Volume 21 Number 3 Newsletter of the Swansea Area Ratepayers' Association October 1995 SWANSEA MEMORIAL LIBRARY It should be noted there is an attempt being made to close the Swansea Library in order to keep the City Hall Library open. It is our position that each library is unique and one should not be traded for the other. For those who may not be aware, in 1919 the voters of Swansea chose to dedicate a library to those who died in the first world war rather than create a stone monument. What greater recognition of those who died for the principles of democracy can we provide than a library which encourages our youth to think and grow. You can arrange for any movie, book or any other library material to be delivered to the Swansea branch for pick-up. The Town Hall has arranged for a computer to be available during Town Hall hours so you can order books, etc. even when the Library is not open or you can order from your home computer. LIBRARY HOURS ARE: Monday: Tuesday: Wednesday: Thursday: Friday: Saturday: Sunday: Closed 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Closed 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Closed TIME TO RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP If you have not already obtained your 1995 membership (look at your card to see the expiry date) please renew now. We will be going to the Ontario Municipal Board and the more members we have the more likely the Board will listen to our arguments. THE FEES FOR 1995 ARE AS FOLLOWS: Single membership .............. $8.00 Family membership ............ $10.00 Business membership ........... $12.00 Please contact L. Gris at 766-2792 to renew. Membership inquiries may also be sent to Swansea Area Ratepayers' Association, c/o Swansea Town Hall, Box 103, 95 Lavinia Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M6S 3H9. EXECUTIVE MEETINGS Please note that Executive meetings are public and held normally on the third Tuesday of each month. There may be capacity limitations so contact the Executive before you come to a meeting. Our Executive is: Ron Luft President; Ed Gaigalas and L. Clay, Vice-Presidents; L. Volpe, Secretary; J. Oreto, Treasurer; L. Gris, Membership; G. Martinsons, Past-President; Your Directors: Ritvars Bregzis, J. Bell, S. Campbell, Peter Chant, Tony Giniotis, Bill Gouweleeuw, W. Haines, O. Iwanyshyn, M. Rew, Wm. Roberts, M. Robertson, Tony Ten Kortenaar, G. Thede, and S. Wilkinson. OFFICIAL PLAN We are continuing to monitor this matter and have discussions with the staff in regard to our concerns as part of the rezoning process. ELLIS AVENUE PROJECT Mr. Overs has appealed the designation of his property facing Grenadier Pond (223-227 Ellis Ave.) This matter will not be heard for approximately 6 months. In order to preserve the rights of the community to be involved when the hearing commences, our Executive has indicated that we formally state that we will be patties to the appeal. For more information contact: Tony Ten Kortenaar at 763-7474, Oleh Iwanyshyn at 762-6724, or Bill Roberts at 769-3162. GARDINER LAKESHORE TASKFORCE The Colborne Lodge Drive project has received the "go ahead". We will keep you advised. It is our understanding that the City will be putting a board walk along the western beaches in the Fall. SOUTH KINGSWAY - HUMBER BRIDGES The pedestrian/bicycle bridge is now open. We continue to monitor the construction of the vehicle bridges to ensure the potential for pedestrian/bicycle access below them. For more information contact G. Martinsons at 766-1734. SAVANNAH RESTAURANT The Owner appears to have withdrawn his application for changes. SARA continues to monitor LLBO matters in general which would affect our community. (See Bloor/Booze Regulations.) BLOOR WEST PARKING STUDY Glen Thede, Bill Roberts and Ed Gaigalas have been appointed to this committee which is to examine parking issues in the Bloor West Village area. MEETING NOTICE GENERAL MEETING Tuesday, October 24, 1995 7:30 P.M. at SWANSEA TOWN HALL 95 Lavinia Ave. Topic: Western Beaches Cleanup Discussion Panel Go-Sponsored with Bloor West EGO-Village SWANSEA BY-LAWS Bill Roberts continues to act for SARA and SARA and has met with the staff from Planning and Development. The Swansea (Southport) Plaza amendments have received ministerial approval. Stelco had indicated that it would appear to oppose any reduction from the proposed 23m height limit. After discussions between SARA and Stelco, a settlement was reached that the height limit on the site should be the same as the existing buildings. (After further discussions this was set at 18 m calculated from Windermere). The City has indicated that this is acceptable and the paperwork is being processed. The City has agreed and amended its by-law to ensure that 60% of the ground floor frontage in the Bloor West Village must be commercial/retail uses. This will keep the feel of a continuous retail/commercial strip at grade. The City has also agreed to make amendments to the Part One Official Plan which ensures that consideration must be given to the provision of services for new developments. We also have movement on the issue of ensuring that vehicle parking in Parks will be limited to Park uses. The City has agreed to maintaining the existing height limit in Swansea of 9 m rather than increasing it to 10m which is in keeping with the existing character of Swansea. In return SARA has dropped its appeal in regard to the other setback issues. That leaves the outstanding issues of: - the appeal by the owners on Ripley Ave. to increase the height and density of their buildings (which SARA does not support) - roofing over decks into the front and rear setbacks which will have a negative impact on adjacent properties. - Ellis Avenue project Bill Roberts appeared before the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) on the 16th May, 1995, and the 30th of June, 1995 and several City Council meetings and will be attending at further appeal dates. He has also appeared before local community groups to update them and explain the issues. QUEENSWAY BUS The Queensway bus now runs from Sherway Gardens to the Keele Station. Connections may be made at Windermere Ave. and Ellis Ave. For more information contact the TTC. Swansea Area Ratepayers' Association c/o Swansea Town Hall P.O. Box 103, 95 Lavinia Ave Toronto, Ontario, M6S 3H9 CITIZENS SIGN COMMITTEE SARA supported the citizens sign committees attempts to block further rooftop signs in CR/MCR districts (such as the Bloor West Village). Contact Ron Luft at 769-5817 on this issue. BLOOR/BOOZE & LIQUOR REGULATIONS SARA has set up a sub-committee consisting of Executive members, SARA members and representatives of other groups surrounding the Bloor West Village to see if and how compatibility between licensed establishments and the adjacent low density family area can be achieved. We are also in contact with groups in Parkdale and elsewhere. Contact Glen Thede at 763-5283 on this matter. 99 COEHILL DR. (1 RENNIE TERRACE) Bill Roberts has continued to negotiate with the lawyers for the City and the owner of 99 Coe Hill Dr. in regard to the parking spaces on the top of the ravine (partially on park lands). The matter is before the Ontario Municipal Board and conditions are being discussed. The City Parks Department has indicated the lands are not needed for Parks purposes. In light of this position SARA has requested that conditions should deal with run-oft clean-up and that any permission should not be permanent. POLLS FOR FRONT YARD PARKING AND BOULEVARD CAFES As a "cost cutting" measure the City decided to no longer allow local communities to be polled when issues of front yard parking or boulevard cafes adjacent to residential areas come before the City. We view this as a rejection of participatory democracy and a view to removing the rights of neighbourhoods to consider whether they wish to have such uses. We have asked the City to reconsider this matter. Bill Roberts is handling this issue. Editor- Bill Roberts Advisory Committee G. Martinsons