Volume 24 Number 1 Newsletter of the Swansea Area Ratepayers' Association January 1998 MEMBERSHIP Please renew and encourage your friends to obtain a 1998 membership, still at the 1997 rate. Memberships are our principal source of revenue used to handle day to day administration costs. All our Executive are volunteers. THE FOLLOWING ARE THE FEES FOR 1998: Single membership...... $8.00 Family membership ... $10.00 Business membership... $12.00 Please contact L. Gris at 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. EXECUTIVE MEETINGS Please note that Executive meetings are public and held normally on the third Tuesday of each month. There may be seating limitations, so contact the Executive before you come to a meeting. Our New Executive is: Peter Chant, President; Ed Gaigalas and R.Vaughan, Vice-Presidents; L. Clay, Secretary; J. Oreto, Treasurer; L. Gris, Membership; Ron Luft, Past-President; Your Directors: H. Beetham, Ritvars Bregzis, J. Bell, W. Haines, O. Iwanyshyn, P. Jarvis, D. Jennison, G. Martinsons, I. Poon, M. Rew, Wm. Roberts, L. Volpe and S. Wilkinson. MEGA METRO Both David Miller and Chris Korwin-Kuczynski met with the SARA executive to discuss the future which is still unknown. This matter must be carefully monitored by all concerned citizens. SARA's concern will remain to ensure access and public accountability. SOUTH KINGSWAY- HUMBER BRIDGES We continue to monitor the progress of the bridges. A meeting was held on Dec. 18/97 at the Swansea Town Hall, hosted by David Miller our Metro Councillor, with Korvin-Kuczynski in attendance as Toronto Councillor Elect for Ward 19. Beginning in January :98 and continuing throughout '98 you can expect added traffic on Lakeshore and the Queensway due to ramp closures related to the removal and erection of the QEW bridges. The East bound ramp at Lakeshore and Parklawn will be closed and the South Kingsway ramp will be closed from time to time between 9:30 A.M. and 3:30 P.M. Lakeshore Friday: will be reduced to one lane west of Windermere and the Saturday: left turn lane at Windemere and Queensway will be Sunday: closed. There is a possibility that the left turn lane will be moved for the year to Ellis Ave. For more information contact Metro Roads at 599-9090 or SARA's contact, G. Martinsons at 766-1734. HIGH PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE It is our understanding there is to be a public meeting concerning the through road closure in the new year. We are still not clear about when, where and how it is to occur. James Bell is our contact. GARDINER LAKESHORE TASKFORCE SARA continues to monitor this committee's work. While the taskforce continues to exist for the short term it is unknown what will occur in the future with the New Council. SIGN COMMITTEE The City has a committee which reviews signs and the regulation of the same. Don Jennison still continues to sit as our representative on the Committee, whose future is unknown. For more information contact Don Jennison at 762-3832. SWANSEA MEMORIAL LIBRARY Please note that with the new mega city our library, which was created as a living memory to those from the Village of Swansea, who died in the first world war, will be under threat of closure. We now know the names of the 22 who died. Records indicate that another 150 came back who served in the first world war. Once again we urge you please, to use it or we may lose it. You can arrange for any movie, book or any other library material to be delivered to the Swansea branch for pickup. The Town Hall has arranged for a computer to be available during Town Hall hours so you can order books, etc. when the library is not open. You can also order books, etc. through your home computer. LIBRARY HOURS ARE: Monday: Tuesday: Wednesday: Thursday: Friday: Closed 10:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. I:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. 10:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. Closed 10:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. Closed RUNNYMEDE HOSPITAL SARA continues to support Runnymede Hospital in its attempts to ensure quality long term, chronic care and its specialty programs continue on its site. PETRO CANADA ON SOUTH KINGSWAY SARA along with a group of residents from 1 Ripley (Southampton) have appealed the Committee of Adjustment decision which approved the change to a gas bar from a gas station and continues the car wash and adding a retail store which will be about 30% greater than the one at Queensway and Southport. We understand that this will become a 24 hour a day operation. It is also our understanding that Petro Canada has appealed the site plan to the Ontario Municipal Board. Contact G. Martinsons for more information at 766-1734. TRAFFIC CALMING ON RIVERSIDE DRIVE SARA continues to follow this matter. Regular meetings have been held and some time in the new year a new plan may come to the fore and a further public process is to follow. 1947-1997 BLOOR STREET WEST There is a proposal to erect a 7 storey, 4 times coverage residential condominium at this site (Ellis Park and Bloor, next to High Park). The permitted zoning is 5 storeys and 2.5 times coverage although there is a permission for a larger commercial building which was previously approved by the Ontario Municipal Board. Two meetings have been held. SARA had G. Martinsons, P. Chant and Bill Roberts attend as observers only. The matter is still before the Committee of Adjustment. SARA has not taken a formal position at this stage because the final design as of the date of this newsletter has not been confirmed. SERVICE AWARDS Special congratulations to our Executive Members G. Martinsons, E. Gaigalas, S. Wilkinson, J. Oreto and B. Roberts who received a City of Toronto five year service award for serving on the Board of Management of Swansea Town Hall. Several other board members received service awards as well: J. Slaughter, R. Martinuk, C. Armstrong, J. Woodburn and W. Hayes. BLOOR WEST PARKING STUDY We do not know pet whether the New Council will continue this study or not. 99 COEHILL DR. (1 RENNIE TERRACE) No new information. BLOOR LIQUOR REGULATIONS We continue to monitor this matter, waiting for it to go to the Ontario Municipal Board. SAVANNAH SARA continues to monitor this matter and we are waiting for the Ontario Municipal Board hearing to be scheduled. BILLY BOB'S This matter is still before the courts. ELLIS AVENUE PROJECT For further information contact Don Jennison at 762-3832. Advisory Committee - Peter Chant Editor -BillRoberts Swansea Area Ratepayers' Association c/o Swansea Town Hall P.O. Box 103, 95 Lavinia Ave Toronto, Ontario, M6S 3M0