Tag: Orchard Park

Houses used for Student Rentals

One of the concerns raised at the recent Annual General Meeting of the Orchard Park Sherwood Forest Ratepayers was the increase in the number of houses being turned into rental accommodation for students where the owner does not live in the house.

As you may know, there is a rental licensing by law for houses that have been converted to rentals. However, they city may not know that a house has been converted. It then becomes up to neighbours to contact the city. The city will then take action to determine if the house is licensed.

The Ratepayers can take action in one of two ways. The city has offered to review a list provided by the Ratepayers to see if rental houses are licensed and if not, send by law enforcement out to ensure the rules are being followed. If you would like to send the addresses to Sandy Levin at s.levin@sympatico.ca by the end of August, he will provide the list to the city.

Alternatively, if you wish to contact the city directly, you can either e-mail or call the city at

519-930-3515 or rentallicensing@london.ca

Information on rental licensing can be found at:

http://www.london.ca/d.aspx?s=/Planning_and_Development/Land_Use_Planning/rentallicensing.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.

Great Near-Campus Neighbourhoods (student housing)

The city’s proposed Official Plan and Zoning By-law amendment for the Near-Campus Neighbourhoods is now available here.

The proposed amendments are to provide clearer guidance for the development of lands in near-campus neighbourhoods located in proximity to the University of Western Ontario and Fanshawe College.

This matter will be discussed at a public participation meeting of the Planning and Environment Committee on Monday, June 18, not to be heard before 5:45 p.m.

Information from the AGM

Now available:

Annual General Meeting – May 14, 2012

The Annual General Meeting for the Orchard Park Sherwood Forest Ratepayers will be held on Monday, May 14, 2012 at 7:00 pm at St. Thomas More School.

The major topic will deal with options for the Sherwood Forest School site. There will also be updates on housing matters from the city and about the renovations at Orchard Park Public School.

You should be getting a flyer with more details in your mailbox or door by the end of the month.