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Volume
29 - Number 2 Newsletter
of the Swansea Area Ratepayers' Association May,
2002 EXECUTIVE
MEETINGS Please
note that Executive meetings are public and held normally on the third Tuesday
of each month, excluding July and August. There may be seating limitations,
so contact the Executive before you come to a meeting. Your
executive is: V. Masnyk - President; G. Dubauskas - Vice-president; L. Gds -
Vice-president & Membership; J. Crete - Treasurer; V. Vancas - Secretary; P.
Chant - Past President. Your Directors are: J. Bell, R. Braun, R. Bregzis, L. Clay,
M. Fenner, W. Haines, M. Hudson, P. Keefe, M~ Lalende, J. McMullen, W. Roberts,
L Volpe and S. Wilkinson. J. Meijer is helping cut as cur web-master. GARDINER
LAKESHORE TASKFORCE SARA
continues to monitor this committee's work. Bill Roberts is our contact on this
body, and S. Wilkinson is the alternate. Since our last newsletter the task
force has met and reviewed the Part II Plan for the Waterfront as it relates to
transportation and the Gardiner-Lakeshore corridor. SARA has taken the position
that it does not support the removal of the Gardiner until it sees the business
plan which will show how the removal wilI be financed. In addition we are not
certain how the public benefits from the removal based on our concerns. One
concern relates to the fact that the Part ti Plan indicates 50 to 75% of the
CNE may be privatized for office and residential uses. Our next concern arises
from the approval of high rises around Fort York. We are now concerned that a
corridor of 30-plus storey buildings may be built from the Humber to the
Portlands. Our final concern is that there may be up to 10 lanes of the
Lakeshore Blvd. W. in the east end. Finally it is our belief that the Gardiner
should not be removed until the public transit (LRT) is in
place and running from/to the Dundas West subway station and possibly Coxwell
or a similar subway station in the east end, along the waterfront (probably
using the Harbourfront line). HOURS
OF OPERATION OF GAS BARS SARA
continues to press the City to enforce its bylaw, We continue to monitor this
matter, but have not heard in regard to the status of the settlement
discussions (re: 8 The South Kingsway)as of the date of this newsletter. FUND
RAISER Please
note that we are in the process of arranging a fund raiser by repeating the
previous concept of viewing a play which will be jointly sponsored by SARA and
the Village Players to be held sometime in November. The event helps to
generate some income to assist our ongoing operation. If you want to help or
put in advance orders for tickets you should contact L. Gris who hand1es
membership. HIGH
PARK CITIZEN'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE Jean
McMullen is our representative STELCO
LANDS SARA
has three representatives on the WINDERMERE BY-THE-LAKE COMMUNITY
LIAISON COMMITTEE. SARA has raised some procedural concerns
which we hope will be resolved. MEOW
CLUB We
continue to monitor the site and remain concerned that there may be an attempt
to erect high-rise condominiums on this site. For updates please contact J.
Bell 416- 604- 7421. TRAFFIC
CALMING. We
continue to follow this matter. MEMBERSHIP If you
have not done so, renew your membership for 2002 now. THE
FOLLOWING ARE THE FEES FOR 2002: Single
membership $10.00 Family
membership $12.00 Business
membership $14.00 Please
contact L Gris at 416 - 766 - 2792 to renew. Membership inquiries
may be sent to Swansea Area Ratepayers' Association, c/o Swansea Town
Hall, Box 103, 95 Lavinia Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M6S 3H9. JOY OIL
STATION SARA
continues to watch the situation. COMMUNITY
POLICE LIAISON COMMITTEE. Bill
Haines is our representative on this committee. HUMBER
RIVER PEDESTRIAN/CYCLING TRAILS. We
continue to monitor this matter as well and hope that the funding and work will be
this spring. MEGACITY
COMMUNITY COUNCILS We
remained concerned that the staff continues to supplant our elected representatives.
In the most recent document dealing with ravine control, the staff is asking that
the approval power to control and therefore potentially devastate ravines be in
their hands rather than with the Council which presently must consider any
changes in any designated ravines in the former City of Toronto unless such
changes are not permitted as of right under the existing by-law. For example
the removal of trees or existing vegetation, or any grading changes must receive
council approval, with notice to the surrounding owners. It is likely the staff
process will, as with so many other changes, exclude the public from the
process. 1947
BLOOR STREET WEST. The OMB
has approved the site plan and changes despite vigorous opposition by the
neighbours. 47 ST.
