Tag Archives: LondonON

January News

MORE ON THE SHERWOOD FOREST SCHOOL SITE

A small group of residents continues to meet to discuss the various options for the site as shared with the community at the neighbourhood meeting in November. If you would like to participate, please contact Sandy. The May Annual General Meeting is the target date for a full update to the community.

ORCHARD PARK PUBLIC SCHOOL BOUNDARY REVIEW

The school board`s senior administration has recommended to the Board that the school boundaries, effective September 2013, expand to incorporate the current Sherwood Forest P.S. attendance area. No additional new areas were proposed in the staff recommendation. There will be a debate on the question at the Board`s meeting on February 7 starting around 7:15 pm. The meeting agenda is posted the day before the meeting at: http://www.tvdsb.ca/board.cfm?subpage=113288 which will give you a better idea of when in the meeting the boundary review will be discussed.

If you can’t make the meeting, you can watch live on-line at:
http://www.tvdsb.ca/welcome.cfm?subpage=113155

BRESCIA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LAND USE AND ZONING CHANGE

Brescia has expressed some interest in revising its application for a land use and zoning change to its property on the west side of Brescia Lane. The nearby residents have met and subject to clarification and confirmation of a few details, there will be an amended application filed at city hall. Stay tuned for details.

SARNIA ROAD WIDENING

This project remains in the city’s long term capital budget. However, land acquisition will not take place before 2019, and construction work is not slated to begin until 2021. The city may complete the Environmental Assessment this year, which will provide guidance for the future construction work.

January 2012 Update

Happy New Year!

ORCHARD PARK P.S. BOUNDARY REVIEW

The deadline for submitting your request to speak form at the January 24th school board meeting regarding the Orchard Park P.S boundary review is Wed, January 11th. The form and the timeline for the Board’s decision are available here.

One of the important issues regarding the possible change to include students from Eagle Heights P.S. has been whether or not there will be portables at Orchard Park P.S. There have been two different answers from the Board on this question. These are shown below:

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Boundary Review Parent Community Input Form

The Boundary Review Parent Community Input Form for Orchard Park, Sherwood Forest, Clara Brenton and Eagle Heights is now available. The information is going home with students from Orchard Park and from Sherwood Forest today (Thursday, December 15). Responses are due back to the school on Monday, December 19th. However, the Board’s process is that only parents of students in the school are to submit forms. The rest of us are to have our say at the Board meeting the evening of January 10th at the Board offices, 1250 Dundas Street.

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Minutes from Nov 24 Ratepayers Meeting

Minutes from the Orchard Park/Sherwood Forest Ratepayers’ meeting on Nov 24, 2011, are now available here.

October Updates

Lots of news ….

Medway Valley

The city will start the new Conservation Master Plan for the Valley next year with a 2013 completion date. There will be wide public involvement. Until the study is completed, there will be no new trails or pathways created nor a bridge over the Creek.

Sherwood Forest School Site

Some residents have started to meet to discuss creative ways to retain at least some green space for parkland after the school closes. You are invited to participate. The next meeting is Thursday, Oct 27 at 7 pm at 58 Doncaster Place.

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Brescia is applying for a land use change and rezoning

Brescia is applying for a land use change and rezoning of the south side of Ramsay Road for parking! The application includes all of Brescia’s land on the west side of Brescia Lane from Ramsay Road to Sarnia Road, although it appears at this time that only the treed area between Ramsay and Brescia’s maintenance building is proposed to be paved and lighted for parking.

The process is that the planner will gather comments and write a report to City Council`s Built and Natural Environment Committee. A date for the public meeting where the application will be considered will be advertised in the Living in London section of the Free Press and the City’s web site.

Concerns and questions should be addressed by September 30th to the city planner, Michael Tomazincic, whose contact information appears below.

1285 Western Road (southwest portion) on the lands immediately to the west of Brescia Lane, south of Ramsay Road. The purpose and effect of the Official Plan and Zoning By-law amendments is to permit the relocation of the existing parking lot, currently located on the north side of Ramsay Road, to the subject site and to recognize the existing Physical Plant, Administration Offices, and ESL School Administration Offices as conforming land uses. Possible amendment to the Official Plan by amending Schedule A – Land Use – FROM Low Density Residential TO Regional Facility. Possible amendment to the Zoning By-law Z.-1 FROM a Residential R1 (R1-10) Zone which permits one Single Detached dwelling TO a Regional Facility (RF) Zone which permits: Adult secondary schools; Churches; Commercial parking structures and/or lots; Commercial schools; Community colleges; Day care centres; Elementary schools; Emergency care establishments; Group Home Type 2; Hospitals; Institutional uses; Libraries; Nursing homes; Private schools; Recreational buildings; Secondary schools; Stadia; Supervised residences; and, Ancillary residential and/or hostels and accommodations, together with permitted uses in this zone.
File: OZ-7955 Planner: Michael Tomazincic, mtomazin@london.ca, 519-661-2500 ext 4693

Please note: Comments and opinions submitted on these matters, including the originator’s name and address, become part of the public record, may be viewed by the general public and may be published in a Planning Report and Council Agenda. If a person or public body does not make oral submissions at a public meeting or make written submissions to the City of London before the application is adopted or approved, the person or public body is not entitled to appeal the decision of the Municipal Council or the Approval Authority of the City of London to the Ontario Municipal Board. If a person or public body does not make oral submissions at a public meeting or make written submissions to the City of London before the proposed amendment is adopted or approved, the person or public body may not be added as a party to the hearing of an appeal before the Ontario Municipal Board unless, in the opinion of the Board, there are reasonable grounds to add the person or public body as a party.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
If you wish to view additional information or material relating to these applications, the files are available to the public at the Planning Division, 206 Dundas Street, Monday to Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm. Key maps for the lands described in these applications are not provided as they are available for review at the offices noted above.
*Please ensure you reference the File Number or address in all communications.

