The Oriole Park Association

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  • January 12, 2020 2:55 PM | David McMahon (Administrator)

    Mining operations are ongoing at the Secondary Entrance and occur 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
     

    What Work Is Taking Place?

    • Mining excavation is ongoing east of the Secondary Entrance between Oriole Parkway and Eastbourne Avenue. This sequence includes drilling roof supports, removal of earth and coating exposed surfaces with shotcrete. Excavation east of the Secondary Entrance is expected to be completed in July 2020.
    • Two (2) boreholes will be installed at Eglinton Park, beginning on Monday January 13, 2020 for approximately five (5) days, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Noise from drilling activity can be expected.  

    What Work is Coming Up?

    • Upcoming concrete pour between the Main and Secondary Entrances in January 2020. Pours will happen from within the closure on the south side shaft – traffic will not be impacted. See construction activities below for details.
    • Upcoming inner walls demolition at the Secondary Entrance on Sunday January 12, 2020 and will occur 24 hours a day for four (4) days. Some vibration and drilling may be heard.

    Mining Information


    General mining activities occur in a continuous sequence, including drilling roof supports, excavation under the roof supports and spraying of concrete to finalize exposed areas underground. Within the excavation portion of the sequence, periodic removal of concrete sections of the existing tunnels is required as well as periodic chipping of temporary concrete linings. When possible, crews complete higher impact works during the day, however due to the sequence nature of the work and the engineering requirements related to ground stability and cavern integrity, sometimes noticeable activity occurs overnight.

    Noise & Vibration Mitigation


    Noise and vibration impacts to your building depend on your proximity to the source and how the vibrations travel through the soil and interact with the foundation and structure of your building. Crosslinx Transit Solutions has implemented several noise reductions measures on site to mitigate the impact felt by the community during mining activities. Enclosures are used to cover equipment like generators and pumps, silencers are used to reduce noise from fans, and delivery routes and times are selected to minimize disruption – just to name a few.


    If you experience disruption from mining activities, please call our 24/7 phone line at 416-782-8118. 

     

    Construction Activities

     

    ACTIVITY & AREA

    WHAT TO EXPECT

    DURATION

    TENTATIVE DATE

    Concrete Pours

    • Concrete pours will occur weekly over the next year.
    • Concrete trucks will be staged in the existing laydown area on the north side of Eglinton Avenue and exit the site at the gate on the west end of the site.
    • Some of the trucks will be required to back into the west gate of the secondary entrance due to coordination with other construction activities that will be underway during the concrete pour. 
    • 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.
    • Weekly

    Connection Bore Holes
    West of Main Entrance and at Eglinton Park
    *more details in CLC deck from November 6, 2019

    • Additional connection holes to the tunnels are required to facilitate final lining activities and deliver concrete to the cavern level.
    • Drilling of the bore holes will occur at Eglinton Park.
    • Drilling will take approximately five (5) days.
    • January 13 -17, 2020
    • 7am to 5pm

    Walls Demolition

    • Inner walls demolition at the Secondary Entrance.
    • Wall demolitions will take place on a 24-hours basis
    • January 12 – 15, 2020
    • 24 hours

    Dewatering Well Maintenance
    Periodic maintenance of dewatering wells as required

    • Periodic maintenance will be ongoing and require a short duration (1 day) enclosure around the well in the right of way.
    • A compressor and occasional hydrovac truck will be used to complete the maintenance.
    • Ongoing
    • 9am to 4pm

    Monitoring Work
    Equipment is installed in various locations around the station are to monitor ground movement during construction.
    Read the construction notice for more detail.

    • To install the monitoring equipment in the ground, crews move from location to location around the station area. Typically, a drilling machine is used to drill the hole where the monitor will be installed.
    • If on the sidewalk, pedestrians may need to be routed around the work zone (sidewalks stay open). If on the roadway, a short-term lane closure may be required.
    • Readings will be taken regularly for the duration of the project.
    • Installations planned to be complete in the next few months.
    • Ongoing monitoring.

