Publications
Winter 2005 Ward 2 Newsletter
date posted: 2005-12-01
Seasons Greetings! The Canadian Government designated 2005 as the Year of the Veteran. As the year draws to a close, please take a moment to remember and thank all of our wonderful veterans as well as those Canadians who are presently serving abroad to protect our freedoms here at home. I am pleased to report to you on a number of items of interest to residents in Ward 2.
Gamma Foundries
Area residents well know that the long standing complaints of odours and emissions from this operation on Newkirk Road did not improve this year. Despite the concerted efforts of several residents who participated with me, Mr. Frank Klees, MPP Oak Ridges, Ministry of the Environment (MOE) staff, and officials from Gamma Foundries on a Public Liaison Committee, complaints continue about poor air quality and odours. In response to the detailed engineering analysis which confirmed the legitimacy of complaints from residents, Gamma proposed that the operation which is most problematic be rescheduled to a night shift and that odours/emissions would be released between midnight and 6:00 a.m. for the next six (6) months while most of us are asleep in our homes with our windows closed.
This response was simply not acceptable. Recently I reported this to nearby residents and urged them to complete a petition I enclosed and forward it directly to Mr. Klees. He will continue to bring this issue to the fore in the Provincial Legislature. The MOE has now ordered Gamma to immediately begin work to design and implement engineering controls to eliminate these odours.
Interested residents may review my letter and obtain a copy of the petition by visiting my website at www.arniewarner.on.ca, or by calling my office at 905-771-2535. I will continue to work towards a solution which maintains our right to enjoy our homes and neighbourhood.
Richmond Hill Theatre Complex
As Chair of the Steering Committee, I am pleased to inform you that Council has approved this project and provided the necessary funding for it to move forward. The project involves the redevelopment of the entire block on Yonge Street between Wright Street and Richmond Street. It will feature a presentation theatre of up to 600 seats; a multipurpose room/rehearsal hall for 150 persons; a rear laneway with access to 250 parking spaces; and the restoration of the old school house/former Town Hall at the corner of Wright Street and Yonge Street It will also include a civic square in our historical downtown.
You can see a preliminary drawing of this exciting plan by visiting my website, www.arniewarner.on.ca, or by visiting the Town’s website at, www.richmondhill.ca. The reconstruction of an entire downtown block will revitalize our village core area.
Crosby Park
It is with a great deal of pride and excitement that I announce to residents of Ward 2 the decision of Council to support my request to retrofit Crosby Park and make it Richmond Hill’s first ever fully accessible park.
This means that by the end of next year, construction will begin to bring about much needed improvements to the playground, drainage, and parking lot and to make every aspect of the park accessible to children and adults of all abilities. Our park will have an outdoor water play area, new playground and climbing equipment for kids who have disabilities as well as able-bodied children. There will be textured walkways throughout the park connecting the playing fields to the other features. There will be improved parking, lights, and access to all the facilities.
It has long been my dream to see a child who is confined to a wheel chair have the same opportunity to play in a water-spray area or playground as an equal to his/her friends. And, we are going to make it happen in Crosby Park. I am very pleased to be the Chair of this important project Steering Committee. This initiative needs the support of the community as we must raise approximately $500,000 towards the project to make it happen. If you would like to be involved in any way, please contact me at my office. Early in the new year we will hold focus groups and community meetings to make sure everyone has a voice in this wonderful project. Stay tuned - there is much more to come!
Sussex Park
And speaking of well used parks in the older areas of the Ward. When first elected five years ago, I promised that I would do my best to improve the parks and equipment in the older established part of the Ward while ensuring that new facilities keep up with growth in the newer areas. To date we have had success - Newkirk Park and walkway was rebuilt, Crosby Park is about to be a new jewel in the area, and now reconstruction of Sussex Park has been approved.
This Sussex Park Project will see new playground equipment located more centrally in the park for nearby residents; new walkways and seating areas; more plantings and naturalized areas; and a formal link to Cartier Crescent.
We are now working to secure an easement from the new GO Parking lot on Newkirk Road to Major Mackenzie Drive and when this is done, there will be a continuous and safe walking trail all the way from Elgin Mills Road to Major Mackenzie Drive!
GO Transit Layover - Newkirk Road Station
Residents who live in the vicinity of the Newkirk Road GO Station may be aware that GO had proposed a “layover” at the station for the morning GO trains. This meant simply that trains would park overnight on the tracks north of the Station more than halfway to Crosby Avenue. The proposal was that the diesel engines would be started up as early as 4:30 a.m. and be left running to warm them up and to heat or cool the passenger cars.
I opposed this on behalf of residents who would have their sleep disrupted each morning. Richmond Hill Council supported me and a resolution to this effect was forwarded to GO Transit. I am pleased to advise nearby residents that your sleep will not be disturbed as GO has withdrawn this proposal.
19th Avenue Sewer Pipe
The issue of sewage capacity in York Region continues to receive a lot of attention and for good reason. Delays in constructing sewer lines in Markham have impacted us in Richmond Hill and new development will soon be halted. A small group of vocal individuals have focused their attention on the proposed pipe along 19th Avenue in Town which will alleviate the situation. Mixing facts with fiction always results in misinformation and this is no different.
Simply put, the Region has complied with every requirement of both the Provincial and Federal governments and is awaiting final approval to proceed.
What matters in all of this is the disregard that some opponents of this project have for existing residents in Town and in Ward 2. Many homes are at risk in the vicinity of Major Mackenzie Drive in the area between Bayview Avenue and Yonge Street. At risk of what? At risk of sewage backing up into your basement due to over capacity of the existing system. It is for that reason that Town Council froze all new development approvals until the Region-wide problem is resolved.
The Town remains a most desirable place to live and will continue to be a destination for many people. Controlled and careful growth contributes to the economy, provides jobs, gives people a place to live and play and can be sustained with well managed infrastructure projects.
Farmstead Road - Shirley Drive - Silver Stream Public School
Residents in the area of the school are familiar with the problems of speeding, unsafe stopping, running stop signs, etc. In fact poor driving habits are noticeable in the vicinity of every school in Town. It is every parent’s responsibility to ensure that they pick up and discharge their children in safe designated areas on the school property.
As a result of numerous complaints of unsafe driving practices by parents of children at Silver Stream Public School, I asked Council to approve a no-stopping by-law on the south side of Farmstead Road and the east side of Shirley Drive on week days. The York Regional Police will continue to have a presence in the area and will enforce the law to ensure that the area is safe for residents and students alike.
Senior of the Year - Florence Schurman
It was my pleasure to congratulate Ward 2 resident Florence Schurman and her husband Bill on her recent award of Senior of the Year. This delightful couple have brought much to our Town by their involvement in the Heritage Centre, Communities in Bloom, the Garden and Horticultural Society and the United Church.
Congratulations to Florence on this well deserved award!
Gemini Crescent Walkway
Two years ago residents in this neighbourhood asked if I could assist in providing a pedestrian link to Leslie Street from Gemini Crescent. It took some creative work from our Engineering and Public Works Department but the walkway and ramps are now complete and Gemini Crescent is connected to Leslie Street.
Ward Boundaries
New Ward Boundaries have been approved for the November 2006 municipal election. Ward 2 will change along with the other Ward boundaries. For information please contact the Clerk’s Office at, 905-771-8800.
In Closing...
As a very active and busy 2005 comes to an end I would like to extend to every resident of Ward 2, a sincere thank you for your support; your questions; and yes even your complaints over the last year.
From my family to yours we wish you all Peace; Joy and Friendship and a Happy New Year - Kung Hey Fat Choi.