SARA 2020 AGM – Dec 9th

SARA held it’s 2020 Annual General Meeting virtually on Zoom on December 9, 2021 at 7:30pm.

We conducted the business of the association – with the Executive giving their reports – followed by updates on the expanded housing initiatives proposed by the City on Laneway Suites, Garden Suites, the possible impact, and their relation to the Official Plan.

We then held election for Officers and elected the following persons to the Executive of 2021/22. Veronica Wynne, President; Nick Singh, Secretary; John Meijer, Treasurer; Janice Kaldor and Sybil Wilkinson, Vice Presidents; Sabrina McCluskey, William Roberts, Directors; John Meijer, Past-President and Membership Chair.

We moved to fill vacant Director positions throughout the year and are always looking for volunteers to get involved and help out!

Our Speaker for the evening was Chris Higgins, a Swansea resident and historian, who gave a fascinating talk about the history of Swansea through the lens of the Swansea Public School where he had taught for close to 20 years. All the while compiling a trove of historical material which he has put into his book ‘Brick by Brick: Swansea Public School 1890-2020’ (available on Amazon). Find out more at his dedicated webpage https://chrishigginswrites.com/brick-by-brick-blog/brick-by-brick-swansea-public-school-1890-2020.html

Thanks to Chris Higgins, and to all who attended, and please keep on supporting SARA!

1978 Lakeshore Traffic Survey

SARA Wants You to Think Traffic & Complete this Survey

The Focus: The 1978 Lakeshore Site Redesign of the Windermere/Lakeshore Intersection

In non-COVID-19 times we would hold a public meeting to get your opinion but in these trying times we are reaching out by means of a survey. Your thoughts are very important in weighing the pros and cons of the proposed changes in this proposed development at 1978 Lakeshore Blvd West on the north west corner of Lakeshore and Windermere.

SARA has concerns with regard to the height, massing and density of this project. This survey relates to the road redesign and what the Developer wants to do as follows:

  • Have vehicles able to make right hand turns into and out of the Development onto the west side of Windermere (southbound lanes). The Gardiner overpass and railroad bridge obscures views to the proposed exit/entrance to the proposed building.
  • Shift the south bound lanes to the east so that the present north bound lane will become narrower and only allow one car at a time to go north from Lakeshore to halfway under the Gardiner overpass.
  • Please review this particular extract of the new intersection traffic design. In the extract the black lines reflect the new design of the developer who has extended the curb and pushed the southbound lanes further east. The white lines outline the existing design of the intersection. What is not outlined in the extract is the impact of the new design on the eastbound receptor lanes as the southbound Windermere traffic attempts to safely make the compromised left-hand turns onto the eastbound Lakeshore.

    Once you are satisfied that you understand the concerns of the redesign of the intersection, please complete the below survey by selecting the responses most appropriate to you, and supplying any comments you may have.

    Name
    Email
    Phone
    How many times do you use the intersection at Windermere and the Lakeshore?Choose frequency and enter number of times used in input box below.
    What is your usual access route to the Gardiner or Lakeshore?
    What effect will the Developer's design have on traffic at this intersection?
    Do you agree that the building should be built this close to Windermere with the right-hand lane converted to a side-walk?
    With the extension of the curb and the push of the three southbound lanes further east at this Windermere/Lakeshore intersection, what will be the impact on the eastbound receptor lanes on the Lakeshore?
    With the extended curb pushing lanes further east and reducing the north bound traffic to one lane on Windermere, what difference will this traffic flow make to the Lakeshore Blvd lanes going east and the Windermere lane going north?
    What will the impact be on adjacent communities as the northbound traffic is reduced to one lane on Windermere?
    Do you agree that this development should have a car and truck exit/entrance on the west side of Windermere so close to the Lakeshore?
    Do you feel Pedestrians and Cyclists safety will be improved by the design they plan to use at Windermere and Lakeshore Blvd?
    In the box below, please outline the major concerns you have about the design of this Development at 1978 Lakeshore West.
    Please enter the Text visible in the above image

    Finished and Reviewed? Click Submit.