Wednesday July 26. 2000 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER A. COMMENT Forget the athletics and stick to politics Enough of the hard bodies in politics. I don’t know about you. but if I see one more photo of a politician either jogging, running, in line skating, playing the drums (and yes, I do realize the man of the moment, Stockwell Day can do all four) or using a high tech scooter (hello, Jean Chretien), I’m seriously going to lose it. And it doesn’t matter to me if the man is paunchy Joe, marathon man Stock or even skooter-mad Jean. They all have to stop this insanity. I mean, we all know these guys aren’t going to be lining up at the starting line in Australia in tights and running shoes. Blessings, all around. These three are not the future hopes of the Olympic games. But they’re not supposed to be, right? DIANE HART Politicians go to meetings. They make decisions about millions of dollars in programs that filter down to the riff-raff like you and me. They schmooze, they kiss babies, they shake hands and they go to more meetings. They make speeches about themselves. And when they tire of talking about themselves or having other people talk to them about themselves they go to bed. And then they start it all up in the morning. That’s what a politician does: he doesn’t try to be the next poster boy for Extreme Sports. As much as I like vital, healthy people this obsession with athletic prowess by people in politics is ridiculous: I’d simply like a guy who knows how to run a country. Period. You know, the old-fashioned kind of stuff... can he protect my water from killing me, can he ensure I won’t wait four hours at ‘emerg’ in the middle of the night while my son is in the midst of an asthma attack and be told there is only one doctor on duty ... can he try to get poor people off the streets instead of build casinos and golf courses? Oh, wait. It’s not just in Ontario that we need a decent leader, is it? You know. I’d love someone to come along who stands up there in Vistas everywhere but nary a place to sit For a “second" summer, there are no benches to sit on; location is right on “public†lakefront on Esplanade Ave., between Howard and Park Ave. The house owners on Esplanade “convinced the Parks Dept, to remove two benches.†They do not want the public to be able to rest there and enjoy “their" view. Now, the lawn there is not Letters to the Editor even cut far enough toward the lake. This makes the public think there never was space to sit and rest on benches. It is outrageous that a few houseowners can remove precious public lakefront space from other residents who would like to sit and enjoy the view of the lake there. Does no one care about this takeover? If so, please phone the Parks Dept, and our dear Mayor who all know about this situation. They “caved in†to pressure from the homeowners on Esplanade Ave.! Thanks for your attention to this matter. A neighbour Buying northern lands costly I would like to take the opportunity to thank Valerie Thompson for taking the time to write to the Oakville Beaver to express her concern about a statement that I made at a press conference in June. Specifically, Ms. Thompson refers to the dollar amount needed to buy all the environmental lands category 2 through category 5 identified in the LGL Environmental Report for the lands north of Regional Road 5 (Dundas Street). Ms. Thompson asks where I got this inflated figure. The $200,000. per acre cost comes directly from the Finance Department and is the current amount that the Town of Oakville pays for parkland over and above the 5% dedication of parkland that developers must give to the Town through the development approval process under the Ontario Planning Act. Therefore, 988 acres x $200,000. =$197,600. per acre is a realistic figure. I am well aware of the selling prices of land in the area. Based on taking an average price per acre of $50,000. the cost of purchasing the woodlots would be $49,400. If this money was borrowed at an annual interest rate over a 10-year period, it would increase property taxes by 14% in the first year. $200,000. acre using same interest rate and amortization, the increase to property taxes would be 54%. We are in discussion with the Ontario Realty Corporation regarding lands that they own within the study area. Every effort will be made to acquire some of these lands at a nominal fee. However, this does not mean that we can then use these lands to exchange with private developers/landowners to acquire their woodlots. A good thought but one that might raise some eyebrows as these