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PAGE 18, WETBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, MAY 4,1988 Concerns over effect of hospital land development Questions and concerns about the effeet of development on open space and marsh lands were among the comments made Monday night on the final stage of the land use study of the Whitby Psychiatric Hospital lands. Whitby administrative commit- tee members approved the final stage which proposes to amend the Town and Region official plan with the development guidelines for what will be known as the Lynde Shores secondary plan. And Monday's final stage of the public procees perhaps attracted more comment than any other stage of the study, including remarks by former Durham West MPP George Ashe, hospital employees' union (OPSEU local 331) president Joan Gates, some Whitby residents and even a former psych hospital patient. The total study area, from Hwy. 401 to the lake and between Lynde Creek and Annes/Gordon streets, com prises about 700 acres, about 500 of thoseowned by the Province and the remainder owned by two private landowners and the Town. The area north of Victoria St., about 200 acres, ie generally propoeed for industry with some open space in the floodplain zone. South of Victoria St. would accommodate the new psychiatric hospital slated to be built over a period of years, residential housing in varying density, some commercial activity, separate and elementary schools and park space. Dennis Barry of RR 2, Whitby urged that the buffer area betweentdevelopment in the south portion and the Lynde marsh be left "in a natural state," adding 'We should stop and lok at what we're doing to the wetlands." Gates said it was "sad" to have one of the few remaining areas of such open space open to development, and she claimed it would be "detrimental" to the area. She said the land around the psychiatric hospital proved therapeutic to patients, an opinion similarly expressed by Howard Barlow of Oshawa. who suggested a moratorium of development. dr "It's a great stepping stone to go from there (open green space area around hospital) back to the public," he said. Planning director Bob Short said the open space corridor "would be protected right to Lynde." He said "somé lands will be lost but new open space horizons are being developed." When asked why lands in the study area had to be developed, Short replied that the Province considered the land as surplus and asked the Town about use. He also noted that Whitby, in comparison with other lakeshore municipalities, had relatively limited development in the shore area. Councillor Joe Drumm said he only wanted assurances that development wouldn't create "a south Whitby and a north Whitby," to which Short responded that the hospital area plan shouldn't be regarded as "taking part of Whitby's com- munity away." Short said the plan also permits a variety of housing alternatives. Councillor Ross Batten said he appreciated residents' concerns about development on open space lands, but noted that Whitby remains a growing municipality. "It'e not a matter of growth, it's a matter of howwere going to do it," he said. Batten alsoo said the land use guidelines for the hospital lands should be regarded as part of the overali planfor the lakeshore area that includes, for example, the harbor area plan. "I think you'd fnd that the overali area je going to be developed very well," he said. oThe overal ,plan fits in with what were trying to accomplish in Port Whitby." Name change rejected for Elizabeth Cres. Elizabeth Cres. residents not' only won a protest against a pro- posed name change for their street, they may even have convinced the Town to extend the name a little further to Thickson Rd. After overwhelming opposition was mounted at the public meeting Monday night against tho name change, Town admin- istrative committee mombers, in comlete agreement with resi- dents, decided te reject the name change. The name change had been considered, explained planning director Bob Short, after Manning Rd. construction had split Elizabeth Cres. into two sections. He said a crescent wasn't supposed to be so divided and that some confusion might occur during police, fire or ambulance emergency responses to the street. Short, admitting that the concept of changing names was "always difficult," mentioned proposed naies - Elizabeth Court for north of Manning Rd. and Dalton Court south of Manning, as well as other changes. But Dr. Danuta Manitius, whose father started the subdi- vision and named the street after his .wife, said the proposed changes would be.more even more confusing to emergency services. I wouldn't want to look for a patient," she told committee. She adrnitted that she had "senti- mental reasons" for wanting to retain the existing name, but added "I think it's valid." Pat Dooley, representing the Corridor Area Ratepayers' Assoc- iation, said the Town proposai was a "frivolous inatter" that need not have required a public meeting if the Town had simply phoned a few street residents to obtain their. reaction. Its a hell of a waste of your time and a hell of a waste of the people's time here," Dooley told committee. "Quite frankly, if the munici- pality wants to leave it as Elizabeth Cres.,Sis no t.In off my nose," said Short. Ho urgod, however, that some differen- tiation should be made between the north and south sections of the street for tho sake of emergency service. He mentioned Elizabeth Cres. and Elizbeth Ct. as examples of differentiation. Councillor Joe Drumm made a COy urga&» a n-- m-. -- - SOFT CLOTH CAR WASH 7A.M. - 9P.M. OPENING a OPENING SUNDC SPECIAL SUNDC SPECIAL * F -~F~I CAR &VAN, i HOTTWAX W.,I : T VH w À With gas purchase. Coupon expires May 31188. 1coupon per visit A coupon expires May 3188.1coupon per vist motion t 'leave as is" Elizabeth Cres., and, taking the suggestion of a street resident, that Marta Rd. also become part of Elizabeth Cres. Marta Rd. is a very short street, along which there are now no residents, which goes from the end of Elizabeth Cres. to Thickson Rd. After the motion was passed, councillor Ross Batten joked that "Actually Mr. Short didn't want to change these names at all, he just wanted to win a bet that he could get all residents of Eliza- beth Cres. here." Two fire trucks will cost $165,383 more Whitby's fire department will be getting two new trucks even though they will cost $165,383 more than expected. The purchase of the two trucks, a pumper and a tanker, was approved by Whitby council last week. The two trucks will cost $477,383. The Town had budg- eted $315,000 for the vehicles. The increase was blamed on 1987 estimates received by the fire department, estimates which were considerably lower than the actual prices. Oil spiliis investigated FROMPAGE 1 The clean-up, which involves vacuuming up the oil then digging out the ditch, could cost $10,000, said Bird. "It appears the oil got into the ditch through a pipe from the properties but we still dont know the cause," said Bird. Bird said an investigation which could lead to criminal charges is underway. Charges would be laid under the Ontario Water Resources Act. Bird commended both the fire department and public works staff for containing the oil to the ditch. "Very little got. into Pringle Creek," he said. "It was fortunate the oil was so heavy and extremely slow mov- ing," said Don Maitland, another ministry official. He sd alight slick did reach Pringle Creek. But he explained that what did reach the creek was so thin, it would decompose in the sunlight and would not be hazardous te any life in or along the creek. Bird also added that it was fortunate that the ditch was long enough to hold the oil. He said it would have been more serious had the oil reached the creek. The Whitby Fire Department received a call about the oil on Sunday afternoon, according to Ken Corner, a member of the dopartmont. Ho said firemen, using bales of hay, bsgan te dam the oil to make sure it did not get into the creek. "We contained it until the MOE (ministry) got down there," said Corner, who said the depart- ment's responsibilty ended when they had the oil "dyked" off. lioe fxwepero".P Ea ludero «om'tOa CAR & VAN WASH 301 Thickson Rd. 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