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David West
Richmond Hill Ward 4 Councillor
Monthly Newsletter
January 2017
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Happy New Year
A new year brings a fresh beginning and a chance
for many people to usher out the old and welcome the new. I wish you and your family all the best of 2017.
On February 3rd, 4th and 5th Mill Pond Park will be the host to the 49th annual Richmond Hill Winter Carnival. This is a community tradition that came together many years ago. A number of neighbours in the Mill Pond area decided that during the cold winter at this time of year, a party was in order. They hauled out their BBQs to the Mill Pond and invited their friends to celebrate together all that our Canadian Winter has to offer.
So, while some things change - some things remain the same. A party at this time of year is in order, and Canadian winters are still a unique time of the year to get together with your friends and neighbours to celebrate. This year's Carnival is even more unique since it falls during Canada's 150 birthday year. What could be more "Canadian" than the Richmond Hill Winter Carnival? Each year a committee of committed neighbourhood volunteers work hard to bring this Carnival to life and, as a part of this committee, I would invite you to join us for this unique event.
A slightly less "fun", but never the less important, "tradition" at this time of year is the
creation
and passing of the Richmond Hill Operating Budget. I encourage everyone to get involved and learn more about the services that are
paid
for through your property taxes. In a section below in this newsletter I have listed a number of dates that are available for public input. As always I would encourage you to contact me if you have any comments about the budget. Our Operating Budget is really important as it is the fiscal expression of what we want our community to look and feel like, so it has a foundational role to play in all that we do in Richmond Hill.
Thanks for taking the time to read this newsletter.
I always appreciate hearing your comments about any issue in our community. It is through this collaboration that we all make our community the vibrant and active place that it is! P
lease do not hesitate to contact me by phone or email at any time.
My email address is
david.west@richmondhill.ca
, my cell number is 416-346-3090 and my office number is 905-771-2480.
David West
Ward 4 Councillor Richmond Hill
Banner Photo - Welcome to 2017- Thanks to
photographer and Ward 4 resident Elizabeth Pirpamer (this photo was not taken at the Mill Pond - but it is awesome none the less!)
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Council News and Highlights
1. Salvation Army Carol Sing and Toy Mountain
Thanks to the Richmond Hill Salvation Army for hosting our first ever Christmas Carol singing event at the Mill Pond. I would also like to express my thanks for their work on the Toy Mountain initiative that took place at the Gamble Road Fire Hall before Christmas. Toy Mountain is a community led initiative that works to share the cheer to those in need during the holiday season. Both events were a great success and both represent the Salvation Army's caring for our community". Thanks for nurturing the "Spirit of the Season" and for all that you do in Richmond Hill!
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Carollers at the Mill Pond
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The musical accompaniment
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Fire Chief Kraft with friend at Toy Mountain event
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2. Community Food Raising Volleyball Tourney
Over 3600lbs of food was raised in late December during an annual Charity Volleyball Tournament organized by Richmond Hill resident, Sonny Dhillon and his team of volunteers. I have been happy to support this group and I applaud their efforts. A great time was had by over 40 young people and many meals will be supplied in support of homeless youth through 360Kids.
Michael Braithwaite CEO of 360kids, talks to the participants before the games |
Sonny Dhillon (organizer of the event), myself, and Michael Braithwaite with some of the 3600lbs of food raised for 360kids
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Each year at this time I am delighted to celebrate the havest celebration of Thai Pongal with the York Region Senior Tamils' Centre. While there is little to harvest in the northern hemisphere in January, people in countries such as Sri Lanka and others in the same geographic area, celebrate the change of seasons and give thanks for a bountiful harvest. We are blessed to be able to share celebrations from all over the world, all year long, right here in Richmond Hill.
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Ward 4 Development Applications - Update
There are a number of development applications active in Ward 4 that continue to generate significant interest from residents. This section in the newsletter is intended to keep everyone informed and updated about the status of these applications. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all active development applications in the ward, but a brief synopsis of select applications. Information that is new since the last newsletter is marked as "**NEW**" Please feel free to contact me at
david.west@richmondhill.ca
if you have questions about an application that is not included here.
An application was submitted to Richmond Hill planning staff in the summer of 2015 for approval of a proposed development of 28 townhouses at 71 Regent St. I hosted a well attended Residents' Meeting in the fall of 2015 for this application and Council Hosted a very well attended Council Public meeting in October 2016.