     

    • Currently installations are focused east of Secondary Entrance


  • January 03, 2020 4:17 PM | David McMahon (Administrator)

    AVENUE STATION CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
    Friday January 3, 2020
     

    Mining operations are ongoing at the Secondary Entrance and occur 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Read the construction notice for more detail.


    What Work is Taking Place?

    • Mining excavation is ongoing east of the Secondary Entrance between Oriole Parkway and Eastbourne Avenue. This sequence includes drilling roof supports, removal of earth and coating exposed surfaces with shotcrete. Excavation east of the Secondary Entrance is expected to be completed in July 2020.

    What Work is Coming Up?

    • Upcoming concrete pour between the Main and Secondary Entrances in January 2020. Pour will happen from within the closure on the south side shaft – traffic will not be impacted. See construction activities below for details.
    • One (1) borehole will be installed west of the Main Entrance to facilitate concrete delivery to the cavern level. The work zone will be permanently expanded by 15 metres, west of the Main Entrance for the duration of the project construction. This work was rescheduled for January 6, 2020 for approximately four (4) days, from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. Noise from the drilling activity can be expected.
    • Two (2) boreholes will be installed at Eglinton Park, beginning on January 8, 2020 for approximately five (5) days, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Noise from drilling activity can be expected.   

    Mining Information


    General mining activities occur in a continuous sequence, including drilling roof supports, excavation under the roof supports and spraying of concrete to finalize exposed areas underground. Within the excavation portion of the sequence, periodic removal of concrete sections of the existing tunnels is required as well as periodic chipping of temporary concrete linings. When possible, crews complete higher impact works during the day, however due to the sequence nature of the work and the engineering requirements related to ground stability and cavern integrity, sometimes noticeable activity occurs overnight.
     

    Noise and Vibration Mitigation


    Noise and vibration impacts to your building depend on your proximity to the source and how the vibrations travel through the soil and interact with the foundation and structure of your building. Crosslinx Transit Solutions has implemented several noise reductions measures on site to mitigate the impact felt by the community during mining activities. Enclosures are used to cover equipment like generators and pumps, silencers are used to reduce noise from fans, and delivery routes and times are selected to minimize disruption – just to name a few.

    If you experience disruption from mining activities, please call our 24/7 phone line at 416-782-8118.
     

    Construction Activities

     

    ACTIVITY & AREA

    WHAT TO EXPECT

    DURATION

    TENTATIVE DATE

    Concrete Pours

    • Concrete pours will occur every week over the next year.
    • Concrete trucks will be staged in the existing laydown area on the north side of Eglinton Avenue and exit the site at the gate on the west end of the site.
    • Some of the trucks will be required to back into the west gate of the secondary entrance due to coordination with other construction activities that will be underway during the concrete pour. 
    • 6 am to 11 pm
    • Weekly
    • Next scheduled pours:
      January 13
      January 17

    Connection Bore Holes
    West of Main Entrance & Eglinton Park
     

    • Additional connection holes to the tunnels are required to facilitate final lining activities and deliver concrete to the cavern level.
    • Drilling of the bore holes will occur just west of the Main Entrance and at Eglinton Park.

     

    • Drilling of both bore holes will take approximately seven (7) days.
    • January 6-13, 2020
    • 7am to 5pm

    Dewatering Well Maintenance
    Periodic maintenance of dewatering wells as required

    • Periodic maintenance will be ongoing and require a short duration (1 day) enclosure around the well in the right of way.
    • A compressor and occasional hydrovac truck will be used to complete the maintenance.
    • Ongoing
    • 9am to 4pm

    Monitoring Work
    Equipment is installed in various locations around the station are to monitor ground movement during construction.
    Read the construction notice for more detail.

    • To install the monitoring equipment in the ground, crews move from location to location around the station area. Typically, a drilling machine is used to drill the hole where the monitor will be installed.
    • If on the sidewalk, pedestrians may need to be routed around the work zone (sidewalks stay open). If on the roadway, a short-term lane closure may be required.

     

    • Readings will be taken regularly for the duration of the project.
    • Installations planned to be complete in the next few months.
    • Ongoing monitoring.

    Currently installations are focused east of Secondary Entrance

     


  • December 28, 2019 12:11 PM | David McMahon (Administrator)

    Temporary Lane Reduction at Chaplin Station
    - Friday December 27 to Tuesday December 31

    What Work is Taking Place?

