Category: ESA

December News

Many items in the news —

COMMUNITY MEETING

A Community meeting will be held in late January to update you on the Sherwood Forest School Site and the Medway Valley Environmentally Significant Area Conservation Master Plan. Look for an e-mail and flyer in your mailbox early in January

SHERWOOD FOREST SCHOOL SITE UPDATE

The Executive and School Site Committee have continued working to see if there is a way to retain at least some park land at the Sherwood Forest School site. The deadline for the public bodies, including the City and the other school boards, to make an offer to the Thames Valley District School Board is December 22. If no offers are received, the TVDSB then has a process to solicit sealed bids for the site. This will occur early in the new year. Any new purchaser at that point would have to apply to the City for a rezoning to the property. However, there would be no requirement for them to retain any green space. There would be a public process for any change in land use. Stay tuned.

ADOPT an ESA (Environmentally Significant Area)

The city has asked for community groups like ours to sponsor an ESA. Naturally for us this would mean the Medway Valley Heritage Forest. The projects suggested would include buckthorn busting, litter clear up (thankfully not a big problem in our area), tree planting (which we have done successfully). The action item is if there is someone in the area who is willing to lead, particularly in ensuring we meet the requirements of the program. Have a look at the program guide.

After you have had a chance to look it over, please let Sandy know if you are interested in taking on the lead in organizing events and reporting back to the city or in helping to form a working group to take this on. The plan is to discuss this program at the upcoming January meeting.

DO YOU HAVE A COPY OF “ORCHARD PARK THROUGH THE AGES”?

“Orchard Park Through the Ages” was a publication prepared by Orchard Park Public School as a 25th anniversary project about 25 years ago. Dyanne Wheatley is looking for a copy. If you can help her, write her at (dywheatley1787@rogers.com)

RENTAL LICENSING – an easy way to look up if a house is licensed to have renters

Recently a rental look up became available through the City’s website. It actually includes more than rental information. Click here for the site, but if it does not work just go to the City’s website and key in rental units, then click on PROPERTY INQUIRY SYSTEM and go from there.

MEDWAY SENIORS’ EVENT

WHEN: Wednesday, December 11th from 2 to 3 p.m.
WHERE: Sherwood Library
WHAT: “Christmas Social and Celebration of Holiday Traditions”

Please join us to share. We plan to share some readings, holiday trivia, music and good cheer.

This event is free with no registration required. Bring a friend! For more information, call 519-473-9965.

GRANNY SUITES / SECONDARY DWELLING UNITS

The Planning Act, through changes made by Bill 140 Strong Communities through Affordable Housing Act, 2011, requires municipalities to update their Official Plan policies and regulations related to secondary dwelling units.

The City of London Official Plan currently provides for secondary dwelling units within single and semi-detached dwellings subject to conditions. Now with changes made by Strong Communities through Affordable Housing Act, 2011, the Official Plan must include polices for secondary dwelling units as-of-right within townhouse and accessory structures in addition to single and semi-detached dwellings.

City Staff proposed our area as one of the Great Near Campus Neighbourhoods, be excluded as it is contrary to the effort to halt the proliferation of rental properties. This is because there is no easy way to police if a granny suite is for a family member or just a rental unit. However, Council referred this matter back to staff for further consultation. Sandy has been in touch with the city’s planning staff to arrange a meeting for the Executive prior to staff reporting back to City Council.

You can find the staff report as item #14 at this link:
http://sire.london.ca/mtgviewer.aspx?meetid=591&doctype=AGENDA

SARNIA ROAD WIDENING

In the recently tabled City 10-year capital plan, city staff are now estimating budget approval for this project in 2020.

Medway Valley ESA 2013 – Conservation Master Plan Phase I

The City has hired Dillon Consulting Ltd. to complete a life science inventory and evaluation of the Medway Valley Heritage Forest ESA (MVHF ESA). The study is focused on the lands south of Fanshawe Park Road as part of Phase 1 of the Conservation Master Plan (CMP) process.

The City will be hosting a Community Information Meeting about the MVHF ESA CMP project later this summer and will invite the community, Ward Councillors and local associations to attend this meeting once there is a firm date. They will also publish the Community Information Meeting notice under a separate header in the Londoner; “Community Information Meetings”.

For more information, see Medway Valley Heritage Forest ESA 2013 CMP Community Update Memo June-1.

Medway Creek Subwatershed Study Update

On Thursday, March 7, the city and its consultant presented its work to date on the city’s Climate Change Adaptation Strategy for the Medway Creek. This review includes the entire portion of the Medway that is in the City of London, and involves all the communities that border the Medway.

The presentation and information panelsfrom Thursday’s meeting are now available.

Also available is a public comment form. Comments and information regarding this study are being collected to assist the study team.

ESA Observation

The City of London, in partnership with the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority, manages seven different environmentally significant areas (ESAs) in the City, including the Medway Valley. This observation form is provided so that members of the public may record observations arising from time spent in ESAs. The City of London will review the information received and take steps to incorporate your suggestions into our ESA Management efforts, subject to existing policies, approved conservation master plans, budget and environmental considerations. Please respect the natural environment during your visit, beaware of permitted and prohibited activities defined on the signs at the trailhead and stay on the managed trail system.

Please submit comment forms to the City of London Planning, Environmental and Engineering Services Department. Forms can be dropped off in person, or mailed.

Medway North Trailing Planning

The City of London is currently reviewing pathway and trail opportunities though the Medway Valley Heritage Forest as part of a City-wide project to document best practices for the planning and design of trails in Environmentally Significant Areas.

The time line for this project is as follows

  • November 7, 2012 – Public meeting to present trail options evaluation process and selection of the most preferred options.
  • December 7, 2012 – The Public is invited to provide comment until this date. See below for contact information.
  • December –January 2013 – preparation of the draft Trail Master Plan by city staff
  • January 17 2013 – City to post the draft Trail Master Plan on the city’s website
  • March/April 2013 – Final Trail Master Plan presented at a public participation meeting at the Planning and Environment Committee

Continue reading “Medway North Trailing Planning” →