In November I was recently disappointed to learn that the applicant has appealed this application to the Ontario Municipal Board.
**NEW** A date has been set for an OMB pre hearing. This date is April 5th at 10AM in Committee Room #2 at 225 East Beaver Creek (The Town Office). Anyone wishing to participate in this process should contact the OMB to learn more about how to be involved. To learn more visit the OMB website here
2. 44, 48,54 and 60 Arnold Cres.
An application for 37 townhouses and 4 single detached homes was submitted to Richmond Hill planning staff in the summer of 2015. I hosted a well attended Residents' Meeting in the fall 2015 for this application. The applicant had a Council Public Meeting in the fall of 2015 where comments from the public and Council members were heard. In the winter of 2015 the applicant elected to appeal this application to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB). The OMB is scheduled to hold a pre hearing meeting for this application on February 7th, 2017 at 9AM. The main hearing on this file will be scheduled for March 20th, 2017.
3. Canyon Hill and Yonge St (10922, 10944 and 10956 Yonge St)
An application for 160 townhouses was submitted to staff this spring. Letters to area residents were sent out from my office, informing the neighbourhood of this application. The applicant has since appealed this application to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB). The OMB hearing is scheduled for December 12th, 2016.
Council recently passed an Interim Control Bylaw (ICBL) that effectively "freezes" development in this area while a Secondary Plan is produced for the portion of the lands that are included in the Key Development Area designation under the Official Plan. This Secondary Plan process will begin immediately and take place over the next year approximately.
4. 129, 133, 141 Arnold Cres and 230 Major Mackenzie Dr. W.
This site is owned by The Acorn Development Corporation. At this time, I understand the developer is working to complete an application for
redevelopment of this site which they are working to complete with
our Richmond Hill Planning staff. The applicant will need to go through the regular planning process prior to obtaining any approvals to building anything new on the site. It is my intention to host a meeting for the neighbourhood residents as soon as any plans by the developer have been solidified. This meeting will serve to make the community aware of the details of this application. Presently, at this very early point in the process, there is no timeline set for such a meeting but I will ensure that the community is informed in a timely manner when a clearer picture becomes available.
5. Condo Proposal South West corner of Gamble and Yonge.
In 2014 there was an application for an 8 and 5 storey condo on the South West Corner of Gamble Rd and Yonge St. The applicant had a Council Public Meeting some time ago but this application has not been presented to Council as of yet. There were a number of issues that were identified during this process, including issues of proximity to a flood plain.
6. 47 and 59 Brookside Road and 12 and 24 Naughton Drive
This proposed development application includes 188 townhouses, 4 condo towers and a public park. I hosted a
Resident's Meeting on Wednesday, August 10th. At this meeting residents voiced significant concerns about a number of issues related to the application. Included in these concerns was the overall density of the proposal and the height of the 4 buildings being proposed (as high as 29 storeys), as well as issues related to vehicular access to the site and related traffic concerns.
A very well attended Council Public Meeting was held regarding this application on October 5th. Many residents spoke to council about their concerns with the proposal. Most council members, including myself, reflected these concerns and spoke in support of the residents. All comments from this meeting will be taken by staff as the application undergoes a more thorough analysis and ultimately a recommendation to council to approve or deny the application. I am expecting that we will be able to work with the applicant to make some significant changes to this application so that it can eventually represent a much better "fit" for the neighbourhood than what is currently being proposed.
Richmond Hill council has enacted an Interim Control By-law for Yonge/Bernard Area.
Council approved the implementation of an Interim Control By-law (ICBL) for an area around the intersection of Yonge Street and Bernard Avenue. The Interim Control By-law temporarily prohibits the use of land, buildings or structures within the specified area for one year while staff to conduct a Planning Study, develop a Key Development Area Secondary Plan and an Implementing Zoning By-law for this area. The ICBL will allow Richmond Hill to obtain input on the Secondary Plan from residents and stakeholders. It will also help ensure that development in the area meets the standards of municipal and provincial policy such as Richmond Hill's Official Plan, York Region Official Plans and Ontario's Growth Plan. Richmond Hill will contract with Urban Strategies Inc. to prepare the Planning Study and Yonge/Bernard Key Development Area Secondary Plan and Implementing Zoning By-law. Staff will report back to Council before the end of July 2017 on potential adjustments to the ICBL boundary in accordance with the study findings. During this time there will be an opportunity for community int and I would invite all interested residents to stay tuned as more information becomes available. An interesting article is published in the Richmond Hill Post on page 10. You can view the article by following clicking here.
