Minutes

Wednesday, June 23, 2004
Manor Road United Church
7:00 - 8:30 p.m.

DRAFT MINUTES

Attendance
Present: Jim Walker (Chair), Margaret Walker (Secretary), Joseph Pacitti, Harold Pidduck, Josh Cobden, Paul Pelton, Murad Velshi, John Holland, Dan Scott
Regrets: Paul Newbigging, Wendy Tamminen
Guest: Brad Buss

  1. Approval of the minutes for May and the June Agenda
      2. Minutes: approved without change.
      Moved: Jim Walker Seconded: Murad Velshi Motion carried.
      Agenda: Secretary noted 4 important items omitted from the New Business section.
  2. Business Arising from the Minutes for May 12, 2004
    1. SERRA accounts year to-date
      2. General Operating Account: $890.38
      Legal Fund: no change (how much?)
      Outstanding: Josh: FoNTRA Membership 2004 ($50)
      Dan: SERRA Website ($60 US)
      Secretary will arrange for cheques from the Treasurer within the week.
    2. The OWL summer edition and future editions
      • Murad Velshi volunteered to desk top publish the Summer edition of the OWL using the items held by Joseph Pacitti on a CD Disk. The draft copy may include NEW items of recent interest. To be reviewed by available members of the Board prior to printing.
      • Jim Walker to inform Patricia Welsh of this decision and request that the OWL template be sent to Murad so the previous format can be continued.
      • This is an interim measure for the summer edition only.
    3. Main Focus for SERRA in 2004
      • Membership, Communications, and Public Relations The Board was unanimous that a Summer 2004 edition of the OWL would be a major contribution to these three important issues.
      • Noted that the Town Crier staff has not returned phone calls from SERRA representatives. Dan Scott/Josh Cobden to provide information on the SERRA web-site to Ken Shular & staff at the Town Crier. This will be a valuable communication tool for ALL local readers with an interest in South Eglinton and future membership in SERRA. Also an opportunity for readers at large to provide input through the web forums.
      • Membership will be a major item for discussion on the Fall Agenda.
    4. Reports from the June meetings of other Member Associations
      1. CORRA
        • Wednesday June 9 - attended by Harold Pidduck. Note: Attendance at CORRA meetings is always low.
          • Guest speaker Michel Labiele presented information for a programe on "Affordable Housing in the GTA". Copies provided. (thanks Harold)
          • Discussion on the upcoming Appeal against the Official Plan for Toronto Bill Robertson (lawyer for CORRA) and George Belza (Willowdale) the team to handle this item; a lengthy process.
          • Letter of Intent(?) sent to the North Toronto Collegiate, and Toronto District School Board by Sherwood Park Residents' Association (Peter Baker) regarding various proposals for developing the site.
          • Some discussion of the FoNTRA proposals for the reform of the OMB. See New Business item 3.1
      2. FoNTRA Tuesday June 8, attended by Margaret Walker. (for Josh Cobden). Info to follow when I do the Minutes for the FoNTRA meeting. Some coverage under New Business
    5. Public Hearing at the Toronto South Community Council on June 6
      • Attended by Margaret Walker.
        • 630-650 Mt. Pleasant - 7-storey Condominium Development with a reduction in the number of suites to the original site application.
        • 36 Whitewood Rd - the Bethel Baptist Church. Senior's Life Lease Housing Complex of 21 Units with a new Church Sanctuary (1400 sq.ft).
      • Deputations were heard both for and against these two Applications. Councillor Michael Walker spoke in favour of both developments.
      • The Community Council South gave approval to both applications.
    6. Re-naming Davisville Park
      • Toronto City Council approved the NEW name "June Rowlands Park"
        • .
    7. Update from Board Members with various "Portfolio" responsibilities
      • No discussion - Chair noted that this is covered by Item 2.d
    8. Drafting a SERRA Policy and Procedure for Planning and Development Issues
      • On hold for the September meeting. Board members and interested parties are asked to provide suggestions and input to this forum thread (no longer a valid forum link).
  3. New Business
    1. Reforming the OMB
      • FoNTRA prepared a position paper outlining several proposals for reform to the OMB and presented it to John Gerretsen MPP, Minister for Municipal Affairs.and Housing, at a Public Forum on June (?). These proposals are summarised on a template letter for members of FoNTRA to use in correspondence with Michael Bryant MPP (Attorney General for Ontario) to register individual concerns about the OMB.
