offered varying perspectives during a recent meeting, with some emphasizing personal accountability and others critiquing the long-term consequences of drivers' speeding habits. ● Mayor Lovatt says fines from the program are exceeding expectations and will help fund traffic calming and road infrastructure improvements. Stouffville has scheduled activation of four additional Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) cameras by mid-to-late Q3 2025. The new cameras will form the second phase of the Town's ASE program , which launched on March 17, 2025, and are planned for the following locations: 'Coming Soon' signage has been placed at all four sites and will remain posted for at least 90 days before the cameras become operational. Public reaction to Stouffville's ASE program has been divided, with some residents welcoming the cameras as a necessary step to improve road safety, and others expressing strong opposition. The Town has set up a dedicated email address (ase@ to field questions, address concerns, and provide direct information to residents. During Council's May 21 meeting, Ward 4 Councillor Rick Upton noted that he and his colleagues are facing constant inquiries from residents about the program, including questions regarding the number of tickets issued and revenue collected to date. Although preliminary data has been compiled, Town Staff say it is still too early to provide a full update on the program's performance. Becky Jamieson, Stouffville's Commissioner of Corporate Services and Town Clerk, emphasized the importance of protecting the 'integrity' of the program and said that detailed ticket statistics and financial figures are not yet available. 'When we refer to maintaining the 'integrity' of the program, we're speaking to the importance of presenting a full and accurate picture of the ASE initiative,' she said in comments to Bullet Point News. 'Releasing revenue or ticket data too early can be misleading, as initial figures are often artificially high due to driver unfamiliarity with the cameras and increased media and public attention at launch.' In comments to Council, Jamieson referenced Newmarket 's ASE program, which has been in operation for nearly a year and only recently produced its first report for council consideration. Her team is currently reviewing early data and confirmed that a report will be presented to Stouffville Council this fall, which is earlier than the originally planned one-year assessment. 'This approach ensures the public receives a more balanced, meaningful snapshot of the program's impact and effectiveness, rather than a potentially distorted view based on launch-period anomalies,' Jamieson told us. 'We're committed to transparency and plan to share aggregate data once we believe it accurately reflects the program's intended outcomes, which are reducing speeding and improving road safety for everyone.' During an April 29 Town Hall event, Mayor Iain Lovatt hinted at some early ASE results. 'They are working, they are slowing people down, and, unfortunately, they are working too well—because we're giving out a lot of tickets,' Lovatt told attendees. 'I've said publicly many times that I want this to be the biggest failure, because that means people are driving the speed limit, but that hasn't proven to be the case in the first six weeks.' Lovatt said funds generated through the program have been earmarked for traffic calming and road infrastructure improvements, as directed by Council. He noted the revenue is expected to exceed initial projections, allowing for a broader range of measures to be considered. One potential focus is Hoover Park Drive, which Lovatt described as exceedingly wide and poorly designed. 'From York-Durham to Ninth Line, it is a bit of a racetrack,' he said. Suggestions for improvements include replacing the current textured asphalt median with a fully raised, landscaped median to create a visual break and encourage slower driving. Ward 6 Councillor Sue Sherban highlighted the history of speed limit reductions throughout the community, saying that roads originally designed for higher speeds have gradually been reduced largely in response to persistent speeding. In her view, drivers collectively bear responsibility for the resulting reliance on ASE cameras. 'These roads weren't built for 40 kilometres an hour,' she said, pointing to Ninth Line as an example of a major arterial road where current speed limits feel inconsistent with the road's scale and capacity. While acknowledging residents' frustrations and showing some empathy for concerns raised in emails, Sherban said it's important to recognize how the issue evolved. 'We've gotten ourselves into this situation,' Sherban said. 'If we did the original speed that the roads were made for, we would not be as frustrated as we are today in having to be the nanny state.' Ward 1 Councillor Hugo Kroon voiced strong support for the ASE program, emphasizing that those who receive tickets are 'fully deserving' of them. Speaking candidly, he acknowledged his own history as someone with a lead foot and a background in motor racing, but said that did not diminish his view on accountability. Kroon pushed back against claims from some residents that the program unfairly targets those who can't afford fines, calling that argument '100 percent incorrect.' Instead, he framed the tickets as a consequence for those who choose to ignore speed limits, putting both themselves and others at risk. 'I have absolutely no sympathy for that whatsoever,' Kroon said, adding that if financial penalties are what it takes to curb dangerous driving, he is in favour of the outcome. According to York Region, ASE cameras help reduce vehicle speeds by about 10 km/h and improve speed limit compliance by approximately 25 percent. The Region also reports that ASE can cut collision rates by up to 48 percent. 'As often as we get emails from people who are frustrated and upset, I think the silent majority in our community are grateful,' Lovatt said. 'I've literally had people hug me, thanking me for…the tangible difference in reducing speeds on our streets.' 'It's the one thing that we have done that has actually worked for traffic calming,' Lovatt added. 'And we've tried a lot over the last six years.'
