Tree Watering Alert

The City’s Manager of Urban Forestry would like to remind Londoners the tree watering alert remains in effect. Londoners should continue to water all trees until consecutive weeks of adequate rain occur – typically 25 mm per week.

The best way to water a new tree, or one planted within the past five years, is with a slow trickle from your garden hose for 30-60 minutes. Alternatively, you can drill small holes in a 20 litre (5 gallon) bucket. Fill the bucket and place it near the base of the tree and allow it to drain slowly.

When watering larger trees, use a garden hose, and water in a circle around the area that extends from the trunk base to the outermost branches to reach the full root system. Using a lawn sprinkler is a great way to reach the root system. Place a rain gauge within the watering area and stop when 25 mm of rain has collected. Alternatively, you can use a small empty tuna can, and stop watering when it’s filled halfway.

Town Hall Meeting regarding student rental housing in neighborhoods

Town Hall Meeting – Improving our neighborhoods and protecting the value of our homes

Organized by Don Bartlett and Paul Beechey

King’s University College – Labatt Hall
http://www.geography.uwo.ca/campusmaps/images/map/westernandaffiliates.pdf
SW corner of Waterloo St. & Epworth Ave.

Wednesday, July 18th, 2012
6:30 pm – Registration
7:00 – 8:30pm – Presentation & Discussion

Continue reading “Town Hall Meeting regarding student rental housing in neighborhoods” →

Great Near Campus Neighbourhoods (Student Housing)

Good news from the City Council meeting of this week. Council managed to pass the amendments to implement the recommendations in the Great Near Campus plan (i.e. to control the number of bedrooms in multi unit housing, parking, landscaped open space). Councillor Branscombe was also able to get the ball rolling on the possibility of limiting the number of rental licenses issued for areas where single family homes are being converted to rentals. City staff will report back to City Council on this. A limit on licenses will be helpful as it is expected that the GNCN amendments that were passed will be appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board by at least one builder of multi-family housing around the University. When appealed, the amendments do not take force and effect.

The minutes of the Council meeting (June 26) should be posted shortly on the city’s web site – http://www.london.ca/d.aspx?s=/Meetings/Default/meetingpackages.htm

Update on Near Campus Neighbourhoods (student housing)‏

From the Free Press –

A plan to tighten zoning restrictions in the areas near Western University and Fanshawe College to eliminate problems related to over-intensification of housing needs more work, the city’s planning committee decided Monday. The plan, which calls for a limit of three bedrooms in multi-unit dwellings, down from five, in areas adjacent to the institutions is being proposed. Along with other measures, the idea is to prevent too many people living in premises whose parking and other amenities cannot support them. But details relating to height restrictions and other measures prompted planning committee members to send it back to planning staff for further review. The planning committee chair said he expects it will return with modifications in September.

It will more likely be late fall (not September) before this comes back to the Committee for discussion.

Brescia Construction Update

We’ve received an update from Brescia regarding the ongoing construction –

Hayman Construction and their sub-trades will be working on underground service connections between the new residence and the St. James building beginning on Monday, June 25th and ending on Wednesday, June 27th at 5:00 p.m. This will require closing the temporary road behind Ursuline Hall while this work is underway. There will be no access for bicycle or foot traffic during this time. Emergency vehicle access to Ursuline Hall will come from the west side of the job site for these three days and deliveries have been rescheduled. Please avoid using the back entrance of Ursuline Hall as well during this time for safety reasons.