      • The Minister attended a total of four Community Meetings in June, each chaired by the local Councillor. Local feelings about the OMB were voiced very strongly to Minister Gerretsen at ALL meetings. Three Planning Reform Publications prepared by the Ontario Provincial Government were presented and discussed at these meetings. Copies available.
        • Planning Act Reform and Implementation Tools
        • Provincial Policy Statement regarding Draft Policies
        • OMB Reform
      • Harold and Margaret each attended one meeting. Copies given to the Board. Councillor Michael Walker is critical of the Ontario Government's position indicated in these publications.
      • Comments on the government proposals must be sent before August 31.
    2. Plan to Expand Greenwood College at Mt. Pleasant and Balliol Street. (Brad Buss, south eglinton resident owner at 476 Balliol St)
      • Brad Buss listed personal concerns (and those of residents) about plans to expand the Greenwood College building to improve physical faciliities/amenities and increase enrollment to 300+ students. No definite plans have been disclosed to residents with homes near to this corner site.
      • The planned expansion of Greenwood College is an "Of Right Development" i.e. does not contravene any Zoning By-laws.
      • No "Site-Plan Application" has been made because the Architect's Plan is still fluid, therefore few residents in south eglinton are aware of the intention to expand Greenwood College.
      • The Board noted the concerns of residents who may risk seeing their property values decrease and agreed to monitor this situation closely.
      • Memo: The Secretary will call Councillor Walker's Office weekly for an update on ALL Applications (New and Old) pertaining to Development of Properties.
      • Toronto City Council - Policy and Finance Committee Meeting June 14. (To Review the Development Charge By-law which expires on July 31)
      • The FoNTRA group prepared a template letter for use by member associations to register a protest against the proposal by the Chief Finance Officer to reduce Development Charges in the GTA for specific properties when the current By-law expires.
      • Letters from member associations in FoNTRA, personal deputations by residents groups and the Coalition for Community Change, spoke against the proposal. Some developers and retail businesses were strongly in favour.
      • Note - Development Charges are a major source of revenue to the GTA , used for maintaining or improving the infrastructure.and transportation services. More funds are essential NOT less. Following discussions on the proposal to limit, reduce or freeze Development Charges through-out the GTA, Council Members sitting on the P and F Committee voted against the proposal. Later, the Full City Council voted to increase Development Charges substantially but with specific exemptions.
    3. Toronto's New Official Plan
      • Re: Comprehensive Settlement of Ratepayer Appeals. Hearing date given Letter/Deputations needed.
      • HELP ME HERE FOLKS
    4. CORRA requested a $40 donation towards cost of Fliers for the All Candidates Meeting at UCC on Wednesday June 16, 2004
      • Request refused due to lack of discretionary funds
    5. Minto Construction Staging committee
      • The Minto Corporation requested TWO representatives from SERRA and from OPA for a committee to oversee the "Development of a Construction Staging Area" during the construction of the first Minto Tower on Yonge Street, south of Eglinton.
      • Jim Walker and Margaret Walker will represent SERRA
    6. OMB Hearing (July 26 & 29). 468 Avenue Rd.Condo Development
      • Third time visit to the OMB for the developers who plan to build a tower of condos at the SW corner of Avenue Rd and St. Clair Ave West.
      • The Site Plan, rejected twice by the OMB, has not changed appreciably.
      • The City will again oppose the Plan and ask for costs, if judgment is given against the developer for a third time.
    7. Urban Planning Study for the Yonge-Eglinton Area
      • Presented by Senior Planning Staff for the City at an Open House on Tuesday June 22, 2004. This has been a successful collaborative effort, working with the Focus Review Group for the Yonge / Eglinton Area.
      • This meeting was attended by Councillors, Walker, Jenkins and Stintz, Senior Planning Staff, TTC Representatives, members of FoNTRA and many local residents. Excellent Q and A session followed.
  4. Other business brought to the meeting
    • None introduced.
  5. Date of the next Board Meeting
    • Wednesday September 15, 2004 at Manor Road United Church. 7:00 pm in the Friendship Room.
    • Items for the September Agenda send to ????? The secretary will not be available for this Meeting.