PAGE 4, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14,1977, WHITBY FREE PRESS whitby Voice of. the County Town Michael 1 The onlv Whitby newspaper independently owned and opei SERVING OVER 28,000 READERS an Burgess, Publisher-Managing Editor rated by Whitby residents for Whitby residents. Cornmunity Editor Published every Wednesday Contributing Editor Production Manager Print & Promotiona by M.B.M. Publishingi Manager and Photography Inc. Classified Ad Manager Phone 668-6111' Circulation Manager Mailing Permi The Free Press Building, Member 121 Brock Street North, Better Business Bi P.O. Box 206. Whitby, Ont. Whitby Chambera -Brian Winter -Jim Quail -Marje Burgess, -Robin Lyon -S. van Deeleni -Sharon Lyon t No. 460 r of the: ureau of Toronto of Comerc Party showed true spirit of Christmas Whitby's first Olde Time Christmas Party in the new municipal building Sunday was a resounding success. The Mayor and other town officials es- timated that the crowd was well in excess of 400; many more than were expected. Santa Claus had his hands full, catering to the wishes of the children, but there were so many that his ba2 of gifts emptied somewhat earlier than expected. Councillor Tom Edwards abely led the carolling, and the municipal office staff gave freely of their time to provide a pleasant and enjoyable afternoon for ail, serving sandwiches, pop, cider, tea and coffee. All age groups from toddlers to senior citizens were represented at-the party and everyoneseemed to enjoy it immensely. We congratulate the town council and staff for this excellent way of bringing the citizens ofWhitby together in the true Christian fellowship of Christ- mas. We hope that this type of Christmas party in our spacious new municipal building will become an annual event and one of the highlights of the year in Whitby. All you wanted to know about neighborhood improvement On Nov. 24, the Town of Whitby Planning Department held the first of a series of public meetings dealing with its Neighborhood Improvement Program for the Ash Creek Neighborhood. Seventy of the 1,300 residents of the area attended this meeting and witnessed a presentation of~tie proposal*>y the town's planners. The following is a summary of the town's proposals for the area, which rely particularly on public participation. Anyone who wishes to make comments on the proposals may contact the co-ordinator of the program, Stephen Houghton, Senior Planner, Planning Department, 575 Rossland Road East. LIN 2M8. Telephone 668-5803. THE NEIGHBOURHOODIMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME: A SUMMARY On November 22, 1976, Council authorized the Planning Department to make a preliminary application for funding under the Neighbourhood Improvement Programme and to designate the area bounded by Brock Street, Dundas Street Garden Street and the C.P.R. as the 'improvement area' for the purposes of the application. On October 7, 1977, the Mayor received notice from the Minister of Housing that our preliminary application had been approved and that a Federal allocation of funding for Whitby had been set at $322,000. This now puts Whitby in the position to submit formal applications for thisallocation together with approximately $220,000. in Provincial money for the implementation of the Neighbourhood Improvement Piograinme in Whitby. The purpose of the Neighbourhood Improvement Pro- gramme is to encourage and support the efforts of munici- palities towards the improvement of the enviornment in older neighbourhoods. An eligible neighbourhood must be generally residential in nature and occupied for the most part by low to moderate income people and have some residential units in need of rehabilitation. It must possess a deficiency in public services both hard and soft and mustbe potentially stable in terms of residential use. The Neigh- bourhood Improvement Programme provides grants to the Municipality towards the improvement of these major deficiencies. The proposed Neighbourhood Improvement Area is the north-east sector of the old Town of Whitby bounded by Brock Street, Dundas Street, Garden Street and the C.P.R. This area, like most other 'older' areas of the Town of Whitby, has certain deficiencies with respect to roads and local storm drainage. However, the proposed N. I. P. area, in addition to these general deficiencies, suffers from an acute park shortage and a lack of a suitable storm sewer outfall (Ash Creek enclosure). The amount of money required to alleviate this situation is substantial and the ability of the Town of Whitby to fi- nance all of these deficiencies alone in a reasonable length of time is doubtful if not impossible as there are many other financial priorities, both known and unforeseen, in a rapidly growing Municîpality which mnay have to be met. The acquisition of park landfor examplehas a tendency to shift down the priority list during times of financial re- straint. The enclosure of the Ash Creek Channel is a key to the improvement of local roads and storm drainage. The ac- quisition and development of a park is a key to the im- provement of recreation facilities in the area. Both of these key improvements will provide the necessary 'shot in the arm' to promote individual property improvement and re- development. The use of the N.I.P. funds would allow the Municipality to make these key improvements over a relatively short period of time with no anticipated adjustment in the Town's Capital Forecast and with no need for additional revenues through debenture financing. In summary, the Programme will provide Federal and Provincial funds over a two to three year period as follows: a) Up to $24,ObO. towards the planning and administra- tion of the Neighbourhood Improvement Programme. el)-Up;to $267,000. towards the acquisition and·develop. (J) •... . . . .. . ... .. . . .. .. . ..::.... . . . . . . . :. . : . . THE ASH CREEK NEIGHBORHOOD ment ot a park. c) Up to $255,000. towards thie construction of the Ash Creek enclosure. [n total, the Programme provides Up to $540,000. in Federal and Provincial Grants towards the improvement of the area. THE RESIDENTIAL REH-ABILITATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME (R.R.A.P.) One of the mnst important features of the N. 1. P. Pro- gramme is its companion programme, The Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Programme or (R.R.A.P.). Once the N. .. P. Programme enters the :plementation Stage, then R. R. A. P. cornes into effect. Under the R. R. A. P., Federal funds are available to as- sist in the improvement and repair of substan dard dwellings within a Neighbourhood Improvement Area., Generally, homeowners and landiords Who agree to rent controls are eligible for R. R. A. P. assistance. The types of repairs eligible for R. R. A. P. assistance include the repair oft the housing structure, upgrading the thermal efficiency (insulation), plumbing, electrical and heating systens.- Somne work to enhance the external ap- pearance of the dwelling unit and its immediate surround- ings is eligîble. The R. R. A. P. Programme would be administered by the Municipality through its Property Standards Division. THE PLANNING STAGE The N. 1. P. Programme is usually carried out in three stages. Stage 1 is the Neighbourhood Improvement Site Selection Stage, Stage Il is the Planning Stage, and Stage 111 is the Implementation Stage. Oepending on the circum- stances, ,.-bage 1 and Stage Il may be combined or Stage I may be elininated altogether.' In the case of the Town of Whitby,the site has for the xnost p art been determined wîth the preliminary application, and the Ministry of? Housing had advised that we are in a position to proceed immediate- ly with Stage Il,, the Planning Stage. As mcntloried prevlously, the (N*.I.P.) Programme wlll be carrled in two stages, the Planning Stage and the Implemen- As far as the Ash Creek Neighbourhood is concerned,the Planning Stage involves the development of a Neighbour-. hood Plan which must be approved by the Minister of Housing. Once this Neighbourhood Plan is approved, the Implementation Stage can begin The Implementation Stage will involve land acquisition for a park, park development and completion of the Ash Creek enclosure. Also,once the Implementation Stage begins, then the R.R.A.P. Programme becomes operative. In preparing the Neighbourhood Plan we must keep one major objective in mind and that is to maintain and rein- force the residential stability of the area. The essential pur- pose of the N.I.P. Programme is to improve residential neighbourhoods. Therefore, this must be the driving force behind the Neighbourhood Plan. One of the major components in the Neighbourhood Plan will be the location, type and size of park facility that will serve the neighbourhood. It is in this area where we wishto encourage active citizen involvement. Another component of the Neighbourhood Plan is as- semby of a display and discussion of the background in- formation such as land use and existing zoning. Much of the work has already been done and is on display at the Municipal building. The existing land use map shows a rather mixed assort- ment of different land uses; industrial, commercial, in- stitutional, some of which may not be compatible with residential stability. The existing zoning map shows the legal use for which the land can be used. It appears obvious that this is not compatible with residential stability. Comparing the land use map withthe zoning map shows a low density residential area which has been pre-zoned in the past to a higher denisty*, This, type of zoning may not be conducive to residential stability and therefore, perhaps, should be changed; particularly when there are vacant lands which can be used for higher density where existing development would not be demolished. These are the types of things we will have to examine in formulating a Neighbourhood Plan where active citizen in- volvement will be encouraged. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT One of the town's purposes is to determine the type of of public involvement which will be beneficial to the N.I.P. Programme. There are two types of public involvement. 1. Passive, such as when Planning Staff present their opinions and alternatives for quesions and comments. 2. Active, where a committee of citizens become actively. involved in the N.I.P. Programme or a part of the Programme. 3. A combination of the above. Although we are open to any suggestions, may we offer the following as a suggestion? 1. the formation of a Citizen's Committee to become involved with Staff in the location and development of the park facility; 2. the formation of a Citizen's Committee to participate with Staff in the formulation of the Neighbourhood Plan; 3. combination of 1) and 2); and 4. the Committee and Staff will then present their plans and alternatives to the neighbourhood at large through a publie meeting or meetings such a thisone. We encourage active participation as suggested above. However, whether or not the planning is done with your active involvement, we will be advising you on a regular basis through public meetings /&/ or notice through the various Planning Stages. Nevertheless, if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please do not hestitate to get in touch with the Planning Department at any time. All inquiries and correspondence should be directed to - Stephen Houghton Senior Planner Planning Department 575 Rossland Road East Whitby, LI N 2M8 Telephone: 668-5803. Cont'd on.P. 5 .