As you know, the Sherwood Forest Public School is closing June 30, 2013. After that date, the school board, under Regulation 444/ 98 will offer the site to a defined list of public bodies including the city and other school boards. If none make an offer, it will be offered on the open market. Unlike most other school sites in the city, this one is expected to attract the interest of the development community.
A group of residents have been working on the following ideas:
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
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.
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.
We want to get feedback from the neighbourhood to get a sense of the level of support for the various options for the Sherwood Forest school site.
An FAQ on options for the Sherwood Forest site is available here.
Please note: this is the same survey that was handed out at the AGM. This survey may be completed online or on paper.
Orchard Park / Sherwood Forest Neighborhood Association 