ARC – Update on School Board Meeting

The meeting at the Board of Education on May 24th went well. Those who presented did a great job of letting the trustees know the importance of the schools to our neighbourhood. People spoke strongly about the importance of the green space and making sure Orchard Park P.S. is ready for new students, particularly in getting a better gym. Thanks to everyone who spoke at the meeting and to those who attended.

The Trustees asked a number of questions and the Board Administration was tasked with providing some answers prior to the Board’s June 28th meeting when the Trustees are scheduled to vote on this matter.

At this point, it is anticipated that the Administration will continue to recommend Sherwood Forest P.S. be closed and the site declared surplus. It is up to the Trustees though and hopefully, letters to them and being in the gallery on the 28th will have an impact.

If you have any additional questions please feel free to contact Sandy Levin s.levin@sympatico.ca

March Newsletter

The March newsletter is now available. Click here for the newsletter. Highlights include:

Update on the future of schools in Orchard Park / Sherwood Forest.
It is apparent that the administration will NOT support retaining the property and building if a school is closed. It is important to let our trustees know your thoughts on protecting the school sites. They can be reached at:

Peter Jaffe
519-452-2000 ext. 22406
Fax: 519-452-2269
e-mail p.jaffe@tvdsb.on.ca

Peggy Sattler
519-452-2000 ext. 22410
Fax: 519-452-2978
e-mail p.sattler@tvdsb.on.ca

ARC timeline

  • by April 01 the Final ARC Report to Director will be Posted (within 15 days of March 9th )
  • April 12 ARC Report presented to Board at its regular meeting by ARC Chair (Trustee Bennett)
  • April 26 Administrative Response to ARC Report presented to Board at its regular meeting
  • June 14 Public input to Board at its regular meeting
  • June 28 Decision by Board at its regular meeting (no public input permitted)

You are encouraged to attend the June 14th Board meeting and to have your say. Your ratepayers executive will also try to meet with Trustee Bennett and our trustees to gain their support for the ARC recommendation when it comes to a vote on June 28th.

The draft report can be found at http://www.tvdsb.ca/files/filesystem/SHERWOOD_DraftReport_2011January27.pdf
The final report will be substantively the same.

UWO planning a new residence on the Althouse College parking lot
Western is planning on building a new 1000-bed residence where the parking lot between Althouse College and Sarnia Road is currently located. The University is prepared to hold a meeting to introduce the community to the proposal. This will take place around April 10th.

Update from March 5 Neighborhood Social

Thanks to everyone who came out, and a special thanks to those of you who paid your dues that day.

Update on Medway Valley bridge

The bridge over the Medway project has been put off until 2013 at the earliest. Instead, the city will update the Master Plan for the Valley starting this year and concluding the studies in 2012. There will be community involvement so stay tuned for more information.

Community Tree Planting – May 7
The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority is planning a community tree planting day for May 7th. Additional information will be forthcoming.

Update on Sarnia Road widening
The proposed widening of Sarnia Road from Wonderland to Sleightholme has been moved from 2012 to 2019 in the city’s budget. Projects such as these are not approved until they are included in the current year’s budget debate, so 2019 is only a tentative date that can be moved forward or backwards. More information will be known when the city tables its 2012 budget for public review this fall.

ARC Report

The Draft ARC report has been posted by the Board. It can be found here or at:

http://www.tvdsb.ca/files/filesystem/SHERWOOD_DraftReport_2011January27.pdf

The recommendations are found below.

As per Board policy, there is an opportunity for public input to the ARC on its draft report. This meeting will take place on:

March 9, 2011
7:00 PM
University Heights P.S.
27 Ford Crescent

Requests to make a submission to the ARC in response to the Draft Report are to be received by the Assistant to the ARC by February 25th. Please fax the completed form to: 519-452-2485. The form is can be found at:

http://www.tvdsb.ca/files/89379/ARC%20Public%20Consultation%20Form.pdf

The rest of the ARC timeline is as follows:

  • by April 06 ARC Report to Director / Posted (within 15 days of March 9th )
  • April 12 ARC Report presented to Board at its regular meeting by ARC Chair
  • April 26 Administrative Response to ARC Report presented to Board at its regular meeting
  • June 14 Public input to Board at its regular meeting
  • June 28 Decision by Board at its regular meeting (no public input permitted)

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact any member of the ARC. Their names and contact information are listed at:

http://www.tvdsb.ca/board.cfm?subpage=102822

The ARC Committee recommends:

THAT

1. The Board recognize that University Heights is a community and in the best interest of the students and the community that University Heights Public School be JK-8.

2. The Board merge the student populations of Sherwood Forest and Orchard Park Public Schools.

3. In the best interest of the students and community, all three schools remain open as educational facilities and the Board take steps to bolster enrolment. Options should include, but not be limited to, French Immersion, boundary adjustments, holding zones, Adult Education, ESL, full day kindergarten, daycare and special education programs.

4. None of the three properties be declared surplus or disposed of.

5. The Board meet and consult with the City of London and the residents of the affected area, in the context of The City of London’s “Strengthening Neighbourhoods” Strategy, to consider the current and future needs of the community and potential uses of the properties.

All Candidates Meeting – Oct 6

It’s an election year for city council and school boards. The Ratepayers are hosting an all candidates meeting for the ward councilor and school board trustee positions.

All Candidates’ Meeting
October 6, 2010
7:00 pm
Sherwood Forest Public School’s gym