Hot Topics for Mount Dennis

Wednesday February 11, 2009,  7 – 9pm

  Mount Dennis Legion

1050 Weston Road  (2 blocks south of Eglinton)

 

Metrolinx and the GO and Air Rail Link expansion within our Community

(check out metrolinx.com to get more information and provide your input)

Metrus application for development of the former Kodak lands

Habitat for Humanity

Introduction of Action for Neighbourhood Change’s (ANC) new coordinator

 

All Welcome,  Refreshments provided

On Thursday September 11 the gateway to Mount Dennis and the MDCA signs were officially unveiled.  Thanks to Councillor Nunziata and the city who provided this attractive welcome to our community.  Check out Weston Road and Eglinton (north west corner) the next time you drive or walk by.

The “Blue 22” proposal for a rail link from Pearson Airport to Union Station was made public in December 2004.  (It was the federal government’s response to a 1998 request from the city of Toronto for assistance building a subway line to the airport after the cancellation of the Eglinton subway.) This proposed:

 

·          a privately run service by SNC Lavalin on lines presently used for public rail service and one CN freight per day.

·          service provided using refurbished Budd diesel self-propelled railcars, originally built about 50 years ago;

·          an SNC Lavalin-built spur-line into the Airport that would join the existing rail corridor, where the service would use a combination of existing rail tracks and 2 new tracks within the corridor;

·          to make the journey to Union Station in 22 minutes, and charge more than $20 per one-way trip;

·          trains leaving about every 15 minutes between 5 a.m. and 1 am (thus passing Weston and Mount Dennis every 7.5 minutes in each direction);

·          no stops along the line (except at Bloor Street near Dundas West, and perhaps at Woodbine Racetrack).

 

Reaction to the proposal from residents along the route was overwhelmingly negative, especially in the Weston area where the frequent high-speed service would eliminate four level crossings and split the community in half. More than 3,000 people showed up to attend a public meeting in April, 2005 (many were turned away as the hall held 2500). Subsequently, GO transit representatives agreed to carry out a full environmental assessment, and the provincial government promised to explore other alternatives in that assessment.  GO Transit is to be the recipient of $200-$300 million in federal/provincial/municipal tax money to install infrastructure for this new service.  CN will receive the money from GO, and install rails, bridges, tunnels, etc.  CN will own the tracks and lease them back to GO at market rates.  GO will then lease the tracks to the private operator for $1 per year.

 

There is widespread agreement on the need for rail access to Pearson airport, but objectors point out that:

 

·          airport passengers going directly to downtown Toronto number 17% of total passengers using Pearson, and ‘Blue 22’ wants to capture only 3-5% of the airport passengers;

·          a system that provided airport access using the GO system or TTC could connect to the local transit network and help address the need for improved public transit in north-west Toronto, rather than catering only to business travelers;

·          modern electric railcars would create far less noise and pollution than the proposed Budd cars;

·          vibration and noise from increased rail traffic will affect homes near the rail corridor, affecting the area’s livability and property values (the rail corridor will become the busiest in Canada, by far).

·          A significant amount of public money is being spent to install this infrastructure, so the resultant transit system should be a public, not private system.

 

Currently, local residents are still awaiting a decision from the provincial minister of environment on the terms of reference for the Environmental Assessment.  They were filed with the ministry in October of 2006, and the minister had 12 weeks to make a decision.  There are rumours that the original Blue 22 proposal (or something very like it) has support from all levels of government and may now be back on track. Some have expressed concern that changes to EA procedures will be used to overrule residents’ concerns and allow Blue 22 to be railroaded through. Meanwhile there has been no decision on proposals to extend the new Eglinton LRT out to the Airport. And Metrolinx, which is responsible for coordinating GTA-wide transportation planning from Burlington to Oshawa, has yet to produce an overall plan. So a decision may be made to go ahead with an airport rail link to downtown Toronto in the absence of any cohesive approach to the whole transportation picture.

 

An application was made to the City of Toronto, Committee of adjustments to sever the property at 4 Astoria.  

 

Councillor Frances Nunziata arranged for a bylaw representative and the developer to discuss the proposal, which included 4, 2 story houses of approximately 2000 square feet all with entrances from Elhurst Court.  Three of the houses would have approx 8.5M frontage, and the 4th (closest to Astoria) would have approx 10M frontage, keeping all existing trees.   The area is zoned R2, and the proposal met all the current bylaws associated with the zoning.   About 25 residents attended the meeting expressing concerns from various aspects including: change in neighbourhood character: impacts to storm sewers: proximity to neighbours: and building height. 

 

The committee of adjustments hearing was held on August 7. Many residents of both Astoria and Elhurst  sent in letters, faxes or attended in person to express their concerns.  The committee of adjustment ruled against the severence, clearly demonstrating that the community has a voice.  Of course there is an appeal process, so we need to wait and see what happens next.

 

 

Free Yoga Classes in Mount Dennis

 Friday evenings 7 – 8:30pm  

 Instructor comes with incredible credentials and will focus on meditation and the spiritual aspects of yoga as well.   

 

Mount Dennis Community Kitchen

Newcomers Multicultural Community Kitchen

Cooking and preparing a meal ; Enjoying a meal and socializing;  Learn about healthy, nutritious, economical meals

Wedesdays 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Cost:  $2.00 per session

 Newcomer youth Summer club

Every Saturday, 11:00 - 4:00pm

11am Drumming Circle;  1pm Photography Club;  2pm Art Exploration; 3pm Hip Hop Dance club

For more info:  rgoller@lefca.org or 416-769-0830 x2043

 

Learning Enrichment Foundation (LEF)

1267 Weston Road

(Across from Coffee time at the intersection of Ray Ave and Weston Rd)

 

York Community Services

Weston - Mount Dennis Healthcare HUB

 In preparation of the opening of a Healthcare HUB opening to serve Weston and  Mount Dennis later this year, YCS has begun accepting applications for Medical and Social Services.  Over the phone and onsite assessments will be performed prior to making an appointment.  Please call:

 416-653-5400 ext 1332 for Medical intake

(includes nurse practitioners and chiropody)

416-653-5400 ext 1334 for Social Programs intake

Emmett Ave Community Garden

Join local residents and gardeners every Wednesday from 6-8pm at Emmett Ave Community Garden, Northwest quadrant of Eglinton Flats.

 For more information contact Rebekka at Evergreen, 416.596.1495 ext 244.  rhutton@evergreen.ca

 Community Stewardship Program

Interested in helping maintain the natural environment at Eglinton flats?  Meet up with your neighbours and our friends from the City of Toronto's Natural Environment and Community Programs section in partnership with Evergreen.   Meets Tuesday’s at 6pm in Southeast Eglinton flats

 

For more information, please contact Cheryl Post at 416-392-LEAF or greentoronto@toronto.ca.