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Letter to the Ed To the Council of the Town of Newcastle, and to the residents of the Village of Newcastle and the Town of Bowmanville: In the matter of the proposed "retirement community" designed to accomodate some 1,500 residents; and to a proposed "mobile home park", which has already received approval from the Council for the Town of Newcastle, and would accomodate a similar number of residents; both of which proposed new communities would be carved out of prime farm lands adjacent to the shoreline of Lake Ontario, south of the Ontario Hydro 500 KV tower-line right-of-way, south and west of the Village of Newcastle, I wish to draw your urgent attention to the following comments: 1. These development schemes, if given all final approvals to proceed, could result in upwards of some 3,000 'empty-nesters' - people of, or approaching retirement age - being imported from outside the Town of Newcastle and the Region of Durham for settlement into these 'similar- age-group ghetto communities' on flatlands bordering onto the shoreline bluffs overlooking Lake Ontario, in an area where the wind factor and dampness are unpleasant throughout many months of the year. 2. There is a strong likelihood that at least a very high percentage of these older people would migrate from the Metropolitan Toronto area which bas in the past exported its garbage and industrial wastes into the outlying surrounding municipalities. 3. It would now appear that the outlying municipalities are being asked to provide accomodation for Metro residents who may be unable, upon retirement from active life, to afford the costs of continuing to own their former homes in the Metro area because of high property taxes attributable, in no small degree, to the costs to the municipality of providing social services for older persons. While it is understandable that such people could be enticed to move into the proposed ghetto communities' in the hope of reducing, at least temporarily, their former expenses of home ownership, it is questionable if the present permanent residents of the Town of Newcastle can afford, or should be expected, to assume responsibility for the provision of social services for a large influx of what will, no doubt, be classified as senior citizens in a few short years time. 4. If this migration is permitted, it may well be at the expense of the present levels of social services which the Town of Newcastle has afforded to its own senior citizens who spent their active years contributing to the community and its growth. 5. It is a well recognized concept by professional planners, if not by some local politicians, that the most efficient residential growth of existing urban communities, both in terms of economic cost and land-use, is obtained by directing new growth in areas immediately adjacent to and surrounding the main urban and commercial core of each community. New residents in such growth areas immediately relate to and become a part of the fabric of the older parts of the community to form a cohesive whole. 6. Healthy community expansion will not result from establishment of 'retirement home ghettos' in isolated pockets, remote from existing central urban cores. Conversely, sound community growth will result from encouraging the populating of new immedie central varied Histori4 growth predom youngei their c positive cultura commur their p persons persons commu encoura these s they me daily c people. etweer ages the all n commu essence people, to acc interest their p expens commu 7. Ex burden perma municil police road m plowing provide reside establis five ye and byv in an ir are wel tax re such d cover t the se revenu subsidi2 the com 8. Th accom "'retirE would( most i those I enticed the sc] such u areas, would those financi their r in their commu friends they s years., Oshaw publisi studyy high retirer continu they o produc many were1 econom from a roots. 9. TI Itaxes whichcouid be derived fro, a 'ghetto type community' proposed to ito r accomodate such type of migrants into the Town of growth areas Newcastle, would be ately adjacent to the commensurately low, but urban cores with a conversely, the cost of age group mix. providing the services named cally, this type of in paragraph 7 above wouid be has contained a high, because of the distance inate number of to the proposed pockets from r people who, with the central urban areas of the hildren, contribute Town of Bowmanville and the ly to the financial and Village of Newcastle. In il well-being of the addition to those costs would nity, made larger by be the costs of providing for resence. If elderly social services to