April updates

MEDWAY VALLEY HERITAGE FOREST

There will be a public information session in mid June on the work to date on the Conservation Master Plan update for the Valley.   This session will invite residents on both sides of the Valley.  It will also lead to trail planning for the Valley as well as whether or not a Creek crossing and more pavement will be put into this Environmentally Significant Area.  There will be pressure from the neighbourhood association on the east side of the Valley as it supported the paving of the Valley south of Sunningdale Road as well.  

260 SARNIA ROAD

The owner of this property, a single family house currently used as a duplex, asked the City to re-zone the site to permit a 4-plex.   The city rejected the re-zoning, and the owner appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) which took place this past week.  Sandy Levin spoke at the hearing on behalf of the Ratepayers, regarding spot re-zoning and precedence (which were raised in the hearing as well).  The homeowner immediately to the south also spoke.  The decision will be available in about 4-6 weeks (it is a written decision with reasons).

What was very interesting to learn was that zoning to permit a 4-plex is permissible within the Low Density Residential (LDR) designation in the city’s Official Plan (our area is designated LDR).  Although the City’s Great Near Campus Neighbourhoods (GNCN) policy directs such development to arterial roads, it is conceivable that a new owner of the Sherwood Forest site could apply for up to 4-plex zoning.  Other permitted uses in the LDR include duplexes as well as stacked townhouses.  The number of bedrooms in each unit would be limited to 3 under GNCN, but GNCN has been appealed to the OMB as well.  (This hearing starts on June 10th at 11:30 am at City Hall).  The limit on the number of bedrooms is one of the aspects of the GNCN that is being challenged.

 SARNIA ROAD WIDENING

 Sarnia Road west of Wonderland will be widened to 4 lanes this year.  Widening the section of road east of Wonderland to Sleightholme is still in the city’s capital plan, but not imminent (2022).   The city’s capital plan is reviewed annually.  A report from city staff to city council’s Civic Works Committee regarding the project is available.  The Environmental Assessment which is required for any work to be completed shows the alignment of the widened roadway.  This document will also will be available for viewing at the Sherwood Forest branch of the library.  A request for a Part 2 order asking the Province to consider an individual environmental assessment can be made within 30 days of the filling.

RETHINK LONDON

This City process for developing its new land use plan continues.  There will be discussion papers posted this week for review and comment.  You are encouraged to take part as this exercise will lead to how the city grows and how existing neighbourhoods like ours are impacted.  Go to www.rethinklondon.ca for more information.

London Clean and Green

London Clean and Green  will be held on Saturday, April 20.  Londoners will work together to help “clean & green” our city’s neighbourhoods and parks and the Thames River.  If you are interested in participating,  you can find a list of gathering places and register at:
http://www.cleangreen.london.ca/clean_green_registration_info.html

Spring plant exchange at the Sherwood library

Calling all gardeners! Bring in your extra cuttings, bulbs and plants to exchange with other gardeners.

The Sherwood branch will host a plant exchange on Saturday, 11 May 2013 from 9:30 am-11:30 am.

Please label plants and bring in leak proof containers.

Sarnia Road Environmental Assessment

City staff will be presenting their report to the Civic Works Committee on April 22 at 4:30 at City Hall in the Council Chambers.  This is a public participation meeting so anyone can attend to speak.  However, the City is asking for written submissions and requests for delegation status to be sent in by 9 am on April 15th to the attention of Jackie Martin, the committee secretary.  Her address is jmartin@london.ca

The report will be posted on the City’s web site, likely by April 18th or 19th.  See http://london.ca/d.aspx?s=/Meetings/Default/meetingpackages.htm

If approved by Committee and Council, the EA is posted on the public record for 30 days for comments to the Province.  The actual construction is not scheduled to take place prior to 2022 in the City’s current capital budget.

Medway Valley trails

The Planning Committee of London City Council voted to pave the rest of the trail in the Medway Valley north of Fanshawe Road except for a boardwalk in the section around the bend in the Creek.  This is shown on Option 4A of Page 40 of the Medway Valley Heritage Forest North Environmentally Significant Area Trail Master Planning Study (this is a large document) (with a boardwalk instead of asphalt around the bend).  This recommendation goes to the full Council on April 16th.

This decision will likely have implications for the area of the Medway which borders Orchard Park/Sherwood Forest during the upcoming Conservation Master Plan.

The neighbourhood association on the east side of the Creek, Old Masonville, spoke in favour of the more pavement option.  Sandy Levin, from the Orchard Park Sherwood Forest Ratepayers,  spoke in favour of 5B (a less pavement option, page 44 of the attached).   Both options included an additional bridge over the Medway just south of Sunningdale Road.