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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday January 27, 2007 - 13 TCRA banks on elected officials listening By David Lea SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Mutilated trees and rumored school closures were just some of the hot topics discussed by Oakville residents at the Trafalgar-Chartwell Resident's Association (TCRA) recent annual meeting. More than 50 people were at Town Hall to discuss perceived threats to their community -- and the concerns were as varied as the people in attendance. "The road system, pedestrian accessibility and bicycle access is something of particular interest to me," said resident Ann Herten. "Our family ride bikes all the time and you want to know that when you're on the road you're safe. These days there is really very limited space on the road for cyclists. That's just one issue, but it's something I'm very interested in promoting." On the receiving end of the crowd's questions were Ward 3 Town Councillor Mary Chapin, Halton District School Board Ward 3 Trustee Philippa Ellis, and Mayor Rob Burton. "We have a number of issues," said TCRA's interim president Hank VanderSar. "We would like to accomplish some discussion this evening and reiterate some public concern about the hospital," he said. Many TCRA members are concerned the Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital (OTMH) site will be inappropriately developed once the hospital relocates. "It's the rest of the property. What happens to it?" VanderSar asked. "We'd like to make sure we get some zoning in place so the land that's left does not get misused." To hear his concerns and the concerns of the other residents, Allan Ramsay and Diane Childs of the Town of Oakville Planning Services were on hand. Ramsay tried to ease worries that the hospital site would be misused. "You couldn't do something on that site that doesn't involve the hospital or health care," he said. Nick Hutchins of the TCRA board countered saying the government has the power to put anything it wants on that property. "Theoretically the government of Ontario could come in and they could build a building of any height because there are no height restrictions." Hutchins fears such a building will increase traffic volume in the area. "Trafalgar-Cornwall intersection is already extremely congested and it's only going to get worse in the next 20 years. If you put a huge number of buildings down there or very high buildings you're only going to encourage that much more traffic," said Hutchins. Ramsey acknowledged such a develop- ment was possible, but not very likely calling the statement `fear mongering.' "I think in the past there have been some loopholes found in our zoning, so I think the community is concerned about those things coming up again," said Ramsay. "I don't particularly feel the previous loopholes we've found would occur here." Childs said the community's wishes would be made known to those in control of the land. "It's going to be good for us to pass on the comments we heard this evening to Halton Healthcare Services (HHS), so they will get this community involved when they begin their master plan," she said. Rumors of the closures of Brantwood and New Central public schools were also addressed. "We have a lot of members here that do not have their kids in private schools and they're talking about shutting down public schools," said VanderSar. Ellis said her goal is a school system that can be maintained in the event of a funding reduction. "I want things stable. If the government turns off the tap we'll be under their thumb," she said. "I can't guarantee you that schools won't close, I can't guarantee that schools will open." Nancy Danter , who has a child at Brantwood and another at New Central , is sick of not knowing what will happen with the schools. "I've lived here 18 years and in that time there has always been uncertainty with these schools," she said. "They keep using that buzz word `quality of programming' and how can we have a quality program with small schools. My children get music everyday, they get gym every- day, they have access to computers, and they can go to the library everyday. Some of the larger schools, where they're filled to capacity, the kids are getting gym every other day, they have to have a schedule to go to the library. So how do you tell me that's quality of programming?" Oakville Hydro's cutting of tree limbs to make way for power lines had more than a few residents angry. "They trim them for these monstrous hydro wires. I don't know if there's any place in Oakville that has the amount of voltage going down a street and this is a smaller residential street," said Gail Cherrington. "I even worry about the health of residents because it's a very high voltage going down our street." Oakville Hydro CEO Alex Bystrin was present to take questions and explain his company's policies. Bystrin said it is necessary to cut the tree branches because otherwise over time the trees scrape away at the wire's insulation. "The next thing that will happen is the wire is going to explode and fall to the ground," he said. "If you touch it it will burn the flesh right off your hand." Residents voiced the idea that the wires be buried underground as has been done in newer parts of Oakville, however Bystrin saw a problem with this. "In the old areas it's too expensive, someone has to pay for it," he said. At the end of the meeting many residents left not having heard all that they wanted to hear, but many others left secure in the knowledge that their voices will be taken into consideration as town officials make decisions. "They have to listen to us," said Bob Young, the TCRA president. "They're elected officials." Oakville Independent Schools Open House Saturday, February 10 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Find the right school for your child Oakville is home to an impressive selection of independent preschools, elementary schools and high schools. Each school is committed to providing students with a unique and high quality education with a strong academic foundation, small class sizes and personal attention. Visit the schools and discover what each has to offer. Find out which one is right for your child. Chisholm Educational Centre We help kids overcome learning difficulties Appleby College Grade 7 - 12 540 Lakeshore Rd. W. (905) 845-4681 fax: (905) 845-9505 www.appleby.on.ca e-mail: enrol@appleby.on.ca Chisholm High School Grade 9 to 12 1484 Cornwall Rd. (905) 844-3240 fax: (905) 844-7321 www.chisholmcentre.com e-mail: info@chisholmcentre.com Dearcroft Montessori Preschool - Grade 8 1167 Lakeshore Rd. E. (905) 844-2114 fax: (905) 844-3529 www.dearcroft.com email: dearcroft@primus.ca Fern Hill School Preschool - Grade 8 Oakville Campus 3300 Ninth Line Rd. (905) 257-0022 www.fernhillschool.com Burlington Campus 801 North Service Road Glenburnie School Preschool - Grade 8 2035 Upper Middle Rd. E. (905) 338-6236 fax: (905) 338-2654 www.glenburnieschool.com e-mail: admin@glenburnieschool.com King's Christian Collegiate Grade 9 to 12 528 Burnhamthorpe Rd. W. (905) 257-5464 www.kingschristian.net e-mail: sroebbelen@kingschristian.net also 9% Per annum. Interest paid monthly. 1 year term. Business Finance & Credit Corporation Contact us at MacLachlan College JK - Grade 12 337 Trafalgar Rd. (905) 844-0372 fax: (905) 844-9369 www.maclachlan.ca e-mail: registrar@maclachlan.on.ca Oakville Christian School JK - Grade 8 112 Third Line (905) 825-1247 ext. 221 fax: (905) 825-3398 www.ocsonline.org e-mail: ocsadmissions@ocsonline.org Primary Campus JK - Grade 1 2045 Sixth Line (905) 338-3528 Elementary Campus Grade 1 to Grade 8 2050 Neyagawa Blvd. (905) 849-1897 www.rotherglen.com St. Mildred's-Lightbourn School JK - Grade 12 1080 Linbrook Rd. (905) 845-2386 fax: (905) 845-4799 www.smls.on.ca e-mail: admissions@smls.on.ca Westwind Montessori Grade 4 to 8 451 Lakeshore Rd. W. (905) 849-9463 fax: (905) 849-9051 www.westwindms.com e-mail: gphippen@westwindms.com See our new Sept. '07 location Dearcroft Montessori Wildwood Academy Grade 3 to 8 2250 Sheridan Garden Dr. (905) 829-4226 fax: (905) 829-2318 www.wildwoodacademy.com e-mail: admin@wildwoodacademy.com Please call to arrange an interview. 416-214-6440 Offering is being made to Ontario residents who qualify as "Accredited Investors" only. www.bfcc.ca 3634303A