November 2015

WARD 1 NEWS FROM COUNCILLOR RICK CRAVEN

IN THIS ISSUE…

Development Proposal in Tyandaga (Video)

Where’s the Grocery Store

Speed Reductions

Tree Trimming on Burlington Beach

Advance Green Light

Sarcoa Update

Snake Road Traffic Calming

Management Plan for North Aldershot

Federal Funding Initiatives

Municipal Property Assessment Notices 2016

Community Garden Applications

Loose Leaf Collection in Ward 1

Location Change to North Aldershot Public Meeting

Ward 1 Events & Programs

DEAR FRIENDS, I understand that Tyandaga residents are anxious to learn more about what may happen to the large piece of open land, south of Havendale and west of Brant Street. At this point however, the new owner has still not submitted a formal application for its redevelopment. Please check out my video from this site.

QUESTION OF THE MONTH

Where’s the grocery store? I was shopping recently at Fortinos when a man came up to me and said that I should be doing more to get a grocery store in Aldershot. My first reaction was that there was a certain irony to us standing in the middle of 120,000 square feet of grocery store and discussing the need for a grocery store, but I knew what he meant. Not a week goes by without someone calling my office asking for a grocery store, especially for west Aldershot. I realize that for most people, it is not enough to have a grocery store in the vicinity. It needs to be close to home. I want to assure you that for over a decade my office has aggressively pursued the idea of attracting a grocery store to west Aldershot. My efforts have been supported by the Aldershot Business Improvement Area, the Burlington Economic Development Corporation, City Council and the Mayor. We have had frequent contacts with grocery store chains. These grocery stores tell us that there are two fundamental challenges to locating in west Aldershot. The first problem is the competition. There are six other grocery stores along the perimeter of Aldershot; Fortinos, Longos, Walmart, Sobeys (at the Power Centre) and two grocery stores in Waterdown. According to the experts to whom I have spoken, the presence of these large stores fragments the customer base which leaves a somewhat limited market in west Aldershot to support a new store. The second problem is population and demographics. Grocery stores do their research very well. They tell me that they need a population of about 25,000 people to support a single store. Aldershot’s population in total is about 18,000. Obviously, the population of west Aldershot would be much lower. They also point out that 24% of Aldershot’s population is over age 65. They prefer a younger demographic because young families buy more and buy more frequently. All of this was made clear to us recently when we asked the Rabba grocery store chain to consider locating in Aldershot. After doing its research it responded in writing with the following comment: “After reviewing these documents and looking at the neighbourhood, it appears that there is not sufficient residential density to support a Rabba Fine Foods store.” So, what about residential density? Aldershot residents believe that there MUST be enough density/people to support a grocery store because we keep building more apartments and condos. You and I may agree that we have crossed the population threshold and that a grocery store would do well in west Aldershot but the reality is that it is not our decision. It is a private sector business decision. Yes, there are in fact more condos, apartments and homes than there were ten years ago, but the grocery store chains know that a large percentage of these homes are occupied by only one or two person families (often seniors) compared to decades ago when the average Aldershot home had more than four people living in it, including children.

I strongly believe that west Aldershot will eventually attract a grocery store and there is some reason to be hopeful. My office has had discussions with developers who are looking five years down the road. They clearly understand the need for a store, and there are several potential locations, but they also say it will be a small store not a big supermarket. They project that west Aldershot will eventually end up with a “boutique” grocery store of about 15,000 square feet (slightly larger than Shoppers Drug Mart). I agree that we want and need a grocery store in west Aldershot. Please be assured that I will continue to work on this issue. In the meantime, you can help by contacting any one of the stores on the attached list and encouraging them to considering coming to Aldershot.

TYANDAGA

Speed Reductions Following community requests and analysis by the City’s traffic experts it has been decided to reduce the speed from 50 km to 40 km on the following Tyandaga Streets: Four Seasons Drive, Ester Drive, Ian Road and Humphrey’s Crescent.

MAPLE

Tree Trimming on Beach Hydro One has begun its tree trimming program on the Beach. The goal is to ensure that there is no interruption to the power supply by protecting the lines from interference from the trees. This work is generally done on a six year cycle. Both the City and Conservation Halton have been consulted about the plan. The work will last about 4 weeks and involve chippers, dump trucks and bucket trucks. The work will be done during the daytime. If you have further questions about this work you may contact Ani Bekmezian, Community Relations, Hydro One, 1-877-345-6799. Click on the link to view the presentation that was given by Hydro One at my Maple/Beach Community public meeting.

