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PAGE 2, WIm'BMY FREE PRESSMW IY~Rk 1é Deision reversledcoim ilallowsstrexa io By iRobert Uerlsbeck The threat of court action against the Town by'a site plan applicant has led Whitby council te, reverse its previous rejection of the applicant's proposaI. Last September an application was made for an addition te the Garrard Market, a convenience store at the corner. of Garrard ]Rd. and and Forest Rd. After the plan was turned down by council, the applicants, Frank and Maria Doumkas, requested that the matter be referred te the courts. Afler consulting with two ýdif- ferent law flirms, planning department - concluded that because the property in question was zoned commercial council had no authority te Jeny the application. Although, on Mo4daIY council complied and appro-,ed tÈe appli- cation, several oucillors were left wondering whether they have an y power at ail. «I really have te question what my role is now » said councillor Dennis Fox. «I thought as 'a council *we had the right te refuse an application." Ross Batten, chairman of plan- ning committee, said that, Iegally, council had no choice but te a prove the site plan. «iobject te the challenge bëýr the applicant,» said Batten. I don't'belIieve this lpan is con- ducive te the area. B ut two legal opinions say that we are over- steppingour bounds.w Councillor Marcel Brunelle said, "I thought we were elected te make the decisions. Somehow we .lost that right te represent the people in this area.» Said councillor Joe Drumm, "We simply thought we were doin th rigt ting. I regret doing what we have te, do now.» About 10 residents living near the Garrard Market were in attendance at council te air their views against the application. But on a point of procedure, Mayor Bob Attersley wouldn't let L rdr . odr..frm C 10 aOo* 1iI COKE CLASSIC 2 litre BOUTLE 2.49+ tax MONTREAL SMOKED MEAT 100 g img * - * e e. ASSORTED MUFFINS 4 FOR TOMMTES 100 g theresidents speak. After the meetig, many resi- dents were angry ey were un- able te state their views. «What irkts me is that we should be able te speak,» said Shona Sadier. "I think it's dis- graceful that we can't.get up te say sometig at couni. Many residents are concerned about the current conditions of the property which they describe a trrageduMl.»An.exten- sio, eysy, wionlymake things worse. Jimh Sadier, whose property adjoins the stere, said, '«e con- ditions are terrible. The building is singularly uglth ence is in awful shape, there is garbage al over the place and the property is badly maintained.» Sadier said that garbage is only picked up when people corn plain, and tha g a rbage oftn cornes under the fence onte bis proprt. The* grass around the buldig is neyer cut; he added. «T'he owner doesn t care about the property »said Sadler. Crime is aise a major concern. Sadier dlaims the convenience store bas been robbed three times ini the past year. As well, he says, several cars on Forest Rd . were broken inte. «An extension would only mean a greater incentive for crime," he, said. «Considern the. track record of the owner, dont think itfs a rod develop ment," added Sad- The residents have the option of takingr the matter te the Ontario Municiral Board. «"As much asI hate it, I have te comply with the law,» said Fox. «But as a council, we are flot happy."» Downtown merchants eý to fight crime BY.Mike.Kowalski Increasing crime in downtewn Whitby has foroed local mer- chants te, get tough with the criminals. The Downtown Business lin- provement Aiea (DBLA) manage- ment board has established a crime prevention committee aimed at curbing burglaries and vandalisin in the tewn cere. Committee spokesman Lara Taylor teld a DBIA meeting last week that a «business watch» security system will be set up te stop crime before it happens. Taylor said the UBIA bas applied for governinent funding te hire a summer student who will devise a crime prevention progrm. This would include seminars to educate employees on how te handie problemis which occur on the job and ways of keeping waJhon businesses after hours. Taylor said the Durhamn Regional Police will aise be asked te pro- vide more officers te «walk the beat» during business hours. The crime situation was men- tioned several times during the meeting. Various. government agencies and officiais received their share of the blame for the problemn Store owner Bob Catten com- p lained about the residents of Fugsiey Manor, a home for Whitby Psychiatric Hospital out- patients. Catten said that when police are calied te pick up nuly residents, «theyptre backonthe street In two or three hours. «Until they get rid of it (manor) we'1l have probleins. Supermarket manager Trevor Bardens said bis wie will ne Cor s Cust'om Cabinets 'Foar cabinets with the quality of fine furniture. " longer shop downtown, «because elhe dosen't feel safe." While one unidentified womnan said shle recently counted seven men urinating in a parking lot behind a downtewn hotel. In an interview following the meeting, Bardens said bis wife witnessed an incident which occurred downtewn but declined te elaborate. However, Bardens did mention the problem of "people hanging out, shady characters b in the area of the four corners. He added, «we don't see* the police protetion we would like te see.» Supt. Dean Westbrook of the Durham Regional Police teld the Free Press féot paro lu i down- tewn Whitby have «been goig on a long long turne. «Whenever we have the man- power te do it, we do." Westbrook said some mer- chants may have the impression that «because they look out the window and don't see a police- man theByre not arouna, but they're there. «We are cognizant of the fact that they like te see the police.» Frovieus reasons, S. Sgt. Bey Graham of the Whitby detachment did not want te reveal exact days and'times of «Wetrytodo it as much as possible, we wn visible pre- sence, it gets officers te know the downtewn merchants.» Graham said police admit crime is increasing in Durhamn Region but that is te be expected wi T a boomn opltin «I don't ht nkhitbyisla ay greater than anywhere else,» he SEE PAGE 25 Custom designed kitchen cabinetry to suit your specific requfrements. 0 Solid Wood on'y * Ail cabinetE are hand made *Ail drawers are dovetail fastened *Cabinets of' ANY kind and size designed to suit ___ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ w }q: &Ida I' : v i 0aI1 #T OSHAWA, ONTAIO 725m 172 BONELESS SIRLOIN STEAK 3.49 lb