    Temporary lane reductions will be in effect in Chaplin Crescent and Eglinton Avenue West on Friday December 27 to Tuesday December 31, 2019, while crews drill boreholes and install geotechnical monitoring equipment at the southwest area of the intersection. Eglinton Avenue West and Chaplin Crescent will both be reduced to one lane only, alternating traffic in each direction. Paid Duty Officers will be present. At the end of each shift, the area will be plated and one lane of traffic on each direction will be restored.

    Hours of Work

    • Beginning Friday December 27, 2019 for approximately five (5) days.
    • 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

    Construction Staging

    What to Expect

    • Noise from construction activity can be expected

    Pedestrian Details

    • Pedestrian routing will remain the same

    Traffic Details

    • Traffic on both Chaplin Crescent and Eglinton Avenue West will be reduced to one lane only, alternating traffic in each direction
    • Motorists can expect delays when travelling through the intersection
    • Traffic control personnel and Paid Duty Officers will be present to provide traffic control

    Travelling Smart during Construction


    Travel delays are expected with the Crosstown construction. Please allow extra time for your journey. Traffic will be extra heavy at peak periods during the Crosstown construction. When possible, please travel during the off-peak period between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
     

    Stay Informed


    Sign up for e-mail updates at www.thecrosstown.ca/sign-up or download the Crosstown traffic app to get real-time traffic and transit information for the Eglinton corridor.
     

    Disponible en français

    Thank you for your continued patience as we work to build this important project.

    Please support your local businesses during construction.


  • December 28, 2019 12:09 PM | David McMahon (Administrator)

    AVENUE STATION CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
    Friday December 27, 2019

     

    Mining operations are ongoing at the Secondary Entrance and occur 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Read the construction activities for more detail.
     

    What work is taking place?

    • Mining excavation is ongoing east of the Secondary Entrance between Oriole Parkway and Eastbourne Avenue. This sequence includes drilling roof supports, removal of earth and coating exposed surfaces with shotcrete. Excavation east of the Secondary Entrance is expected to be completed in July 2020.

    What Work is coming up?

    • Upcoming concrete pour between the Main and Secondary Entrances in December 2019. Pour will happen from within the closure on the south side shaft – traffic will not be impacted. See construction activities for details.
    • One (1) borehole will be installed west of the Main Entrance to facilitate concrete delivery to the cavern level. The work zone will be permanently expanded by 15 metres, west of the Main Entrance for the duration of the construction period. This work was rescheduled for January 2, 2020 for approximately four (4) days, from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. Noise from the drilling activity can be expected.
    • Two boreholes will be installed at Eglinton Park, beginning on January 8, 2020 for approximately five (5) days, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Noise from drilling activity can be expected.   

    Mining Information


    General mining activities occur in a continuous sequence, including drilling roof supports, excavation under the roof supports and spraying of concrete to finalize exposed areas underground. Within the excavation portion of the sequence, periodic removal of concrete sections of the existing tunnels is required as well as periodic chipping of temporary concrete linings. When possible, crews complete higher impact works during the day, however due to the sequence nature of the work and the engineering requirements related to ground stability and cavern integrity, sometimes noticeable activity occurs overnight.

    Noise and vibration mitigation


    Noise and vibration impacts to your building depend on your proximity to the source and how the vibrations travel through the soil and interact with the foundation and structure of your building. Crosslinx Transit Solutions has implemented several noise reductions measures on site to mitigate the impact felt by the community during mining activities. Enclosures are used to cover equipment like generators and pumps, silencers are used to reduce noise from fans, and delivery routes and times are selected to minimize disruption – just to name a few.

    If you experience disruption from mining activities, please call our 24/7 phone line at 416-782-8118.


