Tag: Orchard Park

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.

Information from AGM

Thanks to all who came out for the ratepayers’ Annual General Meeting on Wednesday night. Great turnout – approximately 175 people.

Here are a number of items from the meeting:

  • Heather Chapman from the City of London’s Municipal Law Enforcement Services gave a presentation.
  • A general concern of the neighborhood is the increasing number of houses rented to students, and the potential impact on the neighborhood. Here is a map of houses in Orchard Park/Sherwood Forest currently rented to students. If you have updates or additions for the map, contact Sandy Levin.
  • Updates on the widening of Sarnia Road, Medway Valley, and a rezoning request for a property on Sarnia Rd.
  • Update from the Steering Committee regarding the Sherwood Forest School Site.

Following the update on the school site, a survey was distributed to get a sense of the community’s preferences regarding future directions. If you were not able to attend the meeting and wish to submit a survey, please complete the form and send to Sandy Levin, 59 Longbow Rd (or email to Sandy at s.levin@sympatico.ca ).

Student housing in Orchard Park/Sherwood Forest

The ratepayers are continuing to compile a list of addresses where the homes are rented out and not occupied by the owners.   The list goes to the rental licensing area of city hall which will check to see if there is a license for this use.  While it is currently a legal use, there are limits. 

If you would like to have a location reviewed, you can either the city’s call Residential Rental Units Licensing enquiries at 519-930-3515, or you can contact Sandy Levin with the address and he will  submit the information.  At least 5% of the homes in the area are being used as rentals.

Neighborhood Update – March 2013

MEDWAY MATTERS
On Thursday, March 7 at Orchard Park Public School at 7 pm, the city and its consultant will be presenting its work to date on the city’s Climate Change Adaptation Strategy for the Medway Creek. This review includes the entire portion of the Medway that is in the City of London.

This year, the City is conducting an update to the Conservation Master Plan for the Medway Valley Heritage Forest Environmentally Significant Area from south of Fanshawe to where it meets the Thames River. This will include a review of trails in the Valley. The proposed timeline is as follows.

A summary of the project and its objectives which was provided by the City is available here. This project will involve all communities that border the Medway, not just ours. Dates and locations of meetings will be on the city’s web site and the community web site and on Facebook. More information will be provided when available.

  • Project start – March 2013
  • Site Inventories – end March to end September 2013
  • Preliminary draft report – late October 2013
  • Public Information Meeting – one at the start of the process (March-April 2013) and one to present results of the study (November 2013)
  • Finalize Phase I report – December 1 2013

TREES
City Council retained money in the budget to replace trees cut due to the Emerald Ash Borer. The replanting of trees cut down this past fall should take place this year.

In addition to the replanting, anyone may request the City to have a tree planted on the City owned portion of your front lawn. The City will assess the site and if appropriate, will add you to their ongoing planting plan (even if you didn’t lose a tree to the ash borer). To make a request:

– visit www.milliontrees.ca
– click on “I Want A Tree” and then click on “Suggest Locations for New Trees”
– Complete the tree request form. Click to submit and then you are done.

You can also call the city at 519-661-5783

INVITATION
The Ratepayers are members of The Urban League of London, an umbrella group for neighbourhood organizations in the city. One of its roles is public education. On Wednesday, March 20, 2013 from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM, you are invited to:

An Evening with Greg Levine, an Integrity Commissioner
London Public Library
Central Branch- Stevenson & Hunt Room
251 Dundas Street

Please go to http://urbanleagueoflondon-eorg.eventbrite.com/# for more information and to reserve a spot.