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