Answers to Your Questions Two interesting questions were raised at my recent Maple/Beach Community public meeting that I had to seek out the answers: Question #1 - Is the City planning to resurface Maple Avenue? Answer: Yes, in 2017. Question #2 - Can parking be restricted on Regina Drive during the Sound of Music Festival and Ribfest. Answer: Yes. Arrangements have been made with Parking Services.

Bellview Street Following inquiries by constituents and a review by the City’s traffic department it has been decided to reduce the speed on this street from 50 km to 40 km.

1167 Bellview Crescent Three delegations spoke to City Council recently about this proposed in-fill project. The developer is proposing to build two freehold homes on Bellview Crescent and five condominium homes on the nearby private road. This project has a complicated and somewhat controversial history. At the recent City Hall meeting residents expressed concern about the proposed one-way lane out of the development and the failure of the developer to acquire nearby property that would make for a better plan. No decision has been made yet. City Planning staff will be returning to Council in January with their final recommendation.

Skate Park Opening

It was a great pleasure to participate in the recent reopening of the Maple Park facility. The skate park has been ‘spruced up” along with the addition of a new “wedge roll-in” feature. My thanks to the GWG Foundation for Kids and the Maple Tribute Project for their support of this initiative.

Hospital Update

Hospital officials are now projecting that the concrete frame for the final level (7) of the new tower will be completed by Christmas. Over 200 construction workers are currently on site. You can view the construction via a live web cam on the JBH web site.

ALDERSHOT

South Service Road in Aldershot? The City is reviewing a proposal for 1200 King Rd. to create an industrial/commercial subdivision on the 49 hectares of vacant land south of the 403, north of the railway tracks, between the GO Station and King Road. The focus is on the eastern portion of the site which has been identified for the development of new businesses, job opportunities and commercial uses. Penta Properties Inc. (Paletta) owns the land. Penta’s plan proposes that the eastern half of the property be divided into 27 lots for the desired employment uses. This proposal has important long term implications for Aldershot because, in addition to the potential for new jobs, it would require construction of a south service road running from the GO Station to King Road. This would be a welcome addition to the traffic pattern as it would take some of the pressure off Plains Road. The western half of the site, toward the GO Station, is under appeal and is still being discussed. Should the employment areas be maintained or converted to residential or retail uses? It should be noted that, at this point, there is no guarantee that development of these lands, or the south service road, is imminent. Timing will depend entirely on the wishes of the land owner, business demand, and servicing requirements. There are also a variety of environmental questions which must be addressed before this land can be developed. The Falcon, Grindstone and Indian Creeks all run through the area which also includes important woodlands. I plan to host a public meeting early in the new year about this proposed “Industrial/Commercial Plan of Subdivision”.

Advance Green Light With the intersection improvements at LaSalle/Waterdown and Plains Roads nearly complete, my office has received a number of calls asking if the traffic lights could be upgraded to include an advance green for left turns from LaSalle to Plains. Good news. Staff have done the analysis and agreed that such an addition would work. Installation will take place soon.

Sarcoa Update

Noise across the Bay from this Hamilton night club seems to have been reduced in recent months. At the recent Greater Bay Area meeting it was reported that Hamilton staff visited Sarcoa 35 times this year and laid two formal charges. Sarcoa was found guilty on one charge and the other remains pending. Hamilton staff also reported that Sarcoa seemed to move it’s outside patio parties indoors at mid summer. This seems to have helped reduce the noise reaching Aldershot.

Tanager Avenue and Merle Avenue

The City’s traffic experts have determined that the speed limit on these streets should be reduced from 50 km to 40 km. The change will take place later this fall.

Snake Road Traffic Calming City staff and I met recently with residents of Snake Road. There has been a long standing problem with speeding cars, noisy motorcycles and bicycles travelling in packs on this physically challenging road. Following a detailed analysis Traffic Technologists recommended the following measures be taken: upgrading curve warning signage, installing rumble strips in the area immediately north of Old York Road, adding chevron markings to highlight the changes in the road alignment, adding white speed reduction pavement markings at the sharp curves, upgrading all signage and resurfacing Snake Road south of Old York in 2016. Residents seemed generally pleased with these recommendations but also requested that further investigation be done into the possibility of installing rubber speed bumps at the north end of Snake Road.