Hamilton Spectator
17-05-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Court Dismisses $39M Lawsuit Over Stouffville's Failed Bethesda Park Sale
● Ontario Superior Court dismissed a lawsuit against the Town, Mayor Lovatt, and former CAO Rob Adams over a failed $77.9 million land deal. ● The proceedings stemmed from a conditional agreement of purchase and sale involving Bethesda Sports Fields Park. ● Justice M. McKelvey deemed the action null after the plaintiff failed to post court-ordered security for costs. ● The plaintiff claimed the Town unlawfully ended the deal, failed to act in good faith, and misrepresented its intent, causing financial harm. ● Relief sought by the plaintiff included enforcement of the agreement or $38.1 million in damages, plus $1 million in punitive damages. ● Town officials maintained they met all contractual obligations and said the claim had no merit. ● The lawsuit was raised during the 2022 municipal election when it surfaced on mayoral challenger Justin Altmann's campaign website. ● Mayor Lovatt called the suit 'frivolous' and said he was grateful for the dismissal. After casting a shadow over Stouffville since surfacing during the 2022 municipal election, a lawsuit concerning the proposed sale of Bethesda Sports Fields Park has been dismissed by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. The legal action was filed by 2348219 Ontario Inc. (the Plaintiff) on March 7, 2022, against the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville, Mayor Iain Lovatt, and former Chief Administrative Officer Rob Adams (the Defendants). Central to the Plaintiff's claim was the Town's alleged breach of a conditional agreement of purchase and sale (APS) signed April 26, 2021. The lawsuit alleged the Town unlawfully terminated the deal and failed to exercise its contractual discretion in good faith. Additional allegations included negligent misrepresentation regarding the Town's intentions to close the sale and a breach of fiduciary duty by Lovatt and Adams. The Plaintiff claimed the Defendants failed to take promised steps to complete the transaction, leaving the Plaintiff financially disadvantaged. In their May 9, 2022 Statement of Defence, the Defendants stated the Town did not waive its conditions and that the conditional APS became null and void. 'The Plaintiff subsequently confirmed [this] and requested and received a return of its deposit,' it says. 'There has been no breach of contract, breach of the duty of good faith, or misrepresentation by any of the Defendants…The Plaintiff's expenditures were, at all times, its own responsibility and made at its own risk in pursuit of its own potential development,' it added. 'There is no merit to any aspect of this claim.' The Statement of Claim, distributed March 7, 2022, says 2348219 Ontario Inc. 'is in the business of real estate investment and development,' and its sole director and shareholder is Richmond Hill resident Mark Edwards. According to a July 20, 2023 Factum of the Defendants (the Factum), Edwards is a licensed mortgage broker who operates the corporation under the registered business name AFM Mortgages. Edwards sought several forms of relief, including either completion of the sale or $38.1 million in damages for lost opportunity. The claim also requested $1 million in punitive damages and an order requiring the Town to surrender any future sale proceeds exceeding the original $77.9 million price. Dismissed on a Technicality The case never proceeded to a hearing on the merits. Instead, it was dismissed on May 14, 2025, after the Plaintiff failed to comply with a court order to post security for costs. Additionally, the Defendants had successfully motioned for over $14,000 in costs in July 2024 to cover legal fees. 'Like any other municipality, we took steps to ensure we could seek costs because of the frivolous nature of this action,' Lovatt said in a conversation with Bullet Point News. 'We wanted to be sure that this company had actual assets, because we were going to be counter-suing them for the tax money we were going to spend to defend our innocence.' According to the Factum, 2348219 Ontario Inc. declined to submit documentation demonstrating its asset holdings. The Defendants were unable to identify any real estate owned by the company in Toronto or in the surrounding regions of York, Peel, and Durham. While the Plaintiff's counsel did not respond to the Defendants' request for evidence of its assets, it did respond to the Defendants' costs submission in July 2024, suggesting they were excessive. In its response, the Plaintiff requested a reduction of nearly $10,000 in owed costs. The court found the Town's request for partial indemnity costs to be fair and reasonable, noting the amount was within what the losing party should have expected. 'The Plaintiff is a sophisticated commercial entity that is seeking $39.1 million in damages from the Defendants over a failed $78 million real estate transaction,' Justice C.M. Smith stated in an Endorsement on Costs document. 'The notion that the comparatively small sum sought by Defendants' counsel in costs for this motion is outside the reasonable expectations of such a party is difficult to accept.' The funds were never transferred to the Town. 'On reading the Motion Record of the Defendants (Dismissal for Failure to Post Security for Costs) and Factum of the Defendants, and on hearing the submissions of the lawyers for the Defendants, and on noting the consent of the Plaintiff to this Order, this court orders that this action is hereby dismissed without costs,' presiding Justice M. McKelvey wrote in the final dismissal Order. It All Began Over Coffee 2348219 Ontario Inc. alleged Mayor Iain Lovatt encouraged Edwards to purchase the Bethesda lands over an agricultural parcel during an introductory fall 2020 meeting at a Main Street Starbucks. 