a , or retirement-age concentrated older-age group S come into the of persons who did not spend nity, they should be their active years in the ged also to locate in community, contributing ame areas, in order toward its existing social and ay have the benefit of cultural ipstitutions. ontact with younger Obviousiy, the short-fali of It is this interaction municipal tax revenues from n people of varying such communities would have at enriches the lives of to be.recovered from subsidies nebr f te provided by residents in the me mbers of the nity; it is also the presentiy established of sound planning for communities. If is surely not rather than planning in the best interests of existing omodate the vested residents, some of whom are ts of promoters and obviously also of retirement olitical allies, at the age, that they be placed in the e of the total vuinerable position of facing nity interest. higher property taxes, cessive financial cost ultimately for subsidizing s being carried proposed concentrations of anently by retirement-age migrants, of palities, on account of likely modest means, in the and fire protection, îsolated ghetto communities aintenance and snow being proposed on the Lake , school busing, etc., d to 'shot-gun' type 10. The highly expensive ntia deelopentmunicipal water supply plant, ntial development hed in the past twenty- recently completed, and the ars on the side roads sewerage treatment plant ways of the countryside facilities, designed and ndiscriminate manner, constructed specifically for l recognized. Property the Villageof Newcastle and venues derived from its future growth areas, which Ievelopments do not had been specifically the costs of providing established through a number rvices, therefore the of years of studies ieadîng up e shortfall must be to the adoption of an Officiai zed by the balance of Plan for the Region of nmunity residents. Durham, including the hecommunities situated therein, odation in the proposed theaprom ot ote ement communities" 'retirmecmmn te of necessity be of the rbeet oy. modest type, because 11. Theio people who might be scheme ifpro val * by the promoters o could be obtained first from hemes to migrateto the local municipality, and unpalatable clima then from the Region of for much of the year,Durham, siphon off more than in all probability be 25 per cent of the currently people of insufficient stated capacities of these ial means to continue, in ai ean t cotiueinvaluable community assets, etirement years, to live for the benefit of their own r present homes in the nity, and amongst the vested interests in prime ;nt and mnsh agricultural lands on the Lake and relatives, where Ontario shoreline, thereby pent their productive A recent article in the dpiigteVlaeo ,a rieesniceinpthe Newcastle of one-quarter of ifs a Times business page poeia fr hath hed the results of a rsiential groth which revealed that as surrounding the exîsting as 65 per cent of as6m e ent ofe central commercial core of ment age people the Village and robbing the aed to live in the homes ccupied during their ecat an srve iccpie duingther ndusïries in the p resent tive lives, and also that ViiIge Core of the of those who moved oppo forced to do so for participate in the benefits iic reasons, rather than which sound development desre o tar p teirgrowth adjacent to the central acore would otherwise have community'poprovided. acooat uh yeo 12. A report, dated September 27, 1977, over the signature of the Planning Commissioner for the Region of Durham, to the Regional Planning Committee stated, quote: "Furthermore, before any additional lands are designated for development in the Newcastle Village Small Urban Area, development should occur in the area indicated as such in the (Regional) Plan." The Village of Newcastle has not grown appreciably in the past number of years, but now that the water supply plant and the sewerage treatment plant are in place, and sound growth may now occur in the Village when the economic climate bas improved, the Region of Durham politicians and planning staff have completely reversed their previously stated policy; and now, with the support of some local politicians who are also incumbent members on Regional Council, seek approval by the Town of Newcastle of Official Plan Amendment No. 20, the document which would clear the way for the proposed 'retirement home' scheme at the harbor front south of the Village of Newcastle to proceed. On Monday evening, Dec. loth a public meeting was held in the Newcastle Village Comrmunity Hall at which time the application from the Durham Region to the Town of Newcastle to approve the proposed Official Plan Amendment No. 20 