    Construction Activities

     

    ACTIVITY & AREA

    WHAT TO EXPECT

    DURATION

    TENTATIVE DATE

    Concrete Pours

    • Concrete pours will occur approximately once per week over the next year.
    • Concrete trucks will be staged in the existing laydown area on the north side of Eglinton Avenue and exit the site at the gate on the west end of the site.
    • Some of the trucks will be required to back into the west gate of the secondary entrance due to coordination with other construction activities that will be underway during the concrete pour. 
    • 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
    • Weekly
    • January 6 and 9, 2020

    Connection Bore Holes
    West of Main Entrance
    *more details in CLC deck from September 4

    • Additional connection holes to the tunnels are required to facilitate final lining activities and deliver concrete to the cavern level. 
    • Drilling of the bore holes will occur just west of the Main Entrance and at Eglinton Park.
    • Drilling will take approximately one (1) week.
    • January 2-13, 2020
    • 7am to 5pm

    Dewatering Well Maintenance
    Periodic maintenance of dewatering wells as required

    • Periodic maintenance will be ongoing and require a short duration (1 day) enclosure around the well in the right of way. 
    • A compressor and occasional hydrovac truck will be used to complete the maintenance.
    • Ongoing
    • 9am to 4pm

    Monitoring Work
    Equipment is installed in various locations around the station are to monitor ground movement during construction.
    Read the construction notice for more detail.

    • To install the monitoring equipment in the ground, crews move from location to location around the station area. Typically, a drilling machine is used to drill the hole where the monitor will be installed. 
    • If on the sidewalk, pedestrians may need to be routed around the work zone (sidewalks stay open). If on the roadway, a short-term lane closure may be required.
    • Readings will be taken regularly for the duration of the project.
    • Installations planned to be complete in the next few months.
    • Ongoing monitoring.
    • Currently installations are focused east of Secondary Entrance


    Stay Informed
    Sign up for e-mail updates at www.thecrosstown.ca/sign-up or download the Crosstown traffic app to get real-time traffic and transit information for the Eglinton corridor.
     

    Disponible en français

    Thank you for your continued patience as we work to build this important project.
    Please support your local businesses during construction.


  • December 14, 2019 1:16 PM | David McMahon (Administrator)

    The attached article is a CBC report from Friday December 13, 2019. concerning auto thefts in our 53 Police Division.

    Auto thefts in the Division are up 240% this year in the Division.

    https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/car-theft-1.5394747

  • December 13, 2019 4:17 PM | David McMahon (Administrator)

    Holiday Fun on the Way - Dec 14

    Meet us at Elmsthorpe & EglintonAve, Saturday, Dec 14 from 11am to 2pm!

    To wrap up the holiday events on Eglinton, the BIA is having some holiday fun and cheer at Elmsthorpe this Saturday!

    The event is free for everyone to join! We'll have:

    ·    Churros

    ·    Hot chocolate

    ·    Gingerbread Decoration Station

    ·    Fundraising raffle: Gingerbread House and a City Hall Tour with Councillor Matlow

    ·    Olaf and Paw Patrol greeting kids

    ·    Face painting

    Come by and bring your family and friends!


  • December 12, 2019 10:06 AM | David McMahon (Administrator)

    OLDER ADULT Winter 2020

    North Toronto Memorial Community Centre

    200 Eglinton Ave. W.

    416-392-6591

    Winter 2020 Registration on Now!

    Tuesday September 10th, 2019

    (Programs are currently open for registration.)

    Winter programs start January 4th, 2020

    Registration for Winter Swim, Skate and March Break opens

    Tuesday December 10th, 2019 at 7:00am.


    FITNESS PROGRAMS

    Day

    Program

    Starts

    Time

    Fee

    Barcode

    Monday

    Yoga

    Jan. 6th

    9:30-11:00am

    $62.00/ 9 wks.

    3205894

    Tuesday/

    Thursday

    Weight Room

    Jan. 7th

    1:15-2:15pm

    $3.75 or Pass Option

    DROP IN

    Tuesday/

    Thursday

    Cardio Low Impact

    Jan. 7th

    1:30-2:30pm

    $6.25 or Pass Option

    DROP IN

    Thursday

    Yoga

    Jan. 9th

    9:30-10:45am

    $68.50/ 10 wks.

    3205893

    Thursday

    Pilates

    Jan. 9th

    11:00-12:00pm

    $65.50/ 11 weeks

    3205885

    Saturday

    Yoga

    Jan. 11th

    11:30-12:30pm

    $46.50/ 10 wks.

