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ps weekender september 12 1987 cwe buffif proud new ssm 1 71 marvel white v process cheese food 2fi9 ltfarsjr tt r r r o old south orange juice opt1ipm olf todi 8tm bjyview avenue crowd criticises town on new official plan by steve houston staff reporter the town of markhams official plan can be boiled down to the words trust us claims a thor- nhill ratepayer who took town officials to task wednesday night at markham theatre a group of about 130 turned out to the towns un veiling of the revised official plan including repre sentative from pro and antidevelopment groups some 18 presentations were made before plan ning committee and staff at the meeting represent ing ratepayers groups developers conservation ists and church officials and despite claims by the town that the revised draft of the official plan contains several changes to the one released publically last spring several residents fear runaway growth will still threaten markhams future margaret buchinger an urban planner hired on contract by the town to help formulate and explain policies contained in the new plan launched the meeting with background information explaining changes the town has made included in her submission were adjustments that include stepped up environmental and natural re sources policies maintaining the status quo in already- designated study areas no development will take place without study in those areas firm agricultural policies three farming de signations a1 a2 a3 will determine land uses the a1 label refers to farmingonly uses an a2 designation will permit farming as well as agri culturally compatible recreation uses the a3 re ference is primarily for provinciallyowned lands ms buchinger also revealed changes in land use designations within the town that incude a north buttonville industrial area on the west side of woodbine ave between 16th ave and major mackenzie dr it no longer will be allowed north of major mackenzie dr as specified earlier o an expanded urban residential area between woodbine ave and warden ave above 16th ave a rouge north residential district that will run from south of the proposed hwy 407 to the cnr rail line between hwy 48 and the rouge river a rouge south residential district that will run from east of already designated residential land further to the rouge river the federation of ratepayers in markham form made the first oral presentation to council criticizing the towns methods and recommenda tions in the plan in an 11page critique read by form presi dent colin creasey the group asked the town to review several components of its plan before adopt ing it he also said the review should have established with some certainty the availability of serviced lands within markhams current urban boundaries to monitor growth he said that approach would replace a process of responding to the whims of the market whether speculative or real with stability and few sur prises several other local groups voiced concerns about the plan including the unionville ratepayers clas sic community association buttonville rate payers rouge river ratepayers vinegar hill ratepayers raymerville north ratepayers and the willowbrook area community association most voiced the same concerns expressed at ini tial official plan review meetings held last spring about roads urban expansion servicing capacities an improved hwy 7 corridor and building densities but the ratepayers met with opposition in their collective bid from developers who demanded the release of lands to build in areas north of 16th ave jane pepino a spokesperson representing some 13 landowners said the town has taken a short term view of the projected growth in markham and wont meet industrial land demands this planning horizon is too short for a major metropolitan area on the fringe of metro toron to she said she later added that the town should have looked further ahead to meet the expected residential de mands economic growth would generate markham solicitor don hindson also appeared on behalf of area landowners representing several hundred acres in the 16th ave and 9th line area that is currently designated a study zone he argued the area could be economically de veloped and serviced and said residents responded favorably to a seniors residential proposal that would separate industrial uses from homes south of 16th ave planning chairman elson miles told the specta tors all pubic submissions would be compiled and reviewed by planning staff before changes if any are brought before the public for final perusal on nov 3 r calling all community groups looking for coverage the economist and sun is hosting a free public relations seminar for nonprofit clubs groups and organizations learn how to win newspaper coverage and influence editors date wednesday sept 23 730 pm location the pit markham district high school speakers don bernard editorinchief jfcooomistsun paula crowell community editor j7conomistsun and featuring a humorous skit on dealing with the press by markham little theatre for more information and to register call don bernard or paula crowell at 2942200