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PAGE 6, WIITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13.198 F e ~?WW Publïshed every Wednesday Editor Published every Wednesday By 677209 Ontario Inc. Phone: 668-6111 Doug Anderson Publisher The Free Press Building 131 Brock Street North, P.O. Box 206, Whitby, Ont. Maurice Pihe Editor Peter Irvinle Advertising Manager Alexandra Simon Production Manager Mike Carroll Circulation Manager VOICE OF THE COUNTY TOWN f~ Whitb residents The only Whitby newspaper Independently owned and operated by Wh(DY resiaefiir 'vvis1- Weare htohrehsbencyfsonwt The Corridor Area Ratepayers' Association has again made evident its dissatisfaction with certain trends in Whitby, most brought on by growth and one involving "minimum communciation with town council." In the most recent flyer, with which the association of about 1,000 residents (from Anderson St. to the Oshawa-Whitby Townline, Taunton to the 401) hopes to boost membership closer to the 3,600 households within their area, CARA sees Dundas St. traffic, poor educational service, inadequate rec facilities and "absence of community centre focus" as other problems facing Whitby. i m t --à M d lat ff4khiracia ;nd Pro dded make a move," says Dooley of the flyer, which he says is now being distributed since councillors wilI soon be seeking re-election while other candidates will be seeking seats. t's now time to begin to find out whatewil gbe proposed to solve the problems, says Dooley, who maintains that there is "secrecy" in Town council affairs and use of "unpublished, discriminatory development bylaws." Dooley aims that "The system is open to abuse and Town councillors are permitting it." We agree that there has been confusion with regard to some development, for example, over lot frontage. But we add that some councillors are indeed aware of irregularities or what may be perceived as irregular, and have closely scrutinized certain development plans or, In certain sectors, lack of development, such as affordable housing. Nevertheless, the association has put forth before the town's east residents pertinent issues that could also apply to other areas in Whitby and should be just part of the discussion upcoming in election campaign dialogue. And Mr. Dooley has made a complaint that will deserve response by councillors in future election debate. hopiMng to prod iown counc I o g L VII LETTERSFROM OUR READERS LETTER: To the editor: Copy of letter to Donald MeKay, Town of Whitby Clerk. As a Whitby resident in attendan- ce at the administrative committee meeting held April 5, I was dismayed to witness the lack of sup- port from Mayor Attersley and councillor Battenrregarding coun- cillor Emm's resolution requesting developers, in the initial stages of development, be required to include and develop the more affordable medium and high density portions of their plans of subdivision in advance of the low density land parcels. It is my understanding that this resolution was originally sent back because certain councillors felt the term "affordable" was nebulous and undefinable. CMHC and the Ministry of Housing define "affor- dable" rental housing as accom- modation whereby a family is paying 30 percent or less of the gross family income toward housing. Af- fordable home ownership has recen- tly been talked about in the $100,000 range, although there are no gover- nment definitions of this tenure of affordability. The regional/municipal reality is that the "affordable" housing crisis is in the rental market area. Vacan- Lack of support dismays resident cy rates in Whitby, and the region as a whole, have been well under one per cent for years (usually in the area of .03 per cent to .00 per cent). Little rental housing is being built. The supply that is being developed by non-profit groups is so minimal it cannot keep pace with the demand. Developers hesitate tô build and .develop rental accommodation on medium and highdensity zoned parcels of land. And why not? Luxury and freehold condominiums and single family dwellings are cer- tainly more profitable. We may point to rental control as the cause of this predicament but lamenting will not solve the existing problem. I believe, however, there is profit to be made in the sale and/or development of land to groups whose interest is to build/manage rentalhousing. In 1981 interest rates were high; at 20 - 22 per cent. The bottom had fallen out of the con- dominium market. BKding non- profit rental accommodation was the only game in town and developers/ builders were kept alive through this bleak financial period. They did make money in building rental housing. They are in business today as proof of this fact. In today's market non-profit housing developers compete with condominium builders in all areas; from the purchase of land to the cost of the finishing touches. The economics of this contest leaves lit- tie hope for the deveiopmeflt of "af- fordable"'housing. If developers are lef t to their own choice, they will always choose the most profitable route and for this reason it is incum- bent on the municipality to ensure these developers make a continuing the community. Presently, it is en- suredwith parkland. Itcould also be ensured with land for "affordable" SEE PAGE 13 Staff praised for corridor study To the Editor: Re: Editorial on the Brock Street corridor area study. As your editorial suggests, Brock Street is in fact the "highest profile entrance" to our town. Visitors and tourists alike, comment on the "unique character" of the town as they drive north along Brock St. New home buyers, searching for an "escape from the city" find their answer here in Whitby. After attending Tuesday night's meeting, I feel congratulations to the Town's planning staff are in or- der. Their approach to the many challenges of both future proposal and re-development of existing properties has been well thought out. I was especially impressed with planning director Bob Shorts' com- ments in answer to one of our coun- cillors suggestions that the $250,000 allocated to streetscape enhan- cement of Brock St. S., over the next two years, might be better spread over the longterm. Mr. Short replied, "It is necessary for the Town to assume a leadership role" if it hopes to attract the type of redevelopment the planning staff has suggested. The Town must take thefirststep." A perfect example. of such a positive attitude is the type of redevelopment we see in "Pearson Lanes," influenced, I'm sure, by the initiatives of the Downtown Whitby BIA. In order for the final piece of the puzzle to fit, the real key to both this study area and the recent Port Whtby Harbor study will be an energetic and enthusiastic endor- sement of each council member -even more importantly the coun- SEE PAGE 12 Innocent untilproven guilty Tothe editor: Bill Swan's column in your March 30 issue really hit home. Don't get me wrong, I abhor homosexuality, but it reminded me of a run-in I had with the Durham police in 1975 (or was it 1976?) Detective Ross Smith could clarify the date. I was charged with possession under $200, (possession of stolen weapons), weapons that I and my friend bought. I might add I had them checked through the computer by a friend (a Metro Toronto police con- stable) andthey checkedclean. However, we were arrested and charged. What burns my butt, even today, is we were mugged and fingerprinted before our day in court (guilty till proven innocent). Our names were in the paper three days later and I had to try and face all my neighbors and explain, or try to. When the case was thrown out of court I wrote the paper and asked why they didn't print the fact that I was found not guilty. They didn't even give me the courtesy of a reply. This is wrone. Nobody has the right impugn someone's honesty, integrity or morals until both sides of the story are heard or there is a conviction in a court of law. Yours truly, John P. Harkness Whitby LETTERS The Whitby Free Press welcomes letters to the Editor on any subject of concern to our readers. Letters should be brief and to the point - rarely more than 300 words. All letters must be accompanied by the name, address and phone number of the writer; however, on request, your name may be withheld from publication if we agree that there is a valid reason. The paper reserves the right to reject or edit all letters. Send to: The Editor, Whitby Free Press, Box 206, Whitby, Ontario LiN 5S1 or drop through our mailslot at 131 Brock St. N. 1% Mm. or 1 pm w