A developer-initiated information meeting has been planned for Tuesday, Oct. 28 in the Grandstand Hall at the Beamsville Fairgrounds.

Monday at council, Mayor Bill Hodgson encouraged residents to attend but said they must be clear the meeting "is in no way a town sponsored initiative," and that council will have no input into the content or objectives of the meeting.

"It is not part of the formal public process...no application has been submitted and it is not part of a formal public process which would result in any future land use decisions."

An information bulletin distributed throughout the community by developer Homes by DeSantis invites residents to meet the development team, learn a general idea of the uses being planned for the site and contribute their own ideas and concerns.

Mayor Hodgson said the proposed development is an important and emotional issue, and has significant implications for the Town.

Calling the Oct. 28 meeting "a genuine effort on the part of the potential developer to engage residents," he said residents speaking out is an important part of expressing a local voice.

"The power and effectiveness of that expression of our local voice is directly related to the extent that we can demonstate procedural fairness for any applicant in our planning process."

"It is council's responsiblity to ensure that our local decisions are informed, and that our decisions are formulated after receiving all revelant information and opinions," Hodgson said.

Calling it an initial meeting with the community, Tracey Ehl, public liaison and communications consultant for Homes by DeSantis said Monday the session is an opportunity for residents to contribute their ideas and concerns and meet members of the development team.

Ehl said she expects an application will go to the town's planning department in December. The meeting is from 7 to 9 p.m. with a brief presentation around 7:30 p.m.

"We want people to have the maximum opportunity to talk to members of the project team," Ehl said.

Earlier this year the Lincoln Agricultural Society (LAS) sold the 25-acre downtown fairgrounds property to Homes by DeSantis and is working to acquire a new fairgrounds site and build a new facility.

In June, LAS President Joe Kelter said the fairboard had signed an offer of purchase on 63 acres at the corner of Mountain and Philp roads in Beamsville and was negotiating to purchase a second piece of land, 45 acres located adjacent to the 63-acre site. The land purchase is conditional on zoning approval through the town that would allow the fairgrounds to develop at the new site.