WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1986, PAGE 7 -Group homes dominate downtown meeting- By MIKE JOHNSTON Free Press Staff Problems with out- patients from the Whit- by Psychiatric Hospital living in group homes and the importance of maintaining a heritage look in downtown Whit- by, dominated a public meeting held to d:iscuss the Downtown Whitby Secondary Plan. The plan, according to planning director Bob Short, will not address the short term issues. "This is a long term plan which will set goals and what should be done in the downtown in the future," Short told a large crowd. But although the meeting held. by the administrative commit- tee was the first stage of the study, those in at- tendance at the h d( rE D th C H op on as st( int sti tri thi de de inE tw be gi sto meeting, repeatedly spoke on their op- position to group homes in the downtown area. "We are trying to project an image down- town and the number of these people walking around downtown is in- timidating to the shop- pers downtown," said Georgina Phillips, who represented the Down- town Business lIm- provement Area at the meeting, in reference to the psychiatric out- patients. Rod Angevaare, an executive with the Whitby Historical Society, told members of the administrative committee that he lives beside a group home which houses 18 out- patients. He complained about the noise which Residents get multi-way stop By MIKE JOHNSTON drivers slowed down Free Press Staff when crossing. You can fight city The department's all. traffic count showed Proof that it can be that of the 366 cars one was evident after which traveiled west esidents of Maplewood along Marwood Dr. on r. and Clovelly Dr. in September 29, 104 were e subdivision behind travelling faster than anadian Tire on Glen the 50 kph speed unit. ill Dr., met with the 0f that number, five peration's committee cars were travelling n Monday night. bètween 70 to 80 kph, Thefour travelled between The esients had 80 to 100 kph and one car ked that a multi-way was travelling faster op be installed at the tersection of the two reets to slow down Mayor Bob Attersley, affic but a report from siding with the residen- e town's public works ts, recommended that a pa'rtment recommen- multi-way stop sign be cd the stop signs not be placec at the intersec- stalled. tion and three way stop signs be placeci at the in- So the residents of the tersection of Maplewood 'o streets appeared and Leslie. Members of fore the committee to the committee voted in ve their side of the favour of the mayor's Try. recommendation. They argued that the traffic count undertaken at the intersection by the department was not a true indication of the amount of traffic travelling along Maplewood Dr. Robert Kreasul told the committee that drivers simply drove around the traffic coun- ter when it was placed on only one side of the street and when it was placed across the street, emanates from the house and expressed concern for those who live in the houses. Other residents com- plained about the high rate of crime and the untidyness of the lots where the grouping homes are situated. But members of the committee informed the residents that a report on group homes will be brought to council's at- tention within a month. The first stage of the study, presented to the public on Wednesday night, identified six main objectives which have to be answered. They include: the role of the downtown; the character of the com- mercial area; residen- tial development; ar- chitectural and historical preservation; transportation and parking and open space. While it stated that it is not in a position to dic- tate the future of the downtown, the planning department, which is undertaking the study, noted that the commer- cial role of the down- town is assumed to be a But the residents were informed that within three years Manning Rd. which travels east- west above the sub- division, will be con- tinued through from Anderson St. to Thickson Rd. N. relieving presure from Maplewood. At that time, the town will review the stop signs and decide if they are still warranted. ikkri nowavalable at: CENTRAL PAINT AND WALLPAPER * COtel 1 md Cotol 23 * Supodor Ouality Wood Coatinga * "UNPARALLELED PERFORMANCE!" 295 Ritson Rd, S., Oshawa 728-6809 CUT N']DRY NEW LOCATION 116 ATHOL ST., WHITBY 668-0891 local convience store area with supermarkets to serve the "old" area of town and specialty and boutique shopping to attract shoppers from the entire town and region. The study noted that downtown should be a multi-faced area with a commercial, historic and cultural flavor to it. "If these roles are fulfilled, together they will make the downtown a focal point and source of interest and identity for the entire town," states the report. In the area of residen- tial development, the study calls for down- town to act as a microcosm of the town and house high and medium density areas as well as low density. The study calls for the architectural and historical significance of the downtown to be preserved. It noted that heritage buildings could be preserved in two man- ners under the Ontario Heritage Act. They in- clude designating a single home as a heritage building or designating a heritage district. In the area of tran- sportation and parking, through traffic, local traffic, public transpor- tation and public. and private parking must all be incorporated into the future growth and look of downtown. Stage two of the study, which is expected to be ready for public scrutiny Nov. 12, will present land use and transportation concepts as well as major policy proposals.