was presented and explained by the Planning Director for the Town of Newcastle. It seemed quite evident that while the proposed amendment would also zone some 56 acres of excess land inventory of Ontario Hydro lying to the north of the 500 KV tower-line right-of-way for future industrial growth, the main urgent thrust for immediate approval was attached to. those lands lying to the south of the Ontario Hydro corridor and the Village of Newcastle sewerage treatment plant, for residential designation to permit the creation of the 'retirement community' on the lands of Windsweep Farms (1965) Limited, of which Mr. Scott Fennell, M.P. for Ontario Riding is the president, and a director. The Region of Durham negotiated with Windsweep Farms (1965) Limited for the purchase of approx. 1.327 Section Two The Canadian Statesman, Bowmanville, December 19, 1979 17 acres of land at the waterfront area would be ideally suited the Village of Newcastle. adverse financial and social below the Village of for housing purposes, and the Notwithstanding that Mayor impact on the futuresound Newcastle, owned by recreational facilities should Garnet Rickard, who also sits growth within the Village of Windsweep Farms since be developed and enhanced by on Regional Council, bas Newcastle, and on the Town of March of 1970 when some 7.7 the addition of housing voiced his support for the pro- Newcastle from such an acres had been purchased by through innovative urban posed development seheme, unprecedented planning it from the former design in order that they both he has been in vocal opposition experiment in the Region of Corporation of the Village of are viable. He also submitted to the adjacent 'mobile Home Durham can not, in my Newcastle for the sum of $1.00 that the area to the south of Park' scheme which would be opinion be afforded by either at about the same time that the C.N.R. tracks, totally located immediately to the the existing Village, or Town Windsweep Farms had also hidden from all existing and west of the Windsweep Farms of Newcastle. Mayor Garnet purchased the adjacent farm proposed housing, is a natural project across the Wiîmot Rickard requested that lands from the previous area for industry, with ready Creek. Alsohisconcernvoiced residents attending at last owners. The Region of access to the railway and for the use of the Windswee Monday's Public Meeting, Durham entered into an Highway No. 401. Farms lands, and other voice their comments in Agreement with Windsweep Bruce A. Brown Associaties, properties included in the written submissions to Farms dated December 15, Consulting Planner for the proposedO.P.A. No 20 for the Council. Although one mîght 1977, to purchase the 1.327 Windsweep Farms next century are in marked anticipate that a period of two acres for the water supply 'retirement home' contrast to the 25 to 30 year to three weeks might be plant for the Village of development submitted an term of reference used in the allowed for such comment, no Newcastle, after having given engineering report to the Régional Official Plan, which time period was stated. after approval to the designation of Durham Region, indicating would also be subjected to which the Council for the some 42.5 acres of Windsweep the stabîlity of the bluffs along reviews, in 5 year Town of Newcastle would pass Farms lands for Marina and the Lake Ontario Waterfront, phedecision on the application by associated uses. The which then caused the the project forecasting the the Durham Region to Agreement required the Regional Planning completion of the scheme by approve the proposed Region of Durham to pay the Department to report that a 1985. Amendment No. 20 to the sum of $2.00for the1.327 acres 100 year erosion setback It is quite conceivable that Durham Regional Officiai of land, and access easements requirement should be both the Village of Newcastle Plan, and the possibility exists to it over the lands of incorporated into future and the Town of Newcastle that some members of the Windsweep Farms, and it also development plans for the would have ample opportunity Council of the Town of required the Region to accept area. for concern and regret over Newcastle will urgethe other conditions laid down by The waterfront study, begun both the social and financial granting of such approval at the Vendor. Included in those in the early part of 1978 by the impact that the massive the earliest possible moment. conditions placed upon the Durham Regional Planning migration of older persons In response to the Mayor's Region of Durham was the staff, bas emerged as The into the area would create, request, and in addition to requirement that the Region Regional