Municipal Election 2018

I am delighted that I will continue to be at the Council table!  Thank you for your vote of confidence.

I ran for re-election as I wanted to continue serving King residents and businesses as I felt good about my contributions.   Furthermore I knew that there are challenges and opportunities ahead for the Township which require analysis, debate and tough decision making.

Zancor Condo at 2075 King Road

At Monday August 10 Council meeting there is a report recommending approval of Official Plan Amendment (OPA) and Zoning Bylaw Amendment (ZBA) to enable the building of a condominium at the site of former Township Office at 2075 King Road. This project is exciting for several reasons. i)  It represents a major change in residential options in King City.  ii) The plans include commitments to green features in the amended zoning bylaw; and there is intent to include more green features as part of the site plan which will be done later.  But, you don’t get such changes without “breaking the mold” of what has been done traditionally: the proposal is 6 stories. The report is comprehensive; the visualizations provided in the schedules are revealing.  Some may not like “the look;”  I believe there is significant improvement versus what we saw orginally. I don’t believe there is a real argument as to the appropriateness of this site for this degree of intensification: proximity to schools, library, major shopping, public transit. And,intensification is not an option if we are to preserve our open natural spaces where we grow our food and enjoy nature.

I have said that “the mold” for development in King City, particularly on King Road is being broken.  I personally have struggled with acceptance of such change because it is so different.  Part of the challenge for this specific project is that there are many properties in the immediate area on King Road which are in flux.  In last year there have been public meetings for much smaller projects of townhouses or condos on north side of King Road within short distance of this project. Each of them has been different than King City’s tradition; and to add to the uncertainty of what King Road is going to look like in 10 years is the fact that neither of these ones have been approved yet and hence may change.   The new King City Library is very different than the former one.

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Modifications to “One King”

As posted earlier, a report regarding proposed modifications to our adopted “Our King” official plan (OP) is being presented to Council at the August 10 Council meeting.  Here is the Staff report.  You can review the modified OP at [email protected]  and see the responses to comments made throughout the process.  If you have comments about the proposed modifications submit them to [email protected]  by 12pm. Or on same timing register with [email protected] or phone 905 833 4068 to make a verbal deputation to Council during the virtual council meetings at http://king.ca.  This has been a huge project for all of us.  I am grateful that so many members of the public have participated throughout.

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Official Plan: moving forward

At August 10 virtual Council meeting proposed draft modifications to our adopted “Our King” official plan is being presented to Council.  The actual report from Staff will be included in the Agenda for the meeting which will be posted August 6th.  In the interim the modified OP has been posted on [email protected] with proposed changes tracked.   Its  a daunting task to read an OP, let alone to understand modifications.  There are two other documents on [email protected] which are helpful.   A matrix showing the comment/question from the public and the response from the Staff to it.  And, a draft showing all the modifications.  Once Council approves the draft it will be sent to Region for final approval; as I know Staff has been working closely with YR throughout this process I am hopeful that it will be approved.  If you have comments about the proposed modifications submit them to [email protected]  by 12pm. Or on same timing register with [email protected] or phone 905 833 4068 to make a verbal deputation to Council during the virtual council meetings at http://king.ca.  This has been a huge project for all of us.  I am grateful that so many members of the public have participated throughout.

Council Meeting on August 10

Stage 3 and new COVID app

Moving into Stage 3 is allowing us to resume activities valuable for our mental & emotional well being and for our economy.  Its important that we continue to do per the recommended protocols including wearing face masks when inside public facilities and to continue maintaining 2 m distancing. During the last couple days I have observed good adherence to both of the latter I am very happy to say.  I am interested in the new COVID Alert app announced by Federal Government on July 31.  Like the protocols I have mentioned, this app is not going to save anyone from transmission but it is another tool.  Its  available for download on smart phones in Ontario. Click here for full summary of it and how to get & use it.  Experts believe if enough people download the app it can help prevent outbreaks. I have down loaded on my phone.

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Redside Dace Habitat: threat

In a recent post I expressed great concern about a proposed amendment to the Growth PlanMore Sprawl for Greater Golden Horseshoe which, as is, will enable more sprawl and increasing risk on the habitat of endangered species. There are unfortunately too many of the latter; one which always attracts my attention is the redside dace.  As a layperson I think of this little fish as an indicator of a stream or creek health. I am fortunate to have the Kettleby Creek running through my property; several times Lake Simcoe Conservation Property have visited to assess fish diversity and to date they have always found redside dace in to. Given this personal interest I was impressed with a feature in one of the complimentary magazines delivered with one of the local papers:  well written, informative information about several species at risk, including redside dace.  Describeswhy development threatens it; how building new subdivisions and roads affects its habitat.   You can read it below.

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