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 & Louis Gris - Vice-president & Membership; J. Oreto - Treasurer; V. Vancas - Secretary; Peter Chant - Past President; Directors: R. Braun, Ritvars Bregzis, L. Clay, M. Fenner, Bill Haines, M. Hudson, Peter Keefe, M. Lalonde, J. McMullen, William (Bill) Roberts, I. Caldwell, J. Meijer, and S. Wilkinson. The Executive appointed Ian Caldwell, who has been observing executive meetings, to fill one of the vacancies. John Meijer, our web-master, was also appointed.

 

GARDINER LAKESHORE TASKFORCE

        SARA continues to monitor this Committee's work. Bill Roberts is our contact on this body, and recently was elected to the position of Vice-Chair of it by the Taskforce. SARA has nominated Frances Labelle to be our alternate on the Taskforce. It should be noted that a careful analysis of the Fung Plan shows nearly 6,000 residential units are projected for the CNE.

 

MEMBERSHIP

        Time to renew!  Please use the membership application on the back of this newsletter to renew your membership for 2003 now. THE FOLLOWING ARE THE FEES FOR 2003:

 

                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.

 

HIGH PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE 

Jean McMullen is our representative.

 

HOURS OF OPERATION OF GAS BARS

SARA continues to press the City to enforce its bylaw. We continue to monitor this matter, but have still not been advised of the status of the settlement discussions.

 

STELCO

A formal site plan meeting was held in the first part of this New Year. There were two Committee of Adjustment minor variance applications since the last newsletter both of which were anticipated, and information was provided in advance. [Note: We can only hope that REON will continue to honour its promise of full disclosure in the future so that the community is properly involved.]

 

JOY OIL STATION

SARA continues to watch the situation. While the City has written advising us the site is secure and the station is not at risk we remain concerned for its preservation. SARA has taken the position that it would prefer the station to remain in situ (where it is) or if it is to be moved that it be moved to the east at the northeast corner of Lakeshore and Ellis.  It is our understanding that the station may be moved within the site, rather than moved from it. [We can only hope the station is not harmed in the process.]

 

MEOW CLUB

We continue to monitor the site and believe that an application to rezone the site for high-rise towers is likely to go before the York-Humber Community Council in mid to late January. If the normal course is followed, there should be a public meeting in Swansea to discuss the application. SARA remains concerned that this will set a precedent of high rise towers blocking the view of the Lake from the Humber River, north of the Lakeshore Blvd. W., through the CNE where it will meet up with the towers in front of Fort York and the Harbourfront Towers and on into Scarborough.

 

COMMUNITY POLICE LIAISON COMMITTEE

Bill Haines is our representative on this Committee. We have asked the new Staff Inspector Brody Smollet to attend our AGM as our principal speaker.

 

HUMBER RIVER PEDESTRIAN/CYCLING TRAILS.

We continue to monitor this matter as well and hope that the funding and work will commence next spring. Marianne Fenner is monitoring the matter now.

 

1947 BLOOR STREET WEST

Work was stopped however we understand that work is about to recommence.

 

THE FAN/BILLY BOB'S/WEDGE

The owners of the Fan have reapplied for their roof top patio to the Alcohol and Gaming Commission. SARA has filed an objection to the application, along with other community groups and neighbours. As of the date of this letter we have not heard when the hearing will be held.

 

CITY PLAN

SARA as part of a coalition of 15 ratepayer groups have written to the Minister asking that he not make a decision until formal submissions can be made. While the City "started the clock" by sending out Notice of Approval, copies of the new Official Plan and the minutes of the Council meeting that gave the final approval will not be available until mid to late January 2003 - thereby defeating the rights granted citizens under the Planning Act.

 

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 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.

                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.

 

NEW LIBRARY HOURS ARE:

Monday:                                 Closed

Tuesday:                               10:00 A.M. ‑ 12:00 & (*) 1:00 - 6:00 P.M.

Wednesday:                         1:00 - 8:00 P.M.

Thursday:                              10:00 A.M. ‑ 12:00 & (*) 1:00 - 6:00 P.M.

Friday:                                    Closed

Saturday:                               10:00 A.M. ‑ 5:00 P.M.

Sunday:                                 Closed

 

 (*) Closed for lunch from 12:00 - 1:00 P.M. Tuesday & Thursday

                Please contact G. Dubauskas at 416 - 762 -6413.

 

MUNICIPAL SHELTERS

SARA having supported the concept found the proposed by-law poorly drafted. The re-drafted by-law is going before Planning and Transportation on the 28^th of January.  It contains provisions requiring Municipal shelters to be 250m apart and on main streets only.  It would appear some of the concerns raised by SARA along with other groups have been incorporated into the re-drafted by-law.

 

TRAFFIC CALMING

 We continue to follow this matter.

 

OUR WEB SITE continues to be developed. Thanks to John Meijer. You can view our site at www.swansearatepayers.ca.      

 

THE SAVANNAH REFUSES TO DIE

We continue to monitor this matter.

 

ALCOHOL APPLICATIONS FOR PATIOS IN THE BLOOR WEST VILLAGE

As of the date of this newsletter we have not heard what the results were from the hearing before the Alcohol and Gaming Commission to remove the conditions on the Dark Horse. SARA supported the area residents in their concerns in regard to the application.

 

SWANSEA/SOUTHPORT PLAZA

                We anticipate this matter will be going before the Humber-York Community Council in January 2003 to be followed by a public meeting in the community to view the application.

 

TORONTO WATER BOARD

                SARA opposed the creation of a stand-alone board, and instead supported the creation of a line department instead of a division to handle water and sewage and that the department report directly to a committee and council rather than through a mega department. [Note: One of the flaws of amalgamation was the creation of mega departments with mega-commissioners -- another example was the throwing of Parks and Recreation within the same department which deals with TEDCO (Toronto Economic Development Corporation), culture and other matters -- the end result is no one speaks for Parks and Recreation directly to the council -- it may explain the tendency to convert potential parks into cultural uses or not create them at all as was the case with the REON development where the City only asked for an easement]

 

FUND-RAISING

                The Theatre Night was a financial success; regrettably, one of our members who is also a long time executive member Joan Oreto was injured. Our hopes for a speedy recovery go out to her. Louis Gris is approaching the Village Players to see if we can have a Theatre Night next year.

 

                WISHING YOU A PROSPEROUS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.

 

                William (Bill) Roberts: Editor

                Louis Gris & John Meijer: Advisory Committee