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 Seniors Series for November

WHEN: Wednesday, November 13th from 2 to 3 p.m.
WHERE: Sherwood Library
WHAT: “Ask A Pharmacist”

Back by popular demand, this presentation is a follow up to a previous session that was well attended. The presenter is Grant Taylor, Pharmacist with Shoppers Drug Mart in the Sherwood Forest Mall.

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

Community Update

Project Learn Meeting – Student Housing

Please attend and be heard on Wednesday, November 13th from 7 to 10 PM at City Hall in Council Chambers, at a Public Meeting which is being held to solicit the views of various community members around the issues of policing and managing disruptive behaviours around the University and Fanshawe.

Over the last several years, a police program called Project Learn seems to be having positive impacts on improving the quality of harmony between short term and long term residents while managing problems on a more real-time basis

However, the recent police actions of going door to door and taking contact information has generated controversy. Hence, this upcoming meeting.

Please Keep those Catch Basins Clear

With the frost, many leaves have fallen and catch basins can get covered and blocked. With heavy rains, run off has nowhere to go causing flooding in the street or worse. Please take the time to keep the catch basins near your home clear.

Sherwood Forest School Grafitti

Residents have noticed graffiti popping up at the Sherwood Forest School site. The Thames Valley School Board has been notified and has taken quick action to remove it. If you see the graffiti return, please do two things. First notify the non emergency police number. They increase patrols in the area based on call volume. The number is 519-661-5670. The other thing you can do is let Sandy Levin know and he will notify the area supervisor for the school board who will take action to have it removed.

No Market This Thursday, Oct 31

The last mobile market of the year has been cancelled due to vehicle problems. Emily is very sorry she can’t make it. Your support this fall has been wonderful. She will let us know her future plans as soon as possible.

In case anyone wants to get in touch with Emily her email address is emily@ecoplaceorganicdelivery.com or website http://www.ecoplaceorganicdelivery.com

October Update

Mobile Organic market – Last Appearance of the Season

The mobile organic market will be at 113 Bloomfield Drive on Thursday, October 31, from 6:45 to 7:45 pm

Here’s what to expect:

“…I was planning next week to bring pomegranates and tea for some special items, and the onions, garlic, beetroot, carrots and potatoes in large baskets so that people may stock up for winter, if they wish.

Here’s a list of what I expect to have on Halloween:

-Pomegranates
-Pears
-Pumpkins
-Potatoes
-Onions
-Garlic
-Kale
-Spinach
-Mixed Squash
-Seasonal treats- maple butter, maple syrup, apple butter -Coffee, tea both local companies (organic)”

Invitation from the University

Please join us for the Grand Opening of Ontario Hall Residence
– Tuesday November 5, 2013
– 9:00 – 11:00 AM

Schedule
– 9:00 AM – Reception
– 9:30 AM – Speeches
– 10:00 AM – Guided Tours

Complimentary parking will be available in the Ontario Hall Parking Lot behind the building.

Please RSVP by October 31 to ontario.rsvp@uwo.ca

Medway Valley Conservation Master Plan

The presentation of the Phase 1 findings and the kick off to Phase 2 are to be presented at a community meeting later this year or early in the new year. We don’t have dates yet from the city staff in charge of this project, but will update you as soon as we do.

Downtown Master Plan

For those who were unable to attend the October 16th community engagement session regarding the draft Downtown Master Plan, an online survey has been created to gather further input. Click the link below in order to take part in the survey. Please note the survey response deadline is Friday November 1st, 2013. The Master Plan, if implemented, will cost many millions of tax supported dollars. Have your say.

You can find the SURVEY at:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DowntownMP

The purpose of this survey is to gauge public interest and receive comments on elements of the draft Downtown Master Plan. This Survey has been prepared in two parts to align with the format used at the public consultation event that took place on October 16th, 2013 at the London Convention Centre. In this way, this survey serves as the alternate means of consultation for those who were unable to attend the event. For more information regarding the 6 Actions and 10 Transformational Projects please review the draft Downtown Master Plan.

Please help us spread the word by forwarding the survey link to family, friends and co-workers.

**If you are in need of assistance please contact us via email at: planning@london.ca or call us at: 519-661-4980

Kindest Regards,

Sincerely,

Sean Galloway and Heather McNeely

Rethink London Team | http://www.rethinklondon.ca
Email: Rethink@London.ca | Twitter: @RethinkLdn | Facebook: ReThink London | Phone: 519-661-498