TRAFFIC! As bad as it is - when we’re not backed up, we’re racing against stop lights and ignoring stop signs - it is going to get worse.
You may have noticed that there is more development to the north and east of us. When it is fully built out and occupied our streets will be more congested and our drivers more frustrated. What can be done?

COUNCILLOR BRENDA HOGG
TOWN OF RICHMOND HILL

TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS SOUTH OF FRANK ENDEAN ROAD LIFTED !!

Traffic was not permitted to travel south from Frank Endean Road onto Spadina Road between the hours of 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Sat. and Sun. This bylaw was passed in order to protect residents on Spadina Road from the anticipated shopping traffic from the proposed ‘World Centre’ mall at Major Mackenzie and Bayview Ave. Since the ‘World Centre’ is not going to be built, I asked residents to come to Council and fight this bylaw. They did and they won! Now, the only traffic restrictions are between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. Mon. through Fri. to prevent infiltration traffic during the morning rush hours. The signs should be changed and will be changed by the Region- since it is their by-law. Less regulation = better traffic flow = less frustration.

COME ONE, COME ALL... more development!

Many residents have shown an interest in the development of the Oak Ridges Moraine. The Mayor has called a Special Meeting of Council on Wednesday, January 12, 2000 in Council chambers at 7:30 p.m. to introduce new policies for the proposed Official Plan Amendment which would designate the entire Town as urban zoning. No more rural zoning. No more open land south of Oak Ridges and more development on the moraine.

With this change to the official plan, any development applications which meet the current bylaws would be approved. I believe that this action is premature and should follow, not precede, the Provincial response to the development of the Oak Ridges Moraine. Any effort to urbanize the moraine should be based on what we have learned from the development already approved after its impact has been assessed.

ELGIN MILLS ROAD CONSTRUCTION - COMMUNITY MEETINGS:

Elgin Mills Road is now open to all traffic. There have been many complaints from residents who back onto Elgin Mills Road between Newkirk Rd. and Bayview Ave. so I have arranged a community meeting on Thursday, January 27th from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Richmond Green Sports Centre, 1300 Elgin Mills Road East. Engineering and Transportation staff from the Region and the Town will be present. If you want your concerns to be addressed, please attend this very important meeting. See you there!

A public consultation centre/open house to review and discuss the improvement of Elgin Mills from Bayview to Woodbine Ave. will be held Thursday, January 20, 2000 at the Richmond Green Sports Centre, 1300 Elgin Mills Road East. All are welcome.

SENIORS’ RESIDENCE ON CROSBY? Is not to be.

A proposed Seniors’ residence on Crosby Avenue near Newkirk Rd. was not approved by Council because it would set several precedents which are not appropriate for the planning of our local businesses on Newkirk nor would the size be appropriate for the existing residential communities to the east.

The proposal called for a maximum five storey building behind Canasia Inc. (the old Scholastic Building on Newkirk at Crosby). The land was not zoned for residential development and would need re-zoning. The new zoning would erode the industrial area and reduce the value of the businesses. The 5 storey height is excessive in the middle of a concession block and would be more appropriate on an arterial road like Yonge, Bayview, or Major MacKenzie Drive. The project anticipated 87 rental units - mostly one bedroom apartments.

While we need more rental units across the Region and we definitely need more retirement housing, we must encourage this type of development on residential lands so we do not interfere with other businesses and housing must be designed to an appropriate scale.

Thank you to all the residents who made me aware of their retirement needs, I will continue to help any development which will improve the lives of our Seniors.

TRAFFIC SAFETY

As a member of the Neighbourhood Traffic Safety Committee, I have supported the creation of a traffic safety brochure to outline Town procedures for traffic safety and to remind residents that good driving habits begin with you.

I have also supported the use of our radar message board which you may have seen on Centre Street East during the last few months. This device is placed on local roads where police and residents are concerned with speeding. It displays the vehicle speed so that the driver may be reminded to obey the speed limit. Police have also taken a strong stand against drivers who speed in our community safety zones. Fines are doubled in theses areas and the police tell me that drivers who get caught are quite rude. Unfortunately, the only way to get the message across seems to be to hit them in the pocket book.

I know that the majority of the public would like to see more action taken to reduce the traffic infiltration in our neighbourhoods and particularly to find ways to reduce speeds. It seems that everyone wants to have more stop signs - even if few drivers actually stop. We want more traffic calming structures built but in Toronto the taxpayers are now paying to have them removed. Then there are many requests for more police action when the police are struggling to reduce many other criminal activities. This problem is the result of rapid growth and our reduced ability to manage public systems within the public’s expectations. I will continue to work on it but it cannot be resolved alone.

CENTRE STREET EAST IMPROVEMENTS TO COME?

Once again, the road alignment on Centre Street at the C.N.R. tracks is being considered for improvements. The best but most expensive improvement would be to turn Centre St. E. at the tracks into a cul de sac and connect Centre St. from Pugsley to Newkirk just south of its current location. This would eliminate the curve on Centre and allow emergency vehicles a clear, unobstructed view of the C.N.R. crossing. Before any decisions are made there will be a full public meeting which I anticipate by Spring - stay tuned.