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Wednesday April 18, 2001 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER A7 COMMENT No fo o lin g M o th e r N a tu re All too rarely do neighbours gather at the foot of a street and chat about the weather. The advent of snow blowers, leaf blow ers and screamingly loud lawn mowers make it difficult for even the most chatty among us to be heard over the din of all our time-saving gadgets. All that changed, last week, as one of the biggest trees in the area - barring our own huge 80-year-old silver maple that takes up most of the tiny patch of land we call our front yard - fell down across a lawn and onto a roof of one of the neigh bours. Luckily, no one was hurt and little damage was sustained. But, like most places I suppose, the event attracted a crowd like no other. Cars slowed down and drivers pointed, amazed at the sight of an old pine felled by the wind. Its tall branches used to catch the wind like sails; it would sway, mag nificently, in the breeze. But the winds that gusted through the older part of Oakville last week were terrific. Branches were down; signs were tom. As it began to make its way through the older, tree laden part of town, sirens were heard in the distance. And, sadly, in just a few short seconds, trees like the old pine became firewood. We wandered over, like everyone else, T r o o p e r says: to see what was happening. The old pine must have sat on the front yard of this D R IV E D R Y ! older home for years: now a worker had A m e s s a g e from the M a y o r 's S p e c ia l C o m m ittee A g a in s t Im p aired D r iv in g \ crawled onto the tiny box-like arm to saw it in pieces as it lay, dangling, across the expanse of lawn. NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETINGS In a very short time, workers had (Zoning Amendment) arrived at the scene to take in the damage. N ational Hom es (W estmount) Inc. The 40-foot-tree lay across the lawn and F ile Z.1427.03 roof, broken sharply at its base. Workers revved up the chainsaws and Please be advised that two public meetings will be held to discuss a Zoning Amend began to get to work. A family, the dad in ment as submitted by the above-noted applicant shorts and runners; the kids on bikes and The first meeting will be an information meeting hosted by the Planning Services skateboards watched from the foot of the Department at which time details of the application will be presented and public driveway. A dog barked nearby. Two girls concerns noted. This meeting will take place on A pril 24, 2001 com m encing at sauntered by, pointing at the tree. 8:00 p.m . in the Bronte Room, Town Hall, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville. The neighbours chatted: about the The second meeting will be a public meeting hosted by Town Council at which time tree, its long history on the street, its posi the Staff Report and recommendation will be considered. This meeting will take tion on the front yard. How odd, they place on June 25, 2001 com m encing at 7:30 p-m. in the Town Hall, 1225 Trafalgar commented, that a feisty, tough old pine Road, Oakville. could be gone in seconds. But the wind Any individuals wishing to attend these meetings and speak to this matter are invited was the worst they'd seen in a while; to do so. A summary o f the subject proposal and a key map may be found below. lucky it didn't touch our own trees, they If a person or public body that files a notice o f appeal of a decision in respect of the added. proposed zoning amendment to the Ontario Municipal Board does not make oral One woman told the story of how she submissions at a public meeting or does not make written submissions before the was flooded one year; another mentioned proposed zoning amendment is approved, the Ontario Municipal Board may dismiss the storm that cut power the night before. all or part o f the appeal. But this wind was something else. You may direct any written submissions and/or questions to Leigh M usson at the Our own silver maple sits in the mid Town's Planning Services SUBJECT dle of a tiny perennial garden planted by D epartm ent, Town o f O akville, LANDS the former owners. It's branches reach P.O. Box 310, 1225 Trafalgar high in the sky; often I'm tempted to Road, O akville, ON. L6J 5A6. measure exactly how much it's grown Tel: 845-6601, E x t 3261, email since we moved here a few years ago. address: Every spring, I wonder if its branches lmussoQ@tQwn.oakville.Qn.ca. Waatoak frails B lvd 1 are going to bloom. Every year, I breathe A copy of the final staff report, a sigh of relief when the first buds come including the proposed zoning * § out amendment, will be available for 3 I review in the Clerk's Department This is a tree like no other, I think, as I I I f as of Monday, June 18, 2001 sit in the cooling shade of its branches in p S l between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and the heat of summer. It takes such abuse: r I 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday. the kids running through the garden, lean Upper Middle Road W Location -- The subject site, is ing their bikes against it; attempting located on the east side of Postmaster Drive, and the north side of Woodcrest Drive in grinds on skateboards on the rail that sur the West Oak Trails Community. rounds it. O fficial Plan -- Figure Q designates the site Residential Low Density 1, in the