Wednesday, July 14, 1999 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER A3 _ _ _ Photo by Ron Kuzyk D O G -G O N E F U N : Roger and Pam Buday, of Oakville, guide Max through the agility course of the Dog Picnic at Shell Park Off-Leash area on Sunday afternoon, the picnic included games, prizes and food for the dogs and their owners. Region set to approve development charges bylaw B y Ire n e G e n tle SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Vehement objections from a Burlington councillor couldn't sway Halton's administration and finance committee from approving a slightly revamped development charges bylaw recently. "I have to admit that for the first time in 11 years of public service, I find myself in fundamental dis agreement with both the result and the process," said Councillor John Taylor, who chairs the committee. Taylor was the lone opponent of the bylaw, which will go before regional council today (Wednesday) for final approval. Under the new Provincial Development Charges Act, all municipalities must have their bylaws in place by Aug. 31st. But disagreements over what constitutes a fair charge have been putting a Halton decision on ice for some time. An exemption for non-profit schools has been written back into the bylaw after last minute tinker ing by the committee. A transitional policy that will cost the Region about $1.2 million in lost revenues is also included in the proposed bylaw. Under that policy, building per mit applications must be handed in by Sept. 30th, with permits issued by the end of November, in order to be subject to the old, less expensive charges. Taylor, who also sits on the development charges advisory committee (DCAC), was against both of these revisions. He also battled discounted charges for the industrial and retail sectors. Under the proposed bylaw, industrial growth will receive a 50% discount from full cost recov ery. Retail growth has been allotted a 25% discount Taylor fought to amend that to a 25% discount for industrial growth, with no reduction for the retail sec tor. "I stated right from the begin ning of the process that there must be qualitative evidence for me to support discounts," he said. "All evidence presented has been sub jective." There isn't enough time to wait for proof before passing the bylaw, said Burlington Mayor Rob Maclsaac. Instead, he suggested that the DCAC study the issue and return with a report in the future. Committee voted in favour of shelving Taylor's concerns, to examine them another day. Growth cannot fully pay for itself even without discounts due to changes in the provincial Development Charges Act, pointed out Oakville Mayor Ann Mulvale. But discounts will bring busi ness to Halton, providing the Region with a richer assessment base, she said. With discounts, the proposed charge would be $2.39 per square foot for industrial growth and $3.58 per square foot for retail growth. The residential charge would be $6,171 per single family dwelling. S U M M E R IC E PRIME TIME ICE AVAILABLE + gst ALL SUMMER$150 LONG! SPORTS OAKVILLE V is i t i m m s C a ll ( 9 0 5 ) 8 4 5 - 6 9 8 9 2300 Cornwall Road, Oakville Q : Looking for a way to meet new people and become part of an important community agency in support of girls & young women? O A K V I L L E m m P A S S O C I A T I O N 1 Requires Volunteers P O S IT IO N S OPEN: H • Fundraisers • Special Events Committee • Fundraising Chair • Committee Members g ft many other positions For information call | j | 338-0238 FO R T O M O R R O W • A G IR L C A R E D F u ll C o lo u r F ly e r in Today's Paper! I W o d c T s G r e a t e s t S A V E w 7 0 % : O n C le a r a n c e F u rn i tu r e In T h e Store Is SYEAKS TO PAY! o n Mwm m m m mt rm Now Collect TheBRICK ' O A C only on your Brick Cord Platinum Minimum purchos* '250 Any Brick delivery chorge*. applicable taxes and *49.95 administration fee payable at time of purchase "W hen paid in full at time of purchase by cosh, cheque, Visa, Mastercard, Amer.con Express or Br.ck Cord Revoking ' Trademark of AIR MILES International Holdings N V Used under license by Loyalty Management Group Canada Inc +Sale prices do not apply to certain bedding products R e g io n v o te s o n M a r t i n H o u s e p l a n t o d a y B y Irene G e n tle SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER A long awaited makeover for Milton's Martin House has received a $614,000 endorse ment from Halton's community services committee. But some committee mem bers feel that the Region should get out of the long term care business altogether. Changes to long term care legislation have made the busi ness more friendly to private enterprise, argued Burlington Councillor Linda Schreiber. At one time it was virtually impossible for the private sec tor to buy beds. With loosened up legisla tion, that is no longer the case, she said. "If the private sector can apply for beds, why do we want any beds as the government?" asked Schreiber. Council is to vote on the Martin House renovations today (Wednesday). Reports calling for the mod ernization of the 100-bed long term care facility have been before council since 1997. At that time, the Region was given eight years to remedy the situation after the Martin House failed to live up to certain Ministry of Long Term Care standards. Though the building is struc turally sound, it was considered outdated by the ministry. But renovations have been put on hold while the Region applies for 68 new beds for the Milton facility, which is part of the Allendale complex. Announcements of new beds are expected this fall. That's too long for Martin House residents to wait, said Halton Chair Joyce Savoline. "We've put the clients and their families on a roller coaster ride for far too long," she said. "It's decision time." Martin House should be spruced up in order to serve Milton residents, said Oakville Mayor Ann Mulvale. "We need to make Martin House livable for the people who live there." she said. But any new beds should go where the population is, said Mulvale. "It is immoral not to fight for beds in the areas that have the population," she said. "I am tired of telling 80-year-old peo ple who don't drive that we don't have a bed for them in walking or local bus distance." Bringing beds to other areas of Halton will pit the Region against the private sector, said Schreiber. 'To go elsewhere would really be competing with the private sector," she said. "I don't see it as our job anymore now that beds are available." Instead, Halton should act as a facilitator to bring beds to private companies, said Schreiber. THERE'S A SPACE FOR YOU! PARKING METERS The electronic meters located on downtown streets accept two dollar coins as well as quarters and loonies. Parking on Lakeshore Rd. is limited to two hours at $1.00 per hour. LONG-TERM PARKING Day long parking Is available in lots 5, 7, 8 & 11B. In addition there are long-term meters along Water, Robinson and Douglas Streets. HANDICAPPED PARKING There are a total of 18 signed spaces available in lots 1 ,2 , 3 ,1 0 ,11a, 15, in the Municipal Parking Garage and at specified street meters. FREE PARKING is available in all Municipal Lots and at street meters after 6:00 p.m., Sundays and holidays. daily TOWN OF OAKVILLE PARKING OPERATIONS 338-4394 DOWNTOWN OAKVILLE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT 844-4520 AREA THERE ARE MORE THAN 2,800 PARKING SPOTS AVAILABLE IN DOWNTOWN OAKVILLE SAUDER1 Good Furniture Made Possible SAVE the GST and PST on Stack-A-Shelf & Sauder Furniture Collections \ Shelving & storage furniture Office & computer furniture I Entertainment furniture I Kitchen & utility furniture "Applies to all in-stock furniture and select Stock-A-Shelf products. 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SPORTS OAKVILLE Call (905) 845-6989 OAKVILLE POSITIONS OPEN: H • Fundraisers • Special Events Committee • Fundraising Chair • Committee Members g ft many other positions Full Colour Flyer SAVE w7 0%: Now Collect Region votes on Martin House plan today SAUDER furniture 820 3241 » MISSISSAUGA NOW OPEN • D.YD.S • Classes • Video Games • Children's Movies S329 CHILDREN'S MOVIES 3-DAYS 1 for $300 2275 Westoak Trail Blvd. at 4th Line Reservation Line: (905) 847-6399