Category: Sherwood Forest School

October News

Sherwood Forest School Site Update

The Thames Valley District School Board is moving ahead with the provincially mandated 90 day period of asking other public bodies (the other school boards, the city, the University, etc) if they are interested in buying the site. The city has told us it will not be buying the site for parkland or community use, and cannot (under the Municipal Act) buy it for a private use, be it a school, church or business. If none of the public bodies step up, the TVDSB begins a sealed bid process. Whether or not the TVDSB will vary the process is up to the Trustees.

If the site is sold to a private interest, any change in use of the site from a publicly funded school will require a rezoning. As this is a public process, residents within a 120 m of the site will be notified by mail, a sign will be posted on the site and the Ratepayer’s Association notified. It is only then will we have some idea of what will happen to the site.

Sarnia Road Widening

The city’s preliminary 20 year transportation plan now calls for the widening of Sarnia from Wonderland to Sleightholme to start in 2016. Keep in mind, this is preliminary and not yet part of the city’s capital budget. More information will be forthcoming once the city budget is tabled later in the year.

Medway Seniors Series for October

WHEN: Wednesday, October 9th from 2 to 3 p.m.
WHERE: Sherwood Library
WHAT: “Lets Talk About Books”

Please join us for this interesting and informative session. This event is free with no registration required. Bring a friend!
For more information, call 519-473-9965.
REMINDERS

Catch Basins Clear?

With fall, comes the fall of leaves. They can block catch basins and in storm, water can back up into the streets or garages. If you have a catch basin near your home, please try to keep it clear.

Keep the Medway Valley Heritage Forest Special?

This time of year, the Valley really shows off. When you are out enjoying the display of colour, please remember to stay on the trails. Dogs and people off trail can cause disturbances to the plants and animals that make their homes in the Valley. Please also remember that bike riding is only permitted in the loop between the Longbow and Doncaster Gate entrances.

August newsletter

University Matters
The new student residence (Ontario Hall) on Sarnia Road is open. Some questions and concerns have been raised about lighting and jaywalking already. Please report any difficulties to the following:

  • Traffic flows/design: City Transportation Planning, Maged Elmadhoon, M.Eng., P.Eng., Manager, Transportation Planning, City of London, 519-661-2500 x 4934, melmadho@london.ca or Mark Ridley, Senior Technologist, x 4736, mridley@london.ca
  • Street lighting: Shane Maguire, Division Manager of Roadway Lighting & Traffic Control, 519-661-2500 x 8488, SMaguire@london.ca (Shane advises that there are no plans to upgrade the lighting on Sarnia Road at this time but he’ll keep it in mind for future work.) For calls about street light or traffic light outages, call 519 661-2641
  • Jaywalking/speeding: London Police Services, 519-661-5670
  • Jaywalking: Glenn Matthews, Housing Mediation Officer, Western University, glenn@housing.uwo.ca or 519-661-3787. Glenn is also the contact if you are having trouble with tenants who are renting a house in your area.

Brescia’s new residence and dining facility has its opening ceremony during the morning of September 6th. Brescia reminds everyone in the neighbourhood that its new Dining Pavilion is being designed with a view to inviting the community in, and to providing spaces to gather and connect, whether that be over a coffee or lunch.

Rental Housing
If you do see any new “for rent” signs spring up, please let Sandy Levin know and he can send the information along to the city to determine if the rental property has been licensed.

Sherwood Forest School Site
The school board will declare the site surplus on September 10th. It will then be made available to public bodies listed in Regulation 444/98. Each body will have 90 days to submit an offer. If no offers are received, the school board is free to sell it to anyone.

The following passed 10-4 at City Council this week. Opposed were Councillors Polhill, Swan, Armstrong, and Henderson. Councillor M. Brown had a conflict of interest because he works for the School Board and will not be voting on this matter.

Recommendation: That the Civic Administration BE DIRECTED to review and report back to the Corporate Services Cte on Sept 24, 2013, on the following matters related to the surplus school property known as Sherwood Forest Public School
a) the potential acquisition of the subject property, on the basis that:
i) there is a municipal need for community green space for the adjacent neighbourhood; and
ii) the City of London’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan and Strengthening Neighbourhoods identifies a need for amenities in the neighbourhood; and
b) the potential severance and disposition of any portion of the subject property that might be declared surplus to the City of London’s needs and disposed of in accordance with the City of London’s Sale and Other Disposition of Land Policy, should Council decide to proceed with the acquisition of the subject property.

In short, the city will not be buying the site and then reselling it for a community use, but Council has asked for more information on severing the site and possibly retaining some park space. No dollar amount has been determined, nor is there money in the city budget for 2014 for this at this point. Councillor Branscombe shared with us that they did have some discussions with school board staff and it appears that the school board disposal process (after the public bodies have passed on the site) is a guide and not a mandated process by the Province. How the school board will proceed with interested parties will be up to the Trustees.

Traffic on Lawson Road
A speed and volume study was completed in June and here are the results:

  • Eastbound- 800 vehicles per day, average speed 45 km/hr., 85th percentile 54 km/hr.
  • Westbound- 700 vehicles per day, average speed 38 km/hr., 85th percentile 57 km/hr.

These results indicate Lawson is functioning as a normal secondary collector. Under the new policy this street would not qualify for traffic calming; front line mitigating measures would be used to address neighbourhood traffic concerns. The methods would include tools such as driver feedback boards (PEEP installed on street earlier this year), targeted police enforcement (specific neighbours who drive fast through the area), sign installation and pavement marking modifications.