'It was the Defendants who proposed the municipal land as being the best location in Whitchurch-Stouffville for the proposed development,' the Statement of Claim reads. 'Initially, [2348219 Ontario Inc.] and its agent were interested in purchasing a rural farming property within the Town but were persuaded to purchase the municipal land due to the Defendants' insistence that it was a more suitable location.' Lovatt categorically rejected the allegation. 'That's 100% false. I did not persuade anyone to do anything,' he said. 'They weren't considering any agricultural lands at all, and I have no idea what lands they are referring to. They came specifically asking if we would sell the park.' Bullet Point News sought comment from Mark Edwards via a phone number believed to be his but did not receive a response by deadline. A Conditional Opportunity On April 5, 2021, the Plaintiff submitted an offer to purchase the property. The Town agreed to a sale price of $77.9 million, subject to several conditions outlined in the APS. These included formally declaring the land surplus and obtaining final approval from Council through a public resolution. Lovatt said he expressed support for the proposal and was willing to rally Council behind the sale. He noted the funds from such a sizable transaction could have allowed the Town to purchase parkland twice the size of the Bethesda property while bolstering the Town's parks reserve fund by tens of millions. While Stouffville officials viewed the proposal as a potential opportunity, they concluded that any sale would hinge on securing a suitable replacement site for the sports fields. To avoid disrupting public access to the facilities, the APS was amended to make the transaction contingent on acquiring that new parkland. 'The Town was unable to secure a suitable alternative property for use as a sports park despite making reasonable efforts to do so,' the Defendants' counsel stated in court filings. Lovatt declined to comment on the specific replacement sites they considered, citing concerns that disclosure could affect future opportunities should they arise. Zoning Roadblock Halts Progress Stouffville's Council also sought necessary changes to the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan (ORMCP) to allow residential development on the protected Bethesda lands. Although York Region included the amendment in its 2022 Official Plan following advocacy from Mayor Lovatt, the Province removed it before granting final approval. 'Our Council motion has been public for years showing we were trying to get those lands out of the ORMCP,' Lovatt told us. 'This was supported by the Region and included in its updated Official Plan, but the Province redlined it.' Without the change, Edwards' development could not move forward as envisioned. Unmet Terms Void Agreement Under the terms of the APS, if the three key conditions were not met or waived, the agreement would be considered null and void, and the Plaintiff's $400,000 deposit would be returned. The Statement of Defence says Edwards contacted the Town's real estate solicitor on Jan. 31, 2022, to request the return of the deposit. That request was formally reiterated on Feb. 2, 2022, in a letter from his lawyer, which also confirmed the agreement had been rendered void. The deposit was returned, and the Plaintiff cashed the cheque on February 7, 2022. However, the Statement of Claim argues an Oct. 21, 2021, text message from Mayor Lovatt to the Plaintiff's realtor, Adam Ratcliff, amounted to a waiver of the Town's conditions under the APS. The exchange came after the Town secured Regional support for its proposed changes to the ORMCP. Ratcliff wrote, 'Just heard the news! Amazing job!!!! Couldn't be happier to hear that outcome :-) Have a great evening, talk soon.' Lovatt replied, 'We've literally done everything we can. Time for Mark to bring a firm deal.' The Statement of Defence disputed that the message constituted a form of waiver, calling the suggestion 'a complete falsehood.' It also argued the Mayor did not have the authority to waive the conditions on behalf of the Town through a private text message. 'Even if the Mayor's text had purported to waive the conditions (it did not), as a matter of law a municipal corporation acts through resolutions of its council or through otherwise properly delegated authority,' counsel explained. 'Communications by text from a representative such as a mayor cannot bind a municipality.' Litigation Fuels Election Tensions The Plaintiff's counsel also issued a letter dated Oct. 17, 2022, addressed 'To Whom It May Concern.' The letter enclosed a copy of the Statement of Claim but did not include the Town's Statement of Defence, and it was not sent to the Town nor its legal counsel. Instead, the letter appeared on the campaign website of then mayoral candidate and former Mayor Justin Altmann, who was running against Lovatt at the time. It was posted shortly before the Oct. 26, 2022, municipal election, sparking significant public backlash over the attempted sale, the failed deal, and the resulting lawsuit. Lovatt says he is unsure how the material made its way to his political opponent's website. Bullet Point News asked Altmann how he obtained the Statement of Claim, but he declined to comment. 