lands are held in trust by the Provincial Government on behalf of all the taxpayers in Ontario. We have also had discussions with the Nature Conservancy of Ontario regard- ing their participation in acquiring the woodlots. Unfortunately, these lands are not significant enough to warrant interest by this non-profit organization. Buying the lands or having them generously donated before any approvals took place would be ideal. However, it is not enough to have a willing buyer unless there is a willing seller. Before developers part with any of their holdings, they want to know how much they will get for it and what they will be able to build on the remainder of their holdings. For small landowners in the area, this is their retirement pension and therefore are not prepared to give it away. They too want to maximize the amount of money they can generate from future development. The Town of Oakville will make every effort and use whatever tools are at its disposal to preserve the woodlots in question. I do not apologize for providing the media and the citizens of the Town of Oakville with what could be the actual cost of preserving these woodlots. It is their money that the Town of Oakville will be using in most instances to acquire these lands and the taxpayers have the right to know what the true costs may be. I hope this clarifies the statement quoted in the paper. Council will be dealing with this issue again on Aug. 8th. If you have any questions, do not hesitate in calling your respective councillors. They would like to receive your input. Liz Behrens Local & Regional Councillor, Ward 5 Chair, North Oakville Land Use Options Study At per the Oakville 2000 MAZDA 626 LX Vehicle not exactly as shown. 15" wheels • AM/FM CD Player • Keyless Entry * Heated Mirrors * Much More CASH PURCHASE PRICE t 21.9JF or LEASE FROM ZO¥ /MONTHS 0\O/ FINANCING U/o UPT0 36 MONTHS $3,800 downpayment. Freight & PDI included. Lease is low kilometre lease. See dealer for details. ROADSIDE RSSISTRDCE PROGRHfTl MAZDA GRADUATE PROGRAM 36 aoalb regardless ol kilomtm, (oncurriil with your Mudo Warranty Hart data. flSR yOUR DEALER flflOUT mflZDfl's unvERsmj / COLLEGE GRADUATE PflJOGflflfTl. [RR7DR LEADERSHIP UJRRRflniy Ask alxHl wr o«Htmdl»g (oapnlmwi mj powartrcii warmly covtrag*. Get In Be Moved lemazoa 1291 SPEERS ROAD North side between 3rd Line & 4th Line 905-827-4242 Ulhere Good Seruice Is fl Fact. Hot Just fl Promise! HWY. *5 SPEERS RD. www.oflkvill<nMida.(ofl some ratty sweater and tells it like it is: that as a decent individual, he wants to make a difference; not become a slogan. He doesn’t want a nifty photo op; he wants to run a country with integrity Oh, but of course, I’d forgotten. The more we ooh and aah about a guy’s pecs, the less we look at his mind. So dazzled are we by his athletic prowess, that we fail to ask the cogent questions: those oh-so-uncomfortable ones about homosexuality, abortion and capital punishment. The kinds of questions that give a measure of the person we like as a leader. Is it just me or are you starting to feel manipulated? Columnist Lysiane Gagnon said recently in the Globe and Mail that the Alliance’s secret weapon to date is Joe Clark. She railed against Clark’s lack of judgement - which she called “appalling†- and said it is his inept leadership that has contributed to the disintegration of the Conservative Party. Says Gagnon: “And now, to the dismay of many, Stockwell Day is the rising star of Canadian politics.†At least she didn’t mention that Joe might use his time better pumping iron than lolling about on the beach. Not once did she even suggest the man hop on a treadmill. Because she assumes, like all of us, that we don’t vote for the guy with the most muscles in politics. We tend to favour the guy with the most brains, not brawn. But try telling this to the political aids behind the three men of the moment, Jean, Joe and Stockwell. Soon, they’re going to have these three duffers out there on skateboards trying to do a nifty grab or some such thing. I mean, haven’t we seen enough of this nonsense? Well, you know. I’ve got a theory. J I think the reason everyone is so gaga about Stockwell and his ability to walk and chew gum at the same time is because they’ve had to live with Preston Manning for so many years. Just imagine, perish the thought, that you were a Reformer years ago trying with all your might to rev up the engine behind Preston. Pretty tough, eh? I mean, he wasn’t exactly a Pierre Tmdeau kind of fella, now was he? So they did a make-over on poor old Preston and presto, in the wink of an