    3205895

    SPORTS PROGRAMS

    Day

    Program

    Starts

    Time

    Fee

    Barcode

    Monday/  Wednesday/Friday

    Badminton

    Jan. 6th

    1:30-3:30pm

    FREE/12 wks.

    DROP IN

    Tuesday/  Thursday

    Pickleball

    Jan. 7th

    1:30-3:30pm

    FREE/12 wks.

    DROP IN

    GENERAL INTEREST PROGRAMS

    Day

    Program

    Starts

    Time

    Fee

    Barcode

    Tuesday

    Cards: Bridge (Duplicate)

    Jan. 7th

    1:00-4:00pm

    FREE/12 wks.

    DROP IN

    Thursday

    Cards: Bridge (Contract)

    Jan 9th

    1:00-4:00pm

    FREE/12 wks.

    DROP IN

    Friday

    Club: Social (Pancake Breakfast)

    Jan. 10th

    11:30-12:30pm

    $5.00 per person

    DROP IN

    Friday

    Club: Games

    Jan. 10th  

    1:00-4:00pm

    FREE/12 wks.

    DROP IN


    WEIGHTROOM AND FITNESS FEES/MEMBERSHIPS

    Membership Type

    Single Visit

    1 Month

    3 Months

    6 Months

    1 Year

    10 Visit Punch Card

    Weight Room

    $3.75

    $24.25

    $44.50

    $82.00

    $37.50

    Type C Fitness Membership

    $6.25

    $22.75

    $38.75

    $68.75

    $129.50

    *$45.00

    Type C Fitness Membership includes use of Lane Swim, Drop in Fitness Classes and use of Weight Room.

    *Type C Fitness Punch Card can be used for Drop In Fitness Classes Only.

     

    ATHLETIC FEES/MEMBERSHIPS

    Single Visit

    3 Months

    6 Months

    1 Year

    10 Visit Punch Card

    $2.00

    $41.25

    $65.25

    $124.00

    $19.00

    Athletic Memberships and Punch Cards are Valid for Drop in Sports and Athletic programs only.


  • December 12, 2019 9:49 AM | David McMahon (Administrator)

    Closure of Chaplin Crescent and Eglinton Avenue West Intersection for Early Morning Concrete Pour - Saturday December 14, 2019 – 4:00AM UNTIL +/-6:00PM

    What Work is Taking Place? On Saturday December 14, 2019, the intersection of Chaplin Crescent and Eglinton Avenue West will be closed from 4:00 a.m. for approximately 14 hours while crews will perform a large concrete pour. The concrete will form part of the roof of Chaplin Station. Concrete pumps will be placed throughout the intersection and several concrete trucks will enter and exit the work zone each hour. Both Chaplin Crescent and Eglinton Avenue West will be closed between Spadina Avenue and Russell Hill Road. Only TTC buses, emergency service vehicles and local traffic will be permitted through the closure. Sidewalk access will be maintained per the existing traffic configuration. Once the pour is complete, the intersection will re-open.

    Hours of Work

     Work will take place on Saturday December 14, 2019 beginning at 4:00 a.m. for approximately 14 hours

     In the event of inclement weather, this activity may be rescheduled

     The closure may be longer or shorter than expected

    Construction Staging

    What to Expect

     The intersection of Chaplin Cres and Eglinton Avenue West will be closed

     Early morning noise from concrete pumps and trucks can be expected

     10+ concrete trucks will enter and exit the work zone each hour

     Site lighting can be expected

    Traffic and Pedestrian Details

     Chaplin Cres and Eglinton Avenue West will be closed between Spadina Avenue and Russell Hill Road

     Vehicles travelling northbound on Chaplin Cres will be required to divert at Russell Hill Road or further south

     Vehicles travelling southbound on Chaplin Cres will be required to divert at Roselawn Avenue or further north

     TTC buses, emergency service vehicles and local traffic will be permitted through the closure

     Paid-duty officers and traffic control personnel will be present during the closure


  • December 09, 2019 6:36 PM | David McMahon (Administrator)

    An update on the speed hump installations in Chaplin Estates. This is the list of completed projects in 2019.