'Out of Stouffville and no longer involved, sorry,' Altmann responded. Town Pays to Close the Chapter Stouffville has incurred approximately $31,000 in external legal fees related to the dismissed legal action, according to Town spokesperson Glenn Jackson. Under Town policy, legal expenses for the Mayor, Members of Council, and staff related to municipal matters are covered by the municipality. 'All of those fees are incurred by the Town, none by Mayor Lovatt or Mr. Adams,' Jackson told Bullet Point News. 'There were no additional non-legal costs.' Although the case was dismissed without costs awarded, the Town has no plans to pursue further recovery. 'It could just cost us even more,' Jackson suggested. With the lawsuit now closed and the Town no longer facing claims over the failed $77.9 million sale, municipal officials say they are ready to move on. 'The entire claim, from the outset, was BS,' Lovatt said. 'We are grateful that this has been dismissed.'
Hamilton Spectator
02-05-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Stouffville Scraps Original Dome Deal, Signs New Partner for Ballantrae Sports Complex
● Stouffville has signed a new deal with Mentana Group for the long-awaited Ballantrae sports dome. ● The Town officially ended its agreement with Ballantrae Sports Group, the original proponent contracted to deliver the project. ● Mentana's updated plans feature a FIFA-sized soccer pitch, multi-use courts, and fitness facilities. ● Construction is expected to begin in late summer 2025, with the facility opening in 2026. ● The original project stalled for two years, leaving residents frustrated by the visible lack of progress and loss of parkland and two sports fields. ● The Town says the updated plan will help address community demand for indoor sports space and prioritizes local group access. After years of stalled progress and growing community frustration, Stouffville has scrapped its original deal and is moving forward with a new partner to deliver the long-awaited Ballantrae Multi-Sport Complex in Ballantrae Park. The Town formally announced the end of its agreement with Ballantrae Sports Group, the initial proponent contracted to build the facility. A new partnership with Mentana Group—a firm the Town credits with successful delivery of high-quality community sports and recreation infrastructure—was finalized today. Design work is now underway, and construction is expected to begin late this summer. Plans for the dome complex include a versatile layout capable of supporting a wide range of sports and community programming. The official opening is anticipated sometime in 2026, with a more detailed timeline expected in the coming months. 'At a high level, it will include a FIFA regulation soccer pitch which can be divided into smaller indoor turf fields, multi-use courts, fitness spaces, and amenities designed for all ages and abilities,' a recent Stouffville press release explains. New conceptual renderings reveal Mentana's vision for the 'Air Dome Sportszone,' which includes a restaurant, gym, and lobby with timber accents and large exterior and interior windows. 'We made a commitment to this community, and we have worked diligently to honour it,' Stouffville Mayor Iain Lovatt said in a Friday press release. 'After exhausting every option with the previous leaseholder, it became clear that a new direction was required to ensure the delivery of this much-needed facility.' The original project broke ground in April 2023, with hopes of opening that fall. First contemplated during the early days of Lovatt's first mayoral term, the development struggled to gain momentum and ultimately stalled. In the interim, the site saw the removal of an existing soccer field and baseball diamond, as well as the clearing of trees. A significant portion of Ballantrae Park has remained fenced off in anticipation of construction, exacerbating community frustration over the lack of visible progress. During an April 29, 2025, town hall meeting, one resident voiced concerns about the long-delayed project and diminishing access to youth sports facilities. 'What's the update on that?' she asked. 'With this, with Soccer City being sold, our kids have less and less opportunities to play these sports because the facilities are not available.' Lovatt acknowledged those concerns and pointed to the ongoing work with Mentana Group. 'We are very frustrated…with what's happened with the vision for the dome,' he said. 'Our goal is to see the dome come to completion. If for some reason it doesn't, we will be taking legal action against [Ballantrae Sports Group]. They would need to restore [the park] back to the way it was before.' While some community members have questioned the decision to replace public parkland with the privately operated sports dome, the Town continues to stress the need for expanded indoor sports infrastructure. 'Our sports organizations are growing, and they need additional facilities to expand their own programming. This is an efficient way of delivering that space,' Rob Braid, the Town's Commissioner of Community Services, told Bullet Point News. 'I think it's going to be a phenomenal addition to the community.' Braid noted that Mentana will not be charged for use of the land, but preferred, protected rates will be offered to local sports organizations. Some facility use will also be made available for Stouffville's recreation programming at no cost to the Town. Usage fees for other community bookings will be set by the dome's operators. As Stouffville takes a second swing at delivering the new community asset, all eyes will be on whether the new plan—and new partnership—can deliver where the previous one fell short.
