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Page 12, Whifby Free Press, Wednesday, JuIy 12, 1996 !55 housinog uispaned for north Whby Concrns over impact of developmen By Mdike KowaloskI A proposed subdivision deve- lopment in northeast Whitby has nearby homeowners and Town councillors alike concerned. Three different rezornng appli- cations tetalling 455 units have been submitted for approxi- mately 29 hectares of vacant land east of Anderson Street and south of Taunton Road. But fears about density levels potential traffic problemns anJ environmental impacts wer e raised drig a pmlic mneeting heid by council's planning ana development committee last week. These and other concerns will have te be addressed before the applications come back te com- mittee for a decision later this year. About 25 area residents atten- ded the meeting te hear details of the rezoning applications sub- mittd b Woster Developments Ltd., Baif Associates Ltd. and Joseph Lanmbert. Mîxed density subdivisions proposed by the three land- owners caîl for 211, 101 and 143 units respectively. Earlier this year, council adop- ted an overaîl devlopment plan for the area bounded by Ander- son Street, Taunten Road, Thick- son Road and Dryden Boulevard. The plan gave a more precise definition te land use designa- tions for.the area that are con- tained in Whitboys officiai plan, such as residential densities, achool sites, parkland and com- mercial locations. During preparation of the developinent plan over the past two years, several issues were raised by area residents and last week was no exception. Veteran council watchdog unm Priest of Anderson Street expressed concern about the im- pact on nearby Pringle Creek and the number of trees that will have to be removed to make way for houses. Priest suggested that a naturai buffer zone-be left between eit- ing houses and future develop- ment. Mark Seetner of Lofthouse Drive said his street has more traffic than it can safely handie now, while fellow Lofthouse homeowner Ted Birchard ques- tioned the impact of more chul- dren on area schools. But while they objected to many aspects of the propoaithe residents appiauded counciÏ for denying a 20,000-square foot shopping plaza on the northeast corner of the future Dryden Bou- levard and Anderson Street intersection. When it approved the area development plan in May, coun- cil moved the plaza from its original location te a site dloser te the intersection of Taunton and Thickson. (Later in the meeting, cýommit- tee formally recommended denial of the plaza proposai, from Wols- ter Developments for the Dryden site.) «Putting a commercial deveiop- ment in there will onlyr make matters a lot worse,» said Seet- ner, who complained that stu- dents from nearby Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School would use the plaza as a hangout. Councillor Joe Drumm agreed with the decision te, move the plaza, but he warned the resi- dents to expect the applicant te appeal the decision te the Ontario Municipal Board (0MB). Althou#h WIster representa- tive Kevin Tunney didi not in- dicate that an 0MB challenge is likely, Drumm said it was almüst a certainty since Town planning staff supported the Origimnai site. 'It's going te the board and they wIll have the last say," said Druimm. "This guy (Wolster) will taice it te the board for sure.» While it appears thatWoister wiil be losing a commercial site and may fight te regain it, the beneficiary of council"s earlier decision was not thrilied to receive the commercial designa- tion. Lambert informed the commit- tee that he preferred not te have the plaza «W-hen there is se much oppositiontei. Councillor Marcel Brunelle, committee chair, teld Lambert that he is not obligated te build a plaza should he se choose. "This is the first time in ail my y ears on committee that rve heard somebody say he doesn't want commercial,» said an asten- ished Drumm. 4Usualiy every- bodys fighting te get it.» Athough he couid not indicate how soon construction will start if council's decision is favourable, Tunney said hie cliente. (Wolster and Bail) are growing impatient. The applications were submit- ted in 1988 and 1989 respec- tively, but severai factors have contributed te the lengthy delay such as preparation of thie deve- lopment plan. 11unney aiso noted that his clients are stili waiting for the Central, Lake Ontario Conserva- tion Authority te comment on f. vegetation analysis that was pre- pared in 1990. The three rezoning applica- tions will now be circulated for public and agency comment before coming back te committee with a recommendation from planning staff. Before calling for the vote te, refer it back te staff, Brunelle said the three applications taken together may be a "ittle to intense" for the area. Committee's recommendation te deny the commercial plaza at Drydeni and Anderson was exvec- ted to bedeaIt with at Mondfay's By Mark Reesor The 'intersection island' at Athol and Gilbert streets is being removed. Council Monday night appro- ved a staff recommendation te remove the "traffic calming' device because it did little te slow down trafflo. An island or some other device would have te be placed at and midway between every intersec- tion on Athol te, have an effect staff concluded, at an estimateci cost of $35,000 -- and "the con- cern doing this is that traffic will avoid Athol Street and use Green Street.» The island has been successful in one respect, though, argued regional councillor Marcel Brunelle, noting there hasnt been an accident at the intersec- tion since it was installed. "I hope this is not the end of traffice calming. I think this has proved te be a useful device (but) probabiy in the wrong location... "There has been a lot of benefit gained from this and we ought not te lose that.» council meeting. Also scheduled for conside- ration by -council was an unrela- ted proposal by WoIster 'for a 56-unit subdivision immediately south of its larger application. Committee recommended that it be approved. "This is not the answer" te, control speeding, said west ward counicillor Judi Làongfleld when the issue was discussed by the Town operations commnittee. "'But 1 don't know what the answer 's." "The bottom lime is that the only thing that will control dri- vers is the drivers themselves » said east ward councillor Denmis Fox. -Ùften 90 Per cent of speeders are peple living m ia. neîghbour- hoodnoted Fox, who wondered "how do y ou get te these people other th an wringing their necks?» Regionai councillor Gerry Emin suggested lowering the speed limit te 40 kilometres gaer hour on residential streets u public works director Wayne Hancock noted Ajax tried tat with little suceas. Emm aiso proposed a cam- paign askingthe public te drive safel.y, compiete with radio comn- mercials, street signs and news- paper ada. Save with this ad until JuIy 31, 1995. *3.78L 378L 31 ULTRA LATEX à CEILING PAINT * e non reflective fiat * CEILING finish P A I N ' e gelled to eliminate *NTRIO" drippng and 1 T #E76 splattering ITI * HNTE l 090TRA ALKYD : 3.8 FLAT CEILING I*ULTRA INTERIOR 21? PAINT *LATEX EGGSHELL ENAME -y especifically * A ~ designed for e applies easîly under coating or I e durable, stain resistant, re-doing textured : i scrubbable finish CEILING ceilings e elegant Iow sheen, ideal ~ AîN' a smooth rich fiat * IN * for walls, trim, doors- finish that helps * *p P A AAKI ide surfacei K l oe) imperfections s * ___________________ *Darker colours P A IN TS sightiy higher IF YOU- HAD -RECEIVED THIS -AD IN YOUR MAILBOX YOU WOULD HAVE THROWN' 75%o 0F IT AWAY. That's a silly way of stafing what is a documented fact. 75% of al advertising mail meets a sad end. In the trash cani! 0f the 25%0/othat we keep, most we don't even read at that time. We set it aside, to corne back to. Or to forget about completely. Three times as many people would prefer to receive their price and cost information in their newspaper. There, it's ail together in one neat package. Complete and ready for comparison. When people turn ttheir paper, they tumn there with interest. Which means that's where your advertising message needs to be. With ail the choices available, it's difficuit deciding how best to ad- vertise your business. But everything becomes a littie simpler when you remember one aile... Trafic 'ciming' island to be removed