    There are other locations that are pending for 2020, and we will provide updates in the new year once we have more information.

    Ward No.

    Street Name

    From

    To

    No. of Speed Humps to be Installed

    12

    Highbourne Road

    Chaplin Crescent

    Tranmer Avenue

    2

    12

    Imperial Street

    Duplex Avenue

    Oriole Parkway

    4

    12

    Lascelles Boulevard

    Anderson Avenue

    Hillsdale Avenue West

    2

    12

    Tranmer Avenue

    Avenue Road

    Highbourne Road

    1

    12

    Tranmer Avenue

    Highbourne Road

    Oriole Parkway

    1


  • December 04, 2019 1:51 PM | David McMahon (Administrator)

    How do you get involved? You can write to your MPP (especially if they are a government member) and let them know that you support the FoNTRA concerns with Bill 138.  This need to be done immediately as the Bill 138 goes to Committee for clause by clause review on Wednesday and Thursday of this week and may go back to the Legislature for 3rd Reading as early as next week. 

    The following is the position issued by FoNTRA which the OPA supports. If you are in agreement please email our MPP Jill Andrew at JAndrew-QP@ndp.on.ca.

    December 2, 2019

    99 Wellesley Street West Room 1405, Whitney Block Queen's Park Toronto, ON M7A 1A2

    Attention: Julia Douglas, Committee Clerk

    RE: Bill 138: Plan to Build Ontario Together Act, 2019

    Dear Amarjot Sandhu, MPP, Chair, Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs,

    The Federation of North Toronto Residents’ Associations (FoNTRA), represents 30+ residents’ associations with thousands of members in the North Toronto and North York area. Our organization’s comments are exclusively concerned with Schedules 10 and 31, the changes proposed by Bill 138 to the Development Charges Act, and the Planning Act, respectively.

    1. Need for legislative authority to provide for and require registering agreements between municipalities and developers on title.

    Section 37 of the Planning Act has been an effective mechanism to obtain funds for community benefits. A key aspect of its efficacy has been its inclusion of a mechanism for achieving a clearly enforceable contract between a developer and a municipality that is registered on title. It is important that this mechanism not be lost as a side-effect of repealing Section 37. Without authority for registration of agreements, it is too easy for unscrupulous entrepreneurs to escape obligations they have agreed to.

    We urge you to add a provision authorizing registration on title of agreements between municipalities and property developers. Such agreements, among other things, may include provisions regarding agreements for in-kind contributions as well as liens against a property for deferred Development and Community Benefit Charge deferrals. We support the City of Toronto request for legislative authority allowing municipalities to require registration on title of agreements with developers.

    2. Uncertainty and potential non-transparency associated with the determination of land-value-based development charges.

    We are strongly in support of greater certainty in the determination of development and community benefit charges. For that reason, we have substantial concerns regarding the land-value-based cap on development and community benefit charges.

    Land values, by their nature, are not well-determined. The new Community Benefit Charge (CBC) enacted by Bill 108 provides for the appointment of appraisers on both sides of a dispute, but the key point is that adjudication of disputes over land values is problematic, potentially expensive, and anything but transparent. It would be far better to base caps for development and community benefits charges on variables that are more easily determined, such as number of units, or density (FSI).

    3. Need to retain separate provision of parkland dedication under the Planning Act.

    Parkland dedication is of crucial importance in building complete communities, especially in dense urban areas such as central and north Toronto where intensification leads to large communities of residential towers that obstruct sunlight and where park availability is deficient. Children in such areas have few places to play, whether playgrounds for young children or sports fields for teenagers. The reduction in developer park contributions enacted by Bill 108 represents a serious blow to the development of healthy communities in intensifying areas in Toronto.

    We urge you to modify Bill 138 to keep a separate provision for parkland dedication and for cash-in-lieu contributions where parkland dedication is not possible. If commingled with all other development charges, it is too easy for parkland dedication to be subordinated to pressures for the construction of hard services or the provision of other community needs.

