Page 2. Whitby Free Press, Wodnesday, June 1, 1994 Province again slammned over basL-ement apartment b'ut Býy Mike Kowalold Provincial legislation that removes restrictions on base- nient apartments and other ille- gaI units la stilI upsetting Town council. By unanimous vote, council last week called on the. Ontario government te amend the pro- posed Residents' Rights Act before it becomes law later this year. While conceding that Queen's Park intends te go ahead with the bill despite opposition from Ontario municipalites, council hopes the government will make it more acceptable to local offi- ciais. Council endorsed a number of recomînendations aimed at modi- fying the bill which it hopes the government will consider. <Jhief amongr them is a request that municipa ites be allowed te collect lot levies on ail future apartments built in houses. Earlier this year council strongly condemned the proposed legislation -- Bill 120 -- which 'Il provide cheaper housing for renters in urban areas. A-1 NEIGHBOURHOOD Outndin 4 bedroom, 3 bathroomn home. Prime locatin, la=omodem kitchen, formai Mivng rqom wfth Frenh doors to dinlng rom & a hugfinlshed recreation montm fh bar. G REAT FAMILY HOME. LISTED AT $229,900.00. ROSEMARY BROWN Hall of Fame Centurion 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1 993 MEMEROFTH TOROTO ND OHAW REA ES :E ORD I HOP, SKIP AND JUMP... VEI400R MOTIVATED! I *ta schools & shops f rom this cheery 4 bedroom Beatffully kp round level condo unit with ail * home. eat-in kitchen. farTily room wllh amnfies, 2 bedroortI, ivng room wlth f ireplaoe f !replace & f inshed basemnent. - & walk-oijtto patio,16oondo fees. * A MUSTTO SEE AT$173.300.OO. DONT DELAY ASKING S900.O ICALL ROSEMARY BROWN 433-2121I The bill would prevent munici- palties from limiting the num- br of apartmnents unite permit- ted in dwellings not originally intended for more than single- family use. Essentially, the bill removes aIl but a few restrictions on basement apartments and 'gany flets' or gardon suites. Aslong as each unit meets minium povinialstandards, municipahities cannot prohibit two residential units in a deta- ched, semi-detached or tewn- house.building. Despite numerous objections fromn municipai officaIs, the government still plans on pasa- in~g Bill 120 said an angry coun- cillor Rose Îiýtten. 'Tie province has not listened one iota or introduced changes as requested by municipalities in Ontario," said Batten. «Now they've put in time frames w. can't possibly respond to,"h hosaid. According te a staff report, the government imposed a May 27 deadline for submissions on Bill 120. Whitby's draft copy was roceived May 18. "This gvernmont in going to Proclaim ii1 120 in Juno, with- out imput fr-am municipalities,» Wad Batten. "That is not the waY to govorn this province,» lho saidl. Batten predicted the province will have "Iprobleme they nover dreamned of having,» when. Bill 120 becomes law. «The bill is not right, not good»hle said.an «T ey have tosit backan listen to tho people who are Closent to the Public.» But council or Marcel Brunell doubted that this would have any effect. Brunelle recaled a meeting with Housing Minister Evelyn Gigantos to discusis tho bill. «The minister was more inter- ested in having a cigarette out- aide than in liétening te us,» hoe said. Although Brunelle supported a recommendation that ail house apartments be registered with the fire departmentlho was leery Of imposing lot levie on them as Weil. "If you have an apartment in you r house today, youre talkinq bigbucks, thousands of dollars, said Brunelle. «How many people will run in and tell usif faced with addi- tional costs, lho asked. .Brunelle said council is obliga- ted te lessen the financial impact on mnunicipal servces from per- sons now living in illegal apart- monts. But hoe was reluctant te make lot levies mandatory. Councillor Don Mitchell, how- ver, foît there would bo no pro- blemn identifying iIl1erl units should the landlord fai teo notify the municipality. «People Who live around the house will know there's an apart- ment in there,» said MitcheV. "If there's any problems the Town will know and the fire departmnent will know,» ho said. Firo chief Tony Vandoleweerd urged council to Sunport .e gster- ing illegal units -ivîth his depart- ment. «We don't 1ýcessariIy know in Whitby where* basement apart- monts are, we're very concer- ned.» lho said. Councillor Dennis Fox said that while ho shared Brunelle's fears, hoe agreed with Mitchell that municipal officiais would quickly learn about unregistered units. However, on an amendment from councillor Judi Longfield, council agreed te ask the govern- ment te pas legislation enabling municipalities te collect levies on future house apartmnents only. Existing units would not ho affected, council decided. Copies of council's resolution will sent t local MPPs and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario. I 1