School Trustee Appointment
Thames Valley District School Board trustees will be accepting applications to fill the trustee vacancy on the Board following the recent election of Trustee Peggy Sattler as MPP for London West. Ms. Sattler was one of two trustees who represented our area of the city. Applicants will be asked to complete an application form accompanied by a resume and proof of qualification. Interested candidates may obtain an application on the Board’s website at http://www.tvdsb.on.ca or in hard copy at the Thames Valley District School Board offices, 1250 Dundas Street.

Applications will be accepted by the Chairperson of the Board as indicated on the application up until 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 6, 2013. Following an interview process, a recommendation for appointment will be taken to the Board for approval. The successful applicant will complete the Boards’ current four-year term that expires on November 30, 2014. For More Information:
Joyce Bennett, Chair Thames Valley District School Board 1250 Dundas Street E. London N6A 5L1 519-452-2000 ext. 20219 j.bennett@tvdsb.on.ca

Councillor Compensation Survey
A Citizen Task Force is working on a recommendation to city council on the compensation for the Mayor and Council members beginning with the Council elected in the fall of next year. The Task Force has developed a survey that will shortly appear on the city’s web site (London.ca). You are encouraged to complete the survey. Hard copies will also be available at library branches.

From Neighbourhood Watch
Several phone calls have been reported where a recorded female voice says:

“Thanks for being a loyal Shoppers Drug Mart customer. You have won a free vacation from Shoppers Drug Mart. All you have to do is press number 1 on your phone to arrange to get it.”

Shoppers Drug Mart informed Police that they have received a number of complaints about these calls.
IMPORTANT:

  • Shoppers Drug Mart DOES NOT have a free vacation contest going on and this is indeed a scam.
  • If you do press 1 then you will be asked for your credit card information.
  • If you receive a call like this, Police suggest that you call Shoppers customer service to let them know, as it may assist them in an investigation.

TD Waterhouse Stadium Events
-Mon Sep 2 – Mustang Football vs Carleton 7pm
-Sat Sep 14 – Mustang Football vs Ottawa 1pm
-Sun Sep 15 – Beefeater Football 1pm
-Mon Sep 16 – United Way Football (1 game @ 9:30am)
-Tues Sep 17 – United Way Football (2 games @ 9:30am & 12pm)
-Wed Sep 18 – United Way Football (2 games @ 9:30am & 12pm)
-Fri Sep 20 – United Way Football (2 games @ 9:30am & 12pm)
-Tues Sep 24 – United Way Football (1 game @ 10:30am)
-Wed Sep 25 – United Way Football (1 game @ 10:30am)
-Thur Sep 26 – United Way Football (1 game @ 10:30am)
-Sat Sep 28 – Homecoming Football vs Queens 1pm
-Sat Sept 28 – Beefeater Football 8pm
– Sat Oct 19 – Mustang Football vs York 1pm
– Sat Oct 26, Nov 2, & 9 – Mustang Football Playoffs – tba 1pm
– Sat Nov 16 – Thames Valley High School Football 10am-10pm

Update on Sherwood Forest School Site

As has been reported in the community newsletters and the community web page, since the May AGM, a committee of residents has been trying to figure out a way for the school to remain a school.

At its meeting of September 10th, the School Board will declare the Sherwood Forest Public School surplus. This triggers a process under Provincial regulations. The Board must offer a surplus school site to a number of public bodies (including the city), before entering into a sealed bid process for disposal. We are determining if the city would step in and buy the property (as they did with the Normal School in Old South), and then sell to a private school that would maintain the access the community has enjoyed. It is not an easy process because the School Board has to sell it for at least fair market value (an appraised value by a professional appraiser), and should the city buy it, the city can’t sell it for less than fair market value. The city also has policies and procedures for disposing of property.

In short, there will be a report by city staff to a committee of city council in public session on August 20th reporting if it is possible under city policies to buy the land, then sell it under a request for proposal, for a community use. Then the committee will determine what it will recommend to the full City Council for its meeting on Aug 27th.

City staff already reported on the use of local improvement charges. The report is available here.

May update

ORCHARD PARK PUBLIC SCHOOL
The Thames Valley Board has voted to retain the name. You’ll recall that the Board has a process to review the name when one school closes in an area. Thanks to those of you who participated in the process.

SHERWOOD FOREST PUBLIC SCHOOL – CLOSING CEREMONY
On June 19th at 2:15 pm, there will be a closing ceremony for this school. It should be about an hour. An ad will appear in the Free Press and you are encouraged to let others know. Notice will also be posted on the school’s web site. RSVPs are appreciated so that enough chairs will be available. Call the school office at 452-8540 to let them know if you will be attending.

UPDATE ON NEW USE FOR SCHOOL SITE
The school site group is still waiting for an update from City Hall and school board staff as to how a possible change in ownership might work. Stay tuned as more information is expected in June.

BUCKTHORN BUSTING
Buckthorn is a non-native, invasive species that is spreading in London’s Environmentally Sensitive Areas. Come out to the Longbow entrance to the Medway Valley to bust some buckthorn on June 18th at 5 pm. The rain date is June 19th at the same time. The city web site http://www.london.ca will have a weather update on the 18th.

Coming in February

February 5th at city hall will have two matters of interest to Orchard Park/Sherwood Forest residents.

There will be a report from city staff on whether or not a local improvement levy is a way to finance a possible city acquisition of the Sherwood Forest School site.

The other matter will be on the Planning and Environment Committee agenda that day. It will deal with the possible use of a court ruling in Oshawa (called Howden) that could limit the number of homes turning into rental properties in London. It will be the first step in a city staff review of the matter. The London North Community Association has been leading this effort. LNCA received a legal opinion from a Toronto law firm that the Oshawa ruling does apply to London. They have also met with City staff to share the legal opinion.

LCNA held two town halls earlier in January to discuss this issue. Click here for the slides from those presentations.