OLAVES RD. The
Committee of Adjustment approved the application of the owner in a manner
that raises serious concerns about the Committee's procedural rules. SARA
continues to support the neighbors who have appealed the decision to the OMB
(Ontario Municipal Board). CITY
PLAN SARA
supports CORRA (the Confederation of Residents and Ratepayers" Associations)
and the Federation of North Toronto Ratepayers Associations, whose concerns
parallel ours that the proposed plan simply transfers powers to the staff and
the developers and excludes the citizens from the process. Our President V. Masnyk
appeared before the Waterfront Committee which is responsible for the development
of the Central Waterfront and the Portlands, to express the concerns that the
City appears to be selling off public lands and creating a high rise corridor along
the waterfront. SWANSEA
MEMORIAL LIBRARY We
continue to keep an eye on the Library. Please remember if we do not use it, we
will lose it. Remember it is as a living memory to the Village of Swansea soldiers
who served in the First World War- the 22 who did not come back and the 150 who
did. SARA
supports increasing the Library hours by a modest 3 hours to allow evening
operations. Also do
not forget you can arrange for any movie, book or any other library material
to be delivered to the Swansea branch for pickup. LIBRARY
HOURS ARE NOW: Monday: Closed Tuesday: 10:00 A.M- 6:00 P.M. Wednesday: 10:00 PM - 6:00 P,M. Thursday: 10:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M. Friday: Closed Saturday: 9:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M. Sunday: Closed Please
contact G. Dubauskas at 416- 762 -6413. MUNICIPAL
SHELTERS SARA,
while supporting the concept, finds the proposal poorly drafted. It s our" understanding
that council is trying to better draft the by-law based on the concerns raised
by SARA. Councillor David Miller has agreed that our concerns are reasonable. SARA
WEB SITE The SARA
presence on the internet is stiII being created. However, thanks to John
Meijer, our web-master, it is looking "good". You can view our site
at www.swansearatepayers.ca. ALCOHOL
APPLICATIONS FOR PATIOS IN THE BLOOR WEST VILLAGE. There
are two applications before the Alcohol and Gaming Commission. One to remove
the conditions on the Dark Horse and the other relates to Pizza/Pizza. SARA is
supporting the area residents in their concerns in regard to both applications.
This points out a serious problem since amalgamation. Previously there
was a public process involved for getting a boulevard license. This was abandoned
by the City based on the recommendations of staff. At the time the by- law
approving restaurants was passed, the City advised residents that they did not have
to be concerned because through the boulevard licensing provisions the City could
control such applications. Since then having stopped the public process, the City
has not seen fit to amend the zoning by-law to deal with the issue. SWANSEA
AREA RATEPAYERS' ASSOCIATION ANNUAL
GENERAL MEETING May 27,
2002 st the SWANSEA
TOWN HALL (95
Lavinia Avenue) ROUSSEAU
ROOM 7:30 P.M. AGENDA (7:30-
8:00 pro) President's
Report Treasurer's
Report Other
Reports Election
of Officers (8:00 -
9:00 pm) "FLOWERS
AND YOU" Bill
Roberts* will speak on pruning roses and getting your Garden ready
for late spring and summer and Marianne Fenner** will speak on plants and their
care in a condominium/apartment setting PUBLIC
ACCESS. SARA
continues to press the City to return to the days of public involvement. As discussed
elsewhere, there is the issue of ravine development which the staff wants
to control. THE
SAVANNAH REFUSES TO DIE The
Ontario Municipal Board wrote to the solicitor for the property owner asking whether
the owner still wanted to have a by-law drafted as per the Board order or to have
the file closed. The owner has indicated that it wishes the by-law to be amended
as per the Board order and the City is presently drafting an amendment. SARA
has requested the City to keep it advised. THE FAN
/ BILLY BOB'S / WEDGE The
owners of the Fan appealed the Alcohol and Gaming Commission's decision
which refused their roof top patio. The appeal was scheduled for 10 April, 2002
before the Divisional Court, but the Fan the Fan withdrew its appeal. The Alcohol
and Gaming Commission and the City of Toronto were opposing the appeal ANNUAL
GENERAL MEETING It is
necessary for SARA to hold elections and complete the usual
business so we can continue to function. At 8:00 P.M. we will allow
the speakers to do their respective topics. After that, under NEW BUSINESS,
resolutions will be considered if there are any. *Bill
Roberts is a member of our Executive, the former President of the Swansea Horticultural Society and one
of the Team Leaders who designed the first place
winner at the CNE in the Front Door Demonstration Garden **Marianne
Fenner is another member of our Executive and was" featured, along with her indoor garden,
in the Toronto Star article written by Star Columnist Anne
Day WE HOPE
THAT WE WILL SEE YOU AT THE ANNUAL
GENERAL MEETING!! William
(Bill) Roberts: Editor Jamie
Bell & Louis Gris: Advisory Committee |