At the Council Public Meeting held on October 25th a zoning bylaw amendment application was considered by Council in order to provide relief from the current zoning bylaw governing building at 100 Mill St. The applicant is applying to sever the existing lot and create 2 homes on the two proposed lots. A number of residents attended the meeting and/or expressed their concerns to me in writing primarily about the size and height of the proposed buildings. Some expressed that it was unnecessary and inappropriate for these proposed buildings to be so large, when many other newer homes in this area have done a good job "fitting" into the existing neighbourhood. All comments from this meeting will be referred back to planning staff. At this meeting the applicant has made a promise to work with staff and the community to propose something more appropriately sized as the process moves forward. At the present time our planning staff will continue to work with the applicant so that a revised application can be brought to Council in the future.
8. **NEW** 35 Wright St.
RE: Town File No. D02-16030. The proposed application seeks to amend the Zoning By-Law to permit a 6 storey office building to be constructed on the subject lands. I will be be hosting a Residents' Meeting on Tuesday, February 28th at 7:00 p.m. (these details are still to be confirmed at this time but will be finalized before the next e newsletter is distributed in February). A
ll residents are welcome to attend this meeting. A mailed invitation will be distributed to the immediate neighbourhood shortly. There will also be a Council Public Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, March 22nd at 7:30 in the Council Chambers. Your input regarding this application can also be submitted to myself at
david.west@richmondhill.ca and to the staff planner on this file at
katherine.faria@richmondhil.ca
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Emerald Ash Borer - Ash Tree Removal Update
Removals
Street Trees
All Town-owned ash trees on streets have been assessed. Trees with the most significant damage at the time of assessment will be removed this winter. Work was expected to begin the week of December 5th, 2016 and be complete by March (weather permitting). Street trees have been marked with an "R" to indicate they will be removed.
In June 2017, all remaining ash trees on streets will be assessed again.
Park Trees
Park trees that are dead or dying due to Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) damage will also be removed this winter, as per the Parks & Open Space Removal and Replacement Plan.
In some forested areas, ash tree logs and branches will be left on the forest floor after being cut down. This is because woody debris and fallen logs are an important contributor to a healthy forest eco-system, recycling nutrients back into the environment and providing habitat for plants and animals.
Replanting
Replanting of street and park trees that are removed this winter will take place in fall 2017.
Public Notification
A notice in the form of a door hanger will be provided to residents whose property is adjacent to Town-owned trees that are scheduled for maintenance (removal, stumping or replacement).
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Jeff Stewart 905-771-8800 (ext. 2935) or Mark Davies (ext. 2945).
Here is a link to the map that shows the area where trees are being removed:
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Winter Updates
We're Ready! Are You?
Winter comes every year. Sometimes it's late; sometimes it's early. One thing we're certain of is that it's coming!
Richmond Hill staff start planning for winter long before the first snowflakes hit the ground! How? They start by cleaning and repairing streets, clearing leaves from catch basins, and reviewing the winter maintenance protocols and standards. Plowing routes are reviewed; maps are updated; staff are trained; and truck, salt and sand equipment is tested.
Snow clearing activities move into full swing once snow is predicted. Our staff monitor the weather using a GPS system and other weather-tracking apps. Several hours before an expected storm event, an anti-icing brine is applied to bridge decks and primary roads to prevent ice from forming and to make it easier to clear the roads after the snow does fall. It takes about three to four hours to salt all roads in Richmond Hill and plowing operations begin at five centimeters of accumulation. Plowing our roads will take anywhere from 10 to 12 hours - depending on the intensity of weather.
Of note, we now offer a subscription option on our website (
RichmondHill.ca/WinterUpdates) so you can stay current with what's happening on our roads and sidewalks. Our windrow clearing service is still available to those who qualify, as well. To learn more about windrow clearing and to register, visit
RichmondHill.ca/AboutWindrows. Please also remember to follow our winter parking rules (
visit RichmondHill.ca/Parking to learn more) and to keep your sidewalks and the area around fire hydrants clear. Lending a helping hand is always a great thing to do, so please be sure to look out for your neighbours this winter.
