Whitby Free Press, Wednosday, September 7, 1994 , Page il Minister promotes planning reforms By Mike Kowalski Future land use planning in Ontario will ho less onerous and more economical te al parties involved, Municipal Affairs Minister Ed Philip has predicted. In an interview with The Free Press last week, Philip touted proposals contained in Bill 163 as the ' «most significant reforme" to Ontario's Planning Act since Wold War II. Hearinge into the bill's roconi- mendations are now being held by *the legislature's justice coni- mittee. The committee is in Oshawa today and a number of local Chiidren playing with matches are blamed for a tire which caused about $40,000 damage te Man charged with assault A 32-year-oid Whitby man faces a variety of charges after an argument with hie father turned violent Sunday. Both mon were taken to Whitby General Hospital. The father was treated for a three- to four-inch slash and released. The son was treated for an apparently self-inflicted cut on hie left foroarm, police say, and thon taken into custody. He's charged with assault with a weapon, pos session of a wea- pons dangerous, assauit causing bodily harmn and threatening bodil-y harm. Aduits are wanted for 'Kds' -shows Kids on the Block seeks volun- teers. Volunteers learn how to oprate life-sized puppets teOer orishort plays or area scgool children. This yoar, the group presonts skite dealng with emotional and social issues such as cultural différences, and sexual and phy- sical abuse. Volunteers work for about haîf a day each week. Training hegins in early September. For more information cal Carol at 576-0597. groups and' individuals were scheduled to make prosentations. "We think it will go a long way to streamlinin g the planning pro- cedure," said Philip of the bill which has passed second reading in the legislature. "It will got people back to work as weli as saving on the pieo a home," ho said, "and there is strongor protection for tho enviroamoent." A package of proposais that affect a number of existing Ontario laws, Bill 163 was intro- duced last May. Although primarily concerned with the Planning Act, parts of a residence at 15 Dorvis Dr. Friday afternoon. The fire, which was reported around 1:30 p.m., started in the garage and was just beginning to spread to the house when fire- fighters arrived, says Whitby deputy tire chief Bob Marshall "The heat had just broke the window in the family room up above the garage and got a hold of the curtains when they arrn- ved... about one more minute and she'd have had the room going good," he says. "It burnt the (wooden) garage doors out... there was quite a bit of smoke dam age, plus the con- tents of the garage (were des- troyed) and ail the bricks were blackened." Answers to Witby Trivia from page 3 1. James Edward "Teddy" Rowe of Whitby was namned the Bonniest Baby in the British Empire, out of 60,000 entries, in 1924. 2. The Brooklin miii was converted f rom water power to electricity by Charles M. Wilson in 1919. 3. Vincent Perry Hunt (1l859- 1952), son of a Whitby Methodist minister, was a noted Canadian musician who fou nded the Toronto Conservatory of Music. 4. The Ashburn Community Centre, the only stone school house in Whitby, was built about 1 861 and became a community centre in 1967. 0- ~ ~ JIN he zone's... Think new. think hot, thnk cler' FREE haircut with first flme celoning! the image zone*** 311 Brock St. S, Whitby Plaza 1905) 6e8-SNIP (7647) SEBASTIAN EL c OMING IN SEPT EMBE R C) ~ ~ /~Y*_ the bill have drawn criticism in othor areas (soe separate story). According to a ministry pross reloase the bill is tho "culmina- tion" oft a process bogun in 1991 when former Toronto mayor John Sewehl was appointod te head up the Commission on Planning and Dovlopmont Reform in Ontario. Changes containod in the bill are based on the following "three principles" the release states: c* municipalities wilho given "greator control» of the dovelop- ment process; Under the current systern, planning authority rosts pri- marily with the province, but under Bill 163, municipal govornmonts will make develop- mont decisions, the roleaso states. The province will only set polic, whilo the Ontario Munici- pal oard (0MB) will adjudicate disputes. * the environnient wiil be "bot- ter protected" by moans of clear policy statements and legisiative changes that integrate social, cultural, econom ic an d environ- mental values; Logisiation will ho changed te "ensure" that planning decisions are consistent with new peicies covering natural heritago and ecosystems, community develop- ment and infrastructure, hous- ing, agricultural land, energy and water conservation, and minerai resources, the release states. Free Fail Home Seminar f" pue up your home with FalIIs rich and ex- citing new co/ours by the people who bring the store to yo u. - COMPWEE INTERIOR ESIGII "A Complote Home Decoration Service" Tuesday, Sept. l3th-7:30 p.m. Northview Community Centre 150 Beatrice St. W., Oshawa Refreshments/Door Prize Seating is imited R.V.S.P. 725-0385 *Special Guest Speaker showing the Iatest trends in widwCaerng Col! Dave or Sanclra featuring Premiere Pieces... "DIedloek Arms" (Charles Dickens Signature Series) 1 .% rniited to 1994 1A À Sunday, September l8th - 10 -4 p.m.# Canada wide winner of The Dept. 56 Heritage Village Display Award, The Gift House proudly presents their 1994 display for your enjoyrnent. Corne and view at your leisure and speak with our knowlcdgcable staff. Be sure to enter our draw for a "Dedlock Arus" Laya wayAvallable , Mon.-Frl. Saturday 18 Kin Street East, Oshawa, Ont. Tels hon, 906/571-3511 Pa&tdeot - INTERIOR STAIN LATEX $143-7 1916 Dundas Street East, Whltby £25 " es ait& aipprVau -llV Owate l Fire damage of $40,OOO to home d"e~ * Ccred tape" will bo cut to make the planning procees "fas- tor and more efficient" and to create jobs in the construction industry and other sectors. Legis1ative changes wiUl set spcffic tlmeframes for decision- making by the province and municipalities andadministra- tive changes will speed up deci- sion-making by municipalitios, the 0MB and tho ministry, the reloase adds. Philip, who hopes to have the bill proclaimed law by January, said work on the legisiation has been a «fairly extensive pro- cedure involving ail of the stako- holders." Input has come from municipal planiers, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, home builders and environmentalists, Philip said. "We're pleased with the res- ponse to it. There seenis to be no direct attacks by anybody," he said. Aniong the groups scheduled to make presentations at today's hearing were the Oshawa-Dur- ham Home Builders' Association, Durham Environmental Net- work, Ontario Foderation of Agriculture and the Save Lynde Marsh committee. Durham Board of Education chair and Whitby trustee Patty Bowman was also listed on the agenda. Bowman was not available for comment. Neither education director Peuline Lain g, nor com- munications officor Mary Brown knew the contents of Bowmnan's prosentation. Councilior Ross Batten, chair of Whitby's planning and deve- lopment committee, could not recaîl if council specifically res- ponded to Bill 163's proposaIs. (Planning director Bob Short was not available for comment.) "Certainlý' there are planning issues we vo taken umnbrage with " said Batten. "here were some concerns that issues were not turned over to the municipalities," he said. "But we applaud the stream- lining of the system and making it easier. "Approval of officiaI plans has been passed off to the (Durham) Region instead of the ?rovince, that's an excellent move.'