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.

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.

Report from the Sherwood Forest School Site Group

Report of Sherwood Forest School Site Group, January 2013

Update of work to date

None of the public bodies are willing to buy the property. We have approached the city, UWO (via the Centre for Activity in Aging), and the French Public Board without success. There also was no funding support from the Province or the city for a Sustainable Energy Centre.

The Thames Valley Board has told us that it will follow the process outlined in Regulation 444/98 for disposing of the Sherwood Forest P.S. property. This means that the private schools interested in the property will either have to bid for the site when it becomes available or convince the city or one of the public bodies to buy it for them.

Continue reading “Report from the Sherwood Forest School Site Group” →

City budget alert – replanting for ash trees cut in Orchard Park/Sherwood Forest‏

One of the proposed cuts in the 2013 city budget is the elimination of the city’s Emerald Ash Borer program.

http://london.ca/Budget/pdf/33_Capital_-_Elimination_of_Emeral_Ash_Borer_Strategy_Funding.pdf

A number of street ash trees were removed in Fall 2012 in Orchard Park – Sherwood Forest. City staff were asked if the proposed budget elimination would curtail plans to replant the trees that have been cut. The simple answer was – YES.

If you are concerned about this, you may want to write or call (519-661-2500) the Mayor (jfontana@london.ca) and Councillor Branscombe (nbransco@london.ca) to express your point of view. Council begins its debate of the proposed budget on January 24th.

Town Hall meetings in January – London North Community Association

>The London North Community Association will be hosting two Town Hall meetings:

January 15, 2013
7:00-8:30 pm
North London Optimist Community Center, Room 2
1345 Cheapside Street

January 19, 2013
10:00-11:30 am
King’s College, Labatt Hall, Room 105

Please save the dates and plan to attend one or both meetings (the content is the same for both meetings).

Meeting Objectives
– Present Goodmans LLP review of Mr. Justice Howden’s decision and how it may apply to the City of London regarding the maximum number of tenants  that can reside in a R-1 zoned house.
– Provide an overview from the December 10th, 2012 meeting with the City of London Planning Department regarding Howden.
– Present the LNCA website and determine the next steps.