The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

6-The Canadlian Champion, Tuusday, May 12, 1998 *COMMENT The Canadlan Champion, pubnisnod nwice weekly ania9 Main St. E., Mifton, Ont., L9T 4N9 (Box 248),. s one ofTnhe Mettoland Printing. Puhlishing & Distributittg Ltd. group of suhonhan compa- nies wtrictr itcludes: Ajax I Pickering Nes Advertlsen, Altiston Heraldltouriet, Barrie Adoance, Barry's Bay Thtis Week, Botton Enterprise, Brampton Guardian, Burlngton Shopping News, Burlingtofl Pont, City Parent, Cotlingwood /IWasaga Connectlon. East York Mirror, Erin Advocate/Coutny Boutes, Etobleolte Guandian, Flamborough Post, Geongetown lndependentl Acton Fraie Pres, Kingston Tis Watb, Lndsay Thtis Wttln, Maanta Economniot & Sun, Mldiand / Penetangoishene Mimeor, Mississauga News, Newmanrtet f Aurota Ena Banner, Northumberland News, North Vork Mitron, Oatnnitie Beaotr, Oalnniln Shopping News, lInillia Today. Oshawa / Whtity I Clanlngton Thtis Wettn, Peterborough This Wtek, Richmond Hil I Thornhilt I Vaughan Libenal, Scanbonough Minnon, tiabrialge I Stouttoille Tribune, Today's Seniors, City ot York Guardian. Adveeoising is acceptent on the condition that, ln thteavant ot a typognaphical nrron, that pontion ot tht adventising space occu- piedthy tht ernoneous itemo, together with a reasonable altowanrt ton signature, will sot ha chargtd tor, bot tnt balance et tht advethsn* ment wl) be paint ton an tht applicahle rate. Tht publishen rentrons the right to categorize adetisements or decline. It's flot where, it's how The reasons for concern with regard to Milton growth are substantial and varied, but paramounit among thema is flot whether initial expansion goes to the east or west side of town. This despite the impressive numbers of protesters tumed out by the Milton Chamaber of Commerce at last week's town council meeting to lobby, in vain, for western expan- sion pnior to an eastern growth cycle. The direction of growth will flot make or break the current downtown, at least not in the short termn, since there is to be growth west of Bronte Road in the not too distant future as well. What Milton must really look to is the quality of develop- ment that takes place. Much has been said in dhe last decade or so about 'livable' communities with amenities such as nearby shopping and schools, within walking distance. The aimn has been to emphasize communities with more of a neighbourhood feel to them. Yet where in Halton have we seen this concept take hold beyond lip service? Not in Oakvilie, not in Burlington. There the car is'stili king, the boulevards are wide and unfriendly for pedestrians, strip malts flounish and tbrive hard by busy thoroughfares Donovan Bailey would think twice before spninting across. The only real concession to a more neighbourhood feel in most of these developments has been to alter the house facades a bit, perhaps shunting garages to the back, minor, and relatively cheap, moves like that. This is where the real threat lies for Milton, in sleepwalk- mng into nondescript suburban sprawl that has been, and con- tinues to be characteristic of most of the Greater Toronto Area, and most similar large city-plexes across North Amenica. It is perhaps in this undercurrent that an unvoiced fear of downtown merchants resides, with validity. They can look to eastern Milton and see industrial condos converted to retail use, without a whole lot of apparent municipal planning, and an ominous trend for aggressive development in a vigorous thrust toward Ninth Line and Mississauga, the cradle of modem Canadian suburban schlock sprawl. There is little reassuring in this part of Milton when it comes to any reasonable defmnition of a neighbourhood. On top of that, highway development along the 401 corri- dor rests Ïargely with another municipality, Halton Hilîs, which has demonstrated its earnest interest in busily making use of the property by commiùssioning an expensive study on the matter. It is not s0 much the placement of development but the thought and effort that goes into it we worry about, because there has been precious littie evidence of ample quantities of either elsewhere. Rob Kelly Court intrigue Dear Editor: King John and bis cohort Lord Gord continue to rule the fiefdomn of Milton with heavy hands and, in the king's case, a somewhat testy tongue. Meddling merchants, caps in hand, came seeking assis- tance in their search for more trade last week but were repulsed and rebuked for their attempts. Imperialistic blath- er and condescending vice-regal rhetoric seemed to be the order of the day. What pray tell, is the source of this confrontation you might ask? It seems thse wizards from the regional castle have finally put forth a plan to expand the fiefdom of Milton towards the land of Queen Hazel. Visions of gold filling the local coffers have entranced King John, his aging knights errant and court factotums to such a degree, say sorme, that the supremacy of "Destiny Pond should be cleaned up Dear Editor: For the last few years the Mill Pond has been a disgrace due to algae and weeds. A few years ago thse Town, througis an infrastructure grant, spent $600,000 on thse area in and around the Mill Pond. Unfortunately thse main issue was neyer addressed properly, that being thse fetid smiell and unsightly appear- ance of thse pond, as well as tise lack of water flow through Milton", the supposed credo of King John, has been dashed. Merchants fear that gmowth towards the land of Queen Hazel only will resuit in further loss of trade and opportu- nity, and feel balance is needed with concurrent expansion towards the forbidden lands of the west. Their plea to King John and Lord Gord for such dispen- sation was alas spumned. Queen Hazel's merchants are no doubt pleased. The full court of fiefdom nobles meets in but a few weeks to formalize their decree. Will the merchants submit or rise up and demand their share in this rare showing of regional munificence? Is there a King Richard, or even a Robin Hood, in their midst - or wîll it be 'Long live King John and Lord Gord?' We'll see at the next fiefdom gathering. Patrick Kely Miton Ratepayers Association it. How much would it cost to get rid of the algae and weeds this summner? It would be small change compared to what was spetst befooe. 1 would ask council, and you, to take action on making the pond look like it did for years, înstead of lookng like a cesspool ail summer and fail. The pond has in the past been a beautiful gemn in thse heart of Milton but now it is an eyesore and embarrassment to thse 1people who love it. 1 May we expect some action please. Kenneth and Allo Brush Milton ____ Pud _ by Steve Nease Box 248, 191 Maiot. E., Milton, Ont. L9T 4N9 (905) 878-2341 Fax: 878-4943 Classified: 875-3300 Ian Oliver Publisher n Neil Oliver Associate Publisher David Bos General Manager Rob Kelly Editor n Karen Huisinan Circulation Manager Teri Casas Office Manager Tua Coles Production Manager OUR READERS WRITE m -