Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutSeptember 16, 1999 STATUTORY PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING MINUTES A Statutory Public Information Meeting was held on Thursday, September 16, 1999 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers. PRESENT: Councillor D. Holland, Chair Councillor M. Brenner ALSO PRESENT: N. Carroll - Director of Planning B. Taylor - Town Clerk L. Taylor -Manager, Current Operations Division • D. Kearns - Committee Co-ordinator The Manager, Current Operations Division, provided an overview of the requirements of the Planning Act and the Ontario Municipal Board respecting this meeting and matters under consideration thereat. (I) ZONING BY-LAW AMENDMENT APPLICATION A 26/99 DURHAM CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD (ST. MARY CATHOLIC SECONDARY SCHOOL) PART OF LOT 29, CONCESSION 1 (WEST SIDE OF WHITES ROAD, SOUTH OF FINCH AVENUE) 1. Lynda Taylor, Manager, Current Operations Division, provided an explanation of the ' application, as outlined in Information Report#20-99. 2. Walter Yewchyn, representing the Durham Catholic District School Board, stated that the Board had applied for a zoning change that would permit 38 portables. He noted that parking is in conformity with the original parking requirements and that a four-pack portable has been installed to handle the overflow from the cafeteria. A portable that was planned to be installed within two metres of Highview Road has now been moved to beside the four-pack portable. The parking lot will be re-striped to provide for 308 parking spaces. He showed how improvements will occur at St. Mary School in the Year 2001 when the Pickering/Ajax School will open and further improvements will occur in the Year 2003 when the new Provincial Secondary School Curriculum is in place. He will work with the Town's Planning staff to identify a second secondary school site in Pickering. 3. Paul Rolfe, 699 Highview Road, stated that the issues of this application can be summarized as the appearance of the portables, health, safety, parking and traffic, school experience and site design standards. There is an expectation that the Board will provide a safe and healthy environment for the students and act as a good role model. He noted that at present, the portables contravene the Zoning By-law and asked why they were installed prior to achieving approval. The area residents expect the Board to obey the law as every other person is required to do. He also stated that the residents expect the school to enhance the character of the neighbourhood. The residents expect the portables to handle only peek student populations and not be a permanent structure. ..../2 - - 2 - - He would expect that no more than 10% of the student population of the school would be housed in portables and noted that the Board has not given a commitment that all portables will be eventually removed. He asked how long the portables should remain on this site and if other solutions to portables have been sought. He asked if the Site Plan Advisory Committee will send the site plan to Council for approval. He asked how the Town modified the parking spaces and when a second high school will be constructed. 4. Ernie Viola, 1561 Village Street, stated that he is concerned about the number of students in the portables and noted that they interfere with traffic, sell drugs and produce garbage. The number of students is so great that they can't be properly policed and therefore they become a resident's problem. He asked if a fence could be constructed along Highview Road to funnel the students over to Whites Road. He stated that he can't see how the number of portables will decrease when the population of the Town is increasing. He noted that the amount of garbage generated on his street by the students is distressing. 5. Cathy Cocker, 633 Graceland Court, stated that she also gets a lot of garbage that is generated by the students in her backyard. The portables detract from the appearance of the neighbourhood and many of the students hang out at the walkway. 6. Brian Shedden, 770 Edgewood Road, stated that the application to change the number of parking spaces seems innocuous but there are many other issues that are involved. These other issues are mold in the portables, washroom facilities and changes to the cirriculum. He noted that the method to determine if mold was present is to bang on the walls and that is not a good determination. Some mold is considered a toxin but any form of mold is not desirable and is attributable to respiratory illnesses. He felt that it was irresponsible of the Board not to carry out invasive testing on mold. He noted that the site plan only provides for 8 to 10 portables and asked how the number got to 38 portables. The main building is architecturally pleasing and the staff of the school is good; this is not the issue. The Board should act quickly to see if there are solutions to the issue of portables that is acceptable to the staff and the residents. 7. Richard Wade 1797 Eastbank Road, stated that last winter, his daughter was housed in a portable that was identified as having mold and got respiratory problems. In addition, the teacher kept the door open to let in fresh air and his daughter was not allowed to move or wear a jacket. He noted that even if a portable is renovated, it will not keep mold out. He noted that the doors to the main building are not wide enough to handle all the students that are entering from the portables. He felt that 38 portables on the subject lands is too much. 8. Cherie Sparks, 1539 Village Street, stated that she is concerned about the appearance of the portables and submitted pictures of them. She is also concerned about the safety of persons who must walk past these portables, particularly at night, because they provide hiding places for people to attack from. She suggested that the parking lot could be moved to the south end of the site and the portables linked to the main building from the west side. 9. Christie Cooke, 1548 Saugeen Drive, stated that the portables are not pleasing to look at. The Board does not have permission to put in the extra portables and much garage is being generated by the increased student population. She stated that parking is not the issue and that no further portables should be allowed. ..../3 - - 3 - - 10. Terry Stevens, 630 Eramosa Crescent, stated that parking is not the issue; there are too many students at this school. He felt that portables are not acceptable and the possibly the students could be bussed to other schools. His wife does not feel safe with the increased student population and noted that a lot of garbage is generated by the students. 11. Robert Smith, 1560 Village Street, stated that he lives very close to the portables and that the appearance of the portables is bad and that garbage is generated by the increased student population. He felt that a solution to the portables must be sought now and not in a few years. 