    Land value caps are not well-related to community parkland needs, which are measured in hectares not dollars. Ensuring an adequate supply of parkland and playing fields is as important in suburbs as it is in central Toronto. New subdivisions and intensified neighbourhoods should not be allowed to become park-deficient just because land values are lower in the outer parts of the GTA.

    4. Need to ensure that there is no gap between the effective date of repeal of the former Section 37 and Section 42 provisions and the date of enactment of municipal Community Benefits Charge by-laws replacing those provisions.

    It is of crucial importance that transition provisions do not provide a period in which developments can avoid both existing Section 37/42 obligations and the new Community Benefit Charge (CBC) that is to replace them.

    5. Uncertainty and non-transparency introduced by the proposal to allow appeals of municipal development charge by-laws

    While we have concerns about how such appeals will be adjudicated, we have particular concern regarding the one-sided limitation on the powers of the LPAT tribunal set out in the new section 37(11.12)(a). That section limits the powers of the Tribunal by providing that it may not amend or order the amendment of a by-law so as to increase the amount of a community benefits charge that will be payable in any particular case.

    We are concerned that the appeal process introduced by Bill 138 may be potentially used by developers seeking to game the system through making appeals in order to achieve negotiated settlements that reduce the charges payable on their properties. Such settlements by their nature are confidential prior to approval by a municipal council, being essentially concluded out of the public eye, and so are anything BUT transparent or certain.

    We recommend that, at a minimum, Schedule 31 be amended to provide that Section 37(11.12) be changed to provide that the Tribunal “may not amend or order the amendment of a by-law so as to increase or decrease the amount … payable in any particular case”

    Yours truly,

    Geoff Kettel Co-Chair, FoNTRA

    Cathie Macdonald  Co-Chair, FoNTRA





    gkettel@gmail.com

    cathie.macdonald@sympatico.ca

    Cc: Mayor John Tory and Members of Toronto City Council

    Chris Murray, City Manager

    Gregg Lintern, Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning Division

    Federation of Urban Neighbourhoods and other RAs

    The Federation of North Toronto Residents' Associations (FoNTRA) is a non-profit, volunteer organization comprised of over 30 member organizations. Its members, all residents’ associations, include at least 170,000 Toronto residents within their boundaries. The residents’ associations that make up FoNTRA believe that Ontario and Toronto can and should achieve better development. Its central issue is not whether Toronto will grow, but how. FoNTRA believes that sustainable urban regions are characterized by environmental balance, fiscal viability, infrastructure investment and social renewal.


COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & COMMUNITY ISSUES

As we all know our neighbourhood is subject to serious development pressure, and development issues have occupied much of the board’s time. Among these issues are:

Community Development Committee of Adjustment – Single Family Homes

The OPA keeps a close eye on applications for home renovations and tear- downs in our neighbourhood.

We receive details about applications from the Committee including a description of the proposed changes and the deadline for submitting to the committee. We forward information about homes in our area to a special email list. You can subscribe here: Oriole Park Association - Committee of Adjustment notices.

Metrolinx – Eglinton LRT

The OPA is involved in the ongoing process of the development of the new Light Rail Transit line in our area.

One major concern for the community is that Eglinton Avenue is to have restricted lanes westbound between Oriole Parkway and Braemar Avenue for the construction of the Avenue Road Station.

The proposals as detailed below will last until 2021.

The businesses on the north side will have very restricted access and visibility.

The second concern is that Metrolinx in their initial proposal wished to ‘clear cut’ the area on the south side of the North Toronto Community Center between the eastern driveway and the western boundary beside the ‘Art Barn’ building. The area is to be used for storage and construction vehicles

The OPA community involvement is:

  • We attend meetings on behalf of the membership and community as well as sit on a ‘working group’ Chaired by Councillor Cristin Carmichael-Greb (Ward 16) and as supported by our Councillor Josh Matlow ( Ward 22).
  • The working group is comprised of elected officials; Senior City of Toronto Staff including Metrolinx and Crosslinx staff. The local residents associations are represented by the Eglinton Avenue Road Community Association: the Eglinton Park Ratepayers Association as well as the OPA.
  • We will provide updates via our Twitter and Facebook Accounts as well our email subscribers as they come available.


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