Hamilton Spectator
02-05-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Stouffville Eyes Possible Hotel on Clippers Arena Parking Lot
● Stouffville is proposing a zoning change for municipally owned land at 100, 110, and 120 Weldon Road. ● The site includes the Clippers Sports Complex, Fire Station 5-1, a new daycare, and surplus parking spaces. ● A hotel developer has expressed interest in building on the eastern end of the lot. ● The land is already designated for hotel uses under the new Official Plan, but requires rezoning. ● Mayor Iain Lovatt said a hotel would keep tourism dollars in town and support economic growth. ● Public consultation will be part of the planning process if development proceeds. A patch of municipal land on Weldon Road, currently occupied by parking spaces, could soon be home to a new hotel. The Town is proposing a zoning change for its properties at 100, 110, and 120 Weldon Rd., which include Fire Station 5-1, the Clippers Sports Complex, a modular daycare facility under construction, and a large surface parking lot. Officials say the eastern portion of that lot may soon serve a new purpose. 'There is somebody who wants to put a the east end of the parking lot, which is actually a pretty interesting idea because we have 126 more spots than is required for the arena,' Mayor Iain Lovatt said during an April 23 town hall meeting at Latcham Hall. In Stouffville, arenas must provide two parking spaces for every 100 square metres of sports fields or rink space. For the Clippers Sports Complex, that translates to a requirement of 143 spaces. Excluding those designated for Fire Station 5-1, the adjacent surface lot contains 269 parking spaces. 'This is a conversation that we are having with the proponent, who is a seasoned hotel operator,' Lovatt noted. The stated interest from the hospitality sector was also included in a related Staff report coming to a Public Planning Meeting on Wednesday, May 7. The site falls within the Western Approach Mixed-Use area of Stouffville's new and in-force Official Plans, which already permit hotel uses. This means no Official Plan Amendment would be required for the project to proceed. However, the property is currently zoned 'Institutional' under the Town's Comprehensive Zoning By-law, which prohibits hotel uses. Town Staff are recommending the zoning be changed to 'Commercial Mixed Use – Western Approach' (CM2), a designation that would accommodate a hotel and align with the broader land-use permissions laid out in the Official Plan. In addition to hotel uses, the CM2 zoning would also allow for residential development such as condominiums or apartment buildings. 'The proposed CM2 zone permits a maximum height of 20 metres. This is approximately six storeys, depending on the architectural style of the building,' Staff explained to Bullet Point News. 'The total number of rooms will be dependent on the amount of parking that is able to be accommodated and the specifications of the eventual hotelier. It has been indicated that the site could accommodate a 70-100 room product.' 'We need a hotel in our community,' Lovatt said. 'We have families that come here who have kids that play hockey, for example, and they go stay in Markham and spend all of their money there. We're missing out on that, and we're seeing money leave our community.' Beyond addressing a local shortage of hotel rooms, the project would bolster Stouffville's economic tax base. Hotels are considered employment-generating uses, which means they are subject to commercial property taxes. Lovatt also pointed out that guests would pay an additional Value Added Tax (VAT), contributing further to the municipality. Stouffville's Economic Development team has been working with a hotelier to find a viable location for some time. An earlier investigation considered land near Highway 48 and Hoover Park Drive, but the site proved unfeasible. 'All we're doing at this point is looking at changing the zoning in the eastern part of the parking lot to allow this to happen,' Lovatt explained. 'I'm not saying that it is going to happen, but it gives us the flexibility.' Any future development would still need to go through the formal planning process, which includes public consultation. 'People can come and speak about the application during a Public Planning Meeting and whether that is a good use of those parking spaces just south of the Fire Hall,' Lovatt added. The May 7 Public Planning Meeting presenting the rezoning proposal will take place in Council Chambers at 7 p.m. Whether or not the hotel is ultimately built, the zoning change would represent a strategic shift that could turn underutilized asphalt into an economic anchor for the community.