West Still, every spring, its branches fill out Oak Trails Community. and leaves start to emerge. Zomn» -- The land is currently zoned R l l , Residential Mixed Dwellings. Last week, I joined the rest of the Proposal -- The proposal involves a zoning amendment to change the zoning from neighbours at the foot of the neighbour's R ll to R12. The proposed zoning would allow 13 lots with 12 m frontages. The drive and wondered aloud about the proposal will comply with the standards o f the R12 zone. fierce unpredictability of Mother Nature: Please Note: This proposal may be subject to changes or modifications at the public in two seconds the old pine was only a meeting on June 25, 2001. memory, its gracious branches now Dated at the Town of Oakville this 18"' day of April, 2001. stacked up neady in a pile on the front porch. John Ghent Manager, Current Planning Section, Planning Services Department On the weekend, we'd taken our bikes out onto country roads, returning quickly when a severe gust almost pushed us out NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING onto the path of a truck. The crosswind was so strong it was difficult hanging Applicant: The O riginal Garden Centre onto the bikes. Definitely time to return. 1194 Dundas Street East It was just like the day we opted out of File No: Z.1410.7 tackling the massive waves of Lake Please be advised that a public meeting will be held to discuss a proposed extension Huron last year. Sometimes, it's wise to to a Temporary Use Zoning Amendment as submitted by the above-noted applicant give the outdoors a break. It's yet another A public meeting hosted by Town Council will be held at which time the staff report reminder that, surrounded as we are by a and recommendation will be considered. This meeting will take place on May 14, plethora of high end, high tech tools, 2001 comm encing at 7:30 p.m . in the Town Hall, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville. nothing is more powerful - and often If a person or public body that files an appeal of a decision of the approval authority, more deadly - than Mother Nature at her in respect of the proposed Zoning Amendment does not make oral submission at the most fierce. DIANE HART 107 Reynolds St., (north of Lakeshore Rd. E.,) downtown OAKVILLE 845-1210 NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING PartSource Store 368 Speers Road File Z .1617J0 Please be advised that a public meeting will be held to discuss a proposed Zoning Amendment as submitted by the above-noted applicant The meeting will be a public meeting hosted by Town Council, at which time a staff report and recommendation will be considered. This public meeting will take place on Monday,May 14, 2001 commencing at 7:30 p.m. in the Town HaU, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville. Any individuals wishing to attend these meetings and speak to this matter are invited to do so. A summary of the subject proposal and a key map may be found below. If a person or public body that files a notice of appeal of a decision in respect of the proposed zoning amendment to the Ontario Municipal Board does not make oral submissions at a public meeting or does not make written submissions before the proposed zoning amendment is approved, the Ontario Municipal Board may dismiss all or part of the appeal. You may direct any written submissions and/or questions to Sally Stoll at the Town's Planning Services Department, Town of O akville, P.O. Box 310, 1225 Trafalgar Road, O akville, ON. L6J 5A6. Tel: 845-6601, E x t 3261, email address: sstull®town.oakville.on.ca. A copy of the final staff report, including the proposed zoning amendment will be available for review in the Clerk's Department as of Monday, May 7, 2001 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday. Location -- The subject site, comprised of approximately 0.236 hectares, is located on the southwest comer of Speers Road and Morden Road in the Q.EW. West Industrial District O fficial Plan -- Figure Ind. B designates the site Arterial Commercial, and Buffer Strip. Zoning -- The land is currently zoned C6, Service Station Zone. Proposal -- The proposal involves a zoning amendment to permit development of an automotive parts store, of approximately 680 m2 on the former gas station site. Please Note: This proposal may be subject to changes or modifications. Dated at the Town of Oakville this 18th day of April 2001. John Ghent, Manager, Current Planning Section, Planning Services Department NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING Applicant: Next Housebuilding (O akville) Corp. File No: 24T -00016/0, Z. 1411.20 Please be advised that a public meeting will be held to discuss a proposed Official Plan Amendment, Draft Plan of Subdivision and Zoning Amendment as submitted by the above-noted applicant A public meeting hosted by Town Council will be held at which time the staff report and recommendation will be considered. This meeting will take place on May 14, 2001 comm encing at 7:30 p-m. in the Town Hall, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville If a person or public body that files an appeal of a decision of the approval authority, in respect of the proposed Official Plan Amendment Zoning Amendment and Draft Plan of Subdivision, does not make oral submission at the public meeting, if one is held, before the proposed Official Plan Amendment Zoning Amendment