eye, he’s gone. Vamoosh. And now they are all rubbing their hands with glee at the new Mattel toy...Rock em Sock em Stock.. Remember: He can RUN, he can INLINE SKATE, he can PLAY THE DRUMS, he can CHOOSE HIS OWN CLOTHES. He’s marketable, I guess, if you like that kind of package. Just please, do me a favour. Don’t put him or Jean or Joe on some surf wake or skateboard this summer. Thai will push me over the edge, I swear. Council & Standing Committee Meetings Tuesday, August 1,2000 Community Services Committee 7:30 p.m. - Oakville Room Administrative Services Comm. 7:30 p.m. - Bronte Room Tuesday, August 8,2000 Council Meeting Council Chambers 7:00 p.m. (Note: Time Change) Wednesday, August 2,2000 Planning & Development Council Council Chambers 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 5,2000 Community Services Committee 7:30 p.m. - Oakville Room Administrative Services Comm. 7:30 p.m. - Bronte Room Council & Committee Touchtone Phone Line 815-5959 NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETINGS Owner/Applicant: Mrs. Michele Forgione FikNymtor: z. 1607.05 Please be advised that two public meetings will be held to discuss a proposed Zoning Amendment as submitted by the above-noted applicant The first meeting will be an information meeting hosted by the Planning Services Department at which time details of the application will be presented and public concerns noted. This meeting will take place on Thursday, August 3, 2000, commencing at 7:00 p.m. in the Oakville Room, Town Hall, I22S Trafalgar Road, Oakville. The second meeting will be a public meeting hosted by Town Council at which time the Staff Report and recommendation will be considered. This meeting will take place on Wednesday, September 6,2000, commencing at 7:30 p.m. in the Oakville Council Chambers, Town Hall, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville. Please note that the current proposal is a zoning amendment to repeal the 1999 Bylaw which was intended to accommodate 3 detached residential lots on the subject lands. If approved, the effect of the zoning amendment will be that the underlying ‘ROl’ zoning, subject to several new site-specific regulations, will apply and the subject lands may be used for one detached dwelling only. Any individuals wishing to attend these meetings and speak to this matter are invited to do so. An explanation of the purpose and effect of the proposed application, describing the lands to which the proposed application applies, and a key map showing the location of the lands to which the proposed application applies can 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. Any questions or concerns may be addressed to: Planning Services Department Town of Oakville P.O. Box 310, 1225 Trafalgar Road Oakville, ON L6J 5A6 Telephone: 845-6601, extension 3028 E-mail: lgillwoods@town.oakville.on.ca A copy of the Staff Report pertaining to this matter will be available for review in the Clerk’s Department as of Monday, August 28, 2000 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Location: 1409 Lakeshore Road East - The subject lands are located on the north side of Lakeshore Road East between Trelawn Avenue and Caulder Drive in the Eastlake Community. The lands are legally described as Part of Lot 7, Concession 3 S.D.S., Town of Oakville, Regional Municipality of Halton. Official Plan: Figure J- Land Use designates the subject lands ‘Residential Low Density.’ Zoning: The subject lands are zoned ‘ROl - Detached Residential’ subject to Special Provision 89(656) which outlines site-specific regulations for 3 detached residential lots. Proposal: The proposed Zoning Amendment is necessary to amend Special Provision 89(656) and allow several new site-specific regulations to apply to the subject lands. The applicant intends to abandon the 3 lot residential plan of subdivision (or condominium) proposed by the previous owners and use the property for one residential dwelling only. The new site-specific regulations are required to accommodate the proposed additions to the existing historic dwelling on the property. The designs for these additions have been approved by the Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (LACAC). The existing historic bam/stables will also remain on the property. Please Note: This proposal may be subject to changes or modifications at the public meeting on Wednesday, September 6, 2000. Dated at the Town of Oakville this 26th day of July, 2000. John Ghent, Manager, Current Planning Section, Planning Services Department 1225 TRAFALGAR ROAD • OAKVILLE, ONTARIO • L6J 5A6