Above all, we ask that you please be patient during a snow event. Richmond Hill may seem like a small municipality compared to others, but it takes time to safely clear our roads and sidewalks. To learn more about winter maintenance in Richmond Hill, visit
RichmondHill.ca/WinterInfo. Stay safe!
During a winter snow event it is important that roadways be clear of parked cars so that our snowplows can quickly, efficiently, and effectively, clear the snow from our streets for our neighbours and ourselves. Please do not park on the street during this time. Cars parked on the street may be ticketed but most important for the community, they create a situation where a roadway may not be plowed properly.
Our new website now has the capability of sending updates to residents about the status of a plowing operation.
Residents can sign up to receive alerts about winter maintenance activities on the
website at
https://www.richmondhill.ca/en/our-services/Snow-Removal-News-and-Notices.aspx?_mid_=121
. At the bottom of the webpage you can click the "receive email updates" link. You will then receive an email update every time the webpage is updated with winter maintenance activities.
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Richmond Hill Winter Carnival - Save the Date
As a member of the Richmond Hill Winer Carnival Organizing Committee I would like to invite you to attend the Winter Carnival - a Ward 4 tradition for almost 50 years! Pony rides, pancakes, skating on the pond, skydivers, great live music and a beer tasting event are but some of the highlights of this great winter event. For complete information and a full schedule of events please visit
www.wintercarnival.net.
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BUDGET 2017
The budget process is starting and the capital and operating budgets will be presented to council and the public on the following dates:
Operating Budget Deliberation Meetings
- January 24, 2017 Budget Committee of the Whole Meeting
- January 31, 2017 Budget Committee of the Whole Meeting
- February 7, 2017 Budget Committee of the Whole Meeting
- February 14, 2017 Budget Committee of the Whole Meeting
Special Council Meeting:
- Tuesday, February 28, 2017
How Richmond Hill's Budget Works
Learn how we develop our budgets with this short video. View it here.
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2017 Canada 150 Student Arts Contest
Visit the Central Library Website www.rhpl.richmondhill.on.ca to fill out the form below. Submissions will be accepted until 8:00 pm on
Thursday, February 9, 2017
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WE can change the world Day
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Hands and Hearts for Africa - Sock Hop Fundraiser for the Stephen Lewis Foundation and
African AIDS families
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Kiss and Cry
Local and accomplished director Sean Cisterna will be hosting the York Region Debut of his new film Kiss and Cry at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts.
This is based on the true story of Toronto's Carley Allison, an up and coming figure skater/singer who finds love just as she is diagnosed with an incredibly rare, 1 in 3.5 billion form of cancer.
Details are below; the actors and filmmakers will be in attendance, and will participate in a Q&A afterwards.
Tues, Feb 7th at 7:30pm
Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts
For tickets visit -
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Richmond Hill Philharmonic Orchestra
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Volunteer Achievement Awards
Richmond Hill is proud to recognize the outstanding contributions of residents that have demonstrated a commitment to building a stronger community and have contributed in an extraordinary way to make a meaningful difference for the residents of Richmond Hill.
Richmond Hill is also pleased to acknowledge clubs, organizations, associations, etc. who are celebrating the completion of 10, 15, 20 or 25+ years of service in the community with a special Milestone Anniversary Certificate.
The deadline to submit a nomination for an award or request a Milestone Anniversary Certificate is Friday, February 10, 2017 at 4:30 p.m.
Those selected to receive an award or receive a certificate will be contacted by a Richmond Hill staff member and will be invited to attend a special awards ceremony during National Volunteer Week in April.
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Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts
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Ward 4 Community Corner - Your Shot
For this month I have opted to publish some of my own
photos
that have appeared in this newsletter over the past 3 years - all photos were taken in our beautiful community. If you have photos that showcase Richmond Hill I would invite you to email me at david.west@richmond hill.ca and I will publish them in following month's editions.
Twickenham Park in Winter and in Spring
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Our historic Village Core from 100 feet
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Two beautiful Ward 4 Parks - Karindon Park and Mill Pond in Winter
Springtime and the sap is running (stay tuned for the new Ward 4 Maple Syrup Festival coming this March - more information in next month's newsletter
Spring and fall in Richmond Hill
Honouring our Veterans
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