and Draft Plan of Subdivision is approved or refused, the Ontario Municipal Board may dismiss the appeal. If you wish to be notified of the adoption of the proposed official plan amendment you must make a written request to Ted Salisbury, Planning Director of the Town's Planning Services Department Any written submission and/or questions may be directed to David Nelson of the Town's Planning Services Department, Town of Oakville, P.O. Box 310, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville, ON. L6J 5A6. Tel: 845-6601, Ext 3039, email address: dnelson@town.oakville.on.ca. Any individuals wishing to attend this meeting and speak to this matter are invited to do so. A sum mary of the subject proposal may be found below. A copy of the Staff Report pertaining to this matter will be available for review in the Clerk's Department as of May 7, 2001, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Location -- The subject lands are located at the southwest coiner of Dundas Street East and Eighth Line. The lands are known as Part Lot 11, Concession 1 SDS. O fficial Plan -- Figure M2, Land Use, Iroquois Ridge Community, North District, designates the subject lands as Residential Low Density with a maximum density of 19 units per site hectare and Berm/Buffer. The berm/buffer designation applies to the lands adjacent to Dundas Street and the policies in the Official Plan require the provision of a 15m wide berm/buffer in this area. Zoning -- The land is currently zoned A, Agricultural. Proposal -- The proposal involves an Official Plan Amendment to re-designate the lands from Residential Low Density, which permits 19 units per site hectare, to Residential Low Density 2 with a proposed density of 26 units per site hectare. The proposed zoning amendment would rezone the lands from A, Agricultural to R12 and R13, Mixed Dwellings and Detached Dwellings respectively. The draft plan of subdivision contemplates 55 lots having minimum frontages of 12 m. Please note this proposal may be subject to changes or modifications at the Public Meeting on May 14, 2001. Dated at the Town of Oakville this 18th day of April 2001. John Ghent, Manager, Current Planning Section, Planning Services Department Province must address $114 billion debt Re: `Pay now or pay later ' editorial, Oakville Beaver, Fri. April 13, 2001 In your comments you mentioned that we, the citizens of Ontario are paying millions of dollars a year in interest pay ments on our debt. TTiat is true in a very narrow sense. We are paying $8.9 Letters to billion a year to service the Editor the provincial debt. Of every $100 in provin cial revenue (2000-2001) $ 15 goes to ser vice the interest on that debt. This debt has grown from %90 billion in 1995 to $114 billion in 2000. This government has been borrowing to make the yearly books balance every year since 1995. They got the yearly revenue finally to match expenditures in 2000. This would be like the average tax payer being able to have his/her pay cheque cover the cost of their living with out borrowing each month but not paying down their Visa balance just paying th e interest on that bill. The principal amount is still owed. And the interest payment will be demanded every month. The $200 "feel good" cheque most of us received from this government surely should have gone to pay down some of the $114 billion debt and not saddle the next generation with our current horren dous collective debt. Please don't be swayed by empty rhetoric and the positive spin doctors of Queen's Park. public meeting, if one is held, or make written submission before the proposed Zoning Amendment is ap proved or refused, the Ontario Municipal Board may dismiss the appeal. Any written submission and/or questions may be directed to David Nelson of the Town's Planning Services Department, Town of Oakville, P.O. Box 310, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville, ON. L6J 5A6. Tel: 845-6601, Ext 3039, email address: dnelson@town.oakville.on.ca. Any individuals wishing to attend this meeting and speak to this matter are invited to do so. A summary of the subject proposal may be found below. A copy of the Staff Report pertaining to this matter will be available for review in the Clerk's Department as of May 7, 2001, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Location -- The subject lands are located on the south side of Dundas Street East between the Joshua's Creek and Eighth line. The municipal address is 1194 Dundas Street East Official Plmn -- Figure M2, Land Use, Iroquois Ridge Community, North District, designates the subject lands as NCC, Neighbourhood Commercial. Znmny -- The land is currently zoned A, Agricultural, with a provision under Subsection 90(4T) of the Zoning By-law to permit the use of the lands for a garden centre and ancillary uses including parking, until. Proposal -- The proposal involves an application to extend the current Temporary Use Zoning Amendment which applies to the subject lands to permit the continued operation of the garden center until the permanent zoning is placed on the lands to reflect the Neighbourhood Commercial designation in the Official Plan. Please note this proposal may be subject to changes or modifications at the Public Meeting o f May 14, 2001. Dated at the Town of Oakville this 18th day of April 2001. John Ghent Manager, Current Planning Section, Planning Services Department Terry McEvoy