Planning long before the remaining 95 previous reasoned commence the necessary Commissioner's Report No. years of Mayor Rickard's submissions which 1 have studies and steps required for 79-147, dated July 3,1979, the concern had expired, if the previously presented to the the preparation of a subject of which 's proposed development Council for the Town of waterfront plan as a specific "Amendment No. 20 to the schemes for either, or both of Newcastle, and to Regional plan dealing with those Durham Regional Officiai the 'retirement home Council, 1 am presenting this properties of Windsweep Plan." This same time span communities' were to receive correspondence in the form of Farms (1965) Limited in Lots has seen the emergence of the approvals required for an.open letter to the Council of 28, 29 and 30, Broken Front project plans and renderings construction to proceed. the Town of Newcastle, and to Concession, former Village of from the Planners for 1 wouid again request that the residents of the Village of Newcastle, and the Windsweep Farms (1965) Council for the Town of Newcastle and the Town of surrounding areas, and Limited, which have been Newcastle to withhold such Bowmanville, in order that specified by Windsweep shown to the Councils of the approvals until évidence can other residents in those Farms to be completed by the Town of Newcastle and the be produced before that body communities may understand end of summer of 1978. RégionofDurhamondifférent that sufficient development my concerns, as well as The waterfront plan was to occasions, indîcating that areas to accomodate growth members of Council. I be prepared by the Planning Windsweep Farms must have requirements for persons of sincerely hope that other Staff of the Durham Region, had some faith that its every age category, for at citizens wîll also express their (at public expense), and the proposals would receive the Region was in all ways approvals required from the already available adjacent toCouncil in the short time left reasonably possible to Town of Newcastie and the and surrounding the main during which they may have undertake the necessary Region of Durham. central core of the Village of an opportunity to voice those Official Plan There have been indications Newcastle; and further until opinions before the Municipal amendments/relating to Lots however that the seemingly evidence can be produced Council. You may bc assured 28, 29 and 30 Broken Front close, or mutual interests, of before that body that the that if a representative voice Concession, former Village of Wîndsweep Farms and the c Newcastle on the basis of the Region of Durham, are not in oncept ofcrtn getto is expressed one Munil said waterfront plan, which fact the same as the bestpc onte orederly Cil, thaoego a o plan was to be prepared in interests of the residents of the peleoao eOnohrly wii xreatinsos a accordance with Section 12.3.3 Village of Newcastle, or of the seiesofuLake Ontroha tose sisfo of the Du-rham Regional Town of Bowmanville, and the asucessuinprentinthe oi o Official Plan adopted by whole of the Town of m i s n tnestrueyo Counfl on July 14, 1976. On Newcastie which Region's proposais, of an October 24, 1977, the Council of encompasses both those the Town of Newcastle had communities. o passed a resolution requesting The Planning Director for that the same lands, now the the Town of Newcaste the C N.R.Stacksstotall subject of Proposed provided nouindications of any Amendment No. 20, be need, present, or in the j Greetings redesignated in the Officiai foreseeable future, for the Plan from Major Open Space creation of new residential to a Special Study Area. coMnte usd fte~ay we extend Besi Wishes to AUl access tiot railwaytan On March 23, 1978, Mr. S. present boundaries, in thep Fenneil (Windsweep Farms) Officiai Plan, and the developmentre lsubmittedardan submitted the suggestion to proposed future growth areas // at W'eIoigfradt engineeringd sureport thtoutthe the Durham Region that the indicated in the OfficiaiPlan, southern part, of the study of the Small Urban Centre of Joy in ai Your Activities whichhethen caused the ~VISUAL ARTS CENTRE i of .NEWCASTLE TO ALL! We wish to extend to our Customers and SFriends Our Sincere Wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosiperousba NewYear. ArnotTR.otten Rutoeginlelnnn DurhamnRegional Ofica Plan Ths same ime spa ocue gaffier togEt/LEt to shLareE des blessingi and fog of ffie o i ay seasontuitI oIE UE LOUE, UE gtEE 0[dc ftiendi andci ay fJankx. filleCJ uith GOOD PMItNDS, GOOD TIMES, GOOD CHEER and 3-~v our heorty thanks. PORT DARLINGTONM MARINA HOTEL Lake Rd off Liberty St S Bowmanvile Telephone 623-4925