12. Scott Chisolm, 572 Spring Drive, asked what happened to increase the number of portables so dramatically in such a short time. 13. Christine Thompson, 1524 Otonobee Drive, stated that she takes her children to the neighbourhood park and there is always garbage generated by the students in the park and on the equipment. The portables create alleyways that are unsafe for activities. She asked why a parent would want to send their child into an unsafe environment. 14. Vera Follett, 1669 Amberlea Road, stated that when she moved into the neighbourhood, St. Mary School was an attractive building and there were only a few portables. She noted that there are students from Uxbridge attending St. Mary School and asked if there are no other schools these students could attend. The number of portables at St. Mary has the same effect of creating another school and noted that due to population growth, the number of portables cannot decrease. She suggested that another secondary school be built north of Taunton Road. 15. Dave Sora, 657 Eramosa Crescent, stated that he has made a written submission to the Planning Department but noted that the issue is overcrowding at St. Mary School; the issue of mold is an administrative problem. The issues of safety and the environment are most important and must be considered in the site plan. The Board has a responsibility to speak to the parents and respond to community needs. 16. Jonathan Grady, 1078 Rosebank Road, agreed that the school is overpopulated but that the students are coping with the problem and he does not see a problem with the portables because the teachers are monitoring activities in and around them. He noted that there are a few problem students at St. Mary but that this is a problem at any school. 17. Walter Yewchyn, representing the Durham Catholic District School Board, stated that he has made notes of the comments and indicated that changes to the original application are set out in a letter dated September 16, 1999. The Board wants to provide permanent accommodations for the students and will work towards this when the Ajax/Pickering school is opened. In addition, there is a need to have another school site in Pickering identified. St. Mary School opened in 1987 with 700 students. Due to population growth, the Board started to plan for another secondary school in 1992 but they were required to compete for funding with other Boards. In 1995, a freeze was imposed on school construction but the student population continued to grow. During the building freeze, the Board continued to plan for another school and chose the Ajax/Pickering school which is scheduled to open in September of 2001. In 1998, the Province imposed a new funding model whereby Boards can get revenue for school construction through Development Charges. ..../4 - - 4 - - As a result, the Board is in a position to look for additional school sites. The Board will try to reduce the number of portables at St. Mary School and keep the site clean. He noted that the Board has an extensive testing process for mold and this problem is being controlled. Also, the Durham Region Health Unit is part of the team testing for mold. The extra portables were needed immediately in order to house the students at St. Mary School and applications for building permits were made and site plan approvals sought. In addition to population growth, the student-teacher ratio increased from about 30-1 to 22-1 which also had an effect on the number of portables. He noted that the Board is also adding washroom space and providing for better site planning. 18. Lynda Taylor, Manager, Current Operations Division, noted that the Police will be reviewing the site plans as they relate to safety. The Town staff will be looking at the broad issue of portables and noted that the Board is revising their application by relocating one portable and revising the parking area. Staff will circulate the site plan to appropriate agencies for comment and if the Site Plan Committee wants to refer the plan to Council, it may do so. (II) ZONING BY-LAW AMENDMENT APPLICATION A 12/99 M. WHARTON PART OF LOT 64, PLAN 350 (WEST SIDE OF OAKWOOD DR.,NORTH OF MOUNTAIN ASH DR.) 1. Lynda Taylor, Manager, Current Operations Division, provided an explanation of the application, as outlined in Information Report#21-99. 2. Ed Wilson, 66 Falby Court, Unit #1008, Ajax, representing the applicant, stated that the subject land is needed to allow for play space for the students. He noted that the students are currently playing at the front of the building near Toynevale Road. 3. Richard Serville, 537 Lekani Court, stated that he pays a large amount of taxes and the value of his house will decrease if a playground backs onto his property. He noted that he and his neighbour offered to buy the subject land. He understands the school's need for the additional land but is concerned that his property will be devalued. The fence that has been constructed at the rear of his property is damaged and garbage is being placed in his yard. 4. Michelle Wharton, 558 Oakwood Drive, stated that she has never received a written offer for the subject lands from the neighbours. She also noted that she has not had a problem with the neighbourhood children. 5. Mina Walker, 412 Toynevale Road, stated that her children attend the Montessori school. The subject lands will not decrease the value of the abutting properties if it is used as a playground and the damage to the fence and garbage is not a problem of the school but area teens who congregate on the subject lands. No building can be constructed on the subject lands because it is landlocked. The additional lands will provide a safe playing area for the students. 6. Maggie Walker, 412 Toynevale Road, stated that she attends the Montessori school and noted that no garbage is generated by the students but the subject lands do have broken glass and old wood on it. J ..../5 - - 5 - - 7. Peter Wharton, 558 Oakwood Drive, stated that he approached at the neighbours about acquiring the subject lands but noted it was expensive to do so. He has been maintaining the subject lands as best he can, however, there is building materials from the adjacent lands. There is no garbage on the subject lands from the school. 8. A representative of the Montessori school stated that her staff check for garbage generated from the school. There have been problems in the past with activities on the adjacent lands but growth to the south has stopped these problems. She noted that there is a problem with teens on the subject lands but her students are good and should enhance the values of adjacent properties. (V) ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m. Dated 3 E P T 2 2 9 It Clerk •