Cootes to Escarpment This important plan to protect the open space, natural environment in north Aldershot is moving to its next phase. The Cootes to Escarpment EcoPark System is preparing “Management Plans” for two significant areas of north Aldershot. A public meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 17 at 7:00 p.m. at the RBG to discuss the draft management plans. For more information go to http://www.cootestoescarpmentpark.ca/project-reports. Following this meeting I will be providing routine updates about other north Aldershot issues. Meeting Agenda: 6:30 – 7:00 p.m. Open House 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Presentation & Discussion 8:30 – 9:00 p.m. North Aldershot Updates & Questions with Councillor Craven

Federal Funding Initiatives My thanks to the “Canada 150 Infrastructure Program” for some new project money coming to Aldershot. The Federal Government have approved $11,352 to improve wheel chair accessibility to the washrooms at Hidden Valley Park, $8,333 for an energy efficiency project at the Aldershot Pool and $109,000 to the LaSalle Park Marina Association for “finger dock replacements”. Good news for Aldershot!

GO Parking Lot Metrolinx has completed work on 100 addition parking spots at the Aldershot GO Station. They are located at the east end of the south side.

COMMUNITY

Municipal Property Assessment Notices

2016 is a provincial property tax assessment year. Assessment notices are being mailed now. Enquiries about Property Assessment Notices and assessment matters in general should go to 1-866-296-6722. Additional information can be found at www.mpac.ca. The Province establishes the assessed value of your home, upon which the City determines your property tax. See flyer for more information

Burlington Fire Dept History on Display at Joe Brant Museum/Dec 1

The Burlington Fire Department has a fascinating history that began in the 1890s with the Burlington Volunteer Fire Brigade. This exhibition explores the history of the Burlington Fire Department and the disastrous Brant Inn fire. The fire occurred in 1925 and is considered one of the most notable events of that era. The entire Burlington Fire Brigade would have been called upon for this emergency and their newly acquired motorized fire truck would have been used to battle the inferno.

Community Garden Applications Don’t forget. If you want to apply for one of the 2016 Community Garden Plots at the Francis Road Bikeway garden you need to apply before November 22. Applications can be found at

www.burlington.ca/communitygardens.

2015 Loose Leaf Collection Schedule

The City's loose leaf collection program began on Oct 26. Leaf pick up for the Aldershot residents west of King Rd. begin on Nov 9 and the second round of pick up begins the week of Nov. 16. Residents are reminded to rake leaves to the edge of the curb or roadway (not on road) and ensure leaves are not covering catch basins. For more information and to view the full schedule visit the http://www.burlington.ca/en/services-for-you/leaf-collection.asp

PUBLIC MEETINGS Management Plans for the Clappison-Grindstone & Waterdown-Sassafras Woods Heritage Lands/Ward 1 North Aldershot Public Meeting Tuesday, November 17 Royal Botanical Gardens, Rooms 1 & 2, 680 Plains Rd. W. 6:30 - 7:00 p.m. - Open House 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. - Presentation & Discussion 8:30 - 9:00 p.m. - North Aldershot Updates & Questions with Councillor Craven

WARD 1 PROGRAMS & EVENTS

Brant Centre Christmas Sale Sat, Nov 14, 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. 1182 North Shore Blvd. E.

JBH Foundation's 2015 High Falutin' Hoedown Mercedes-Benz Burlington, 441 North Service Rd. Sat., Nov. 14, Doors open at 7:30 p.m. DJ, BBQ, auction, learn line dancing, country fair games and have a toe-tapping good time. Proceeds will support the hospitals Phase 2 of Joseph Brant Hospitals first major redevelopment and expansion. For information and tickets online visit jbhfallparty

Auxiliary of RBG Christmas Show and Sale 2015 Thursday, November 19; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, November 20; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, November 21; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Camilla and Peter Dalglish Atrium; RBG Centre Free Admission - Thursday Admission Applies - Friday and Saturday Check www.rbg.ca for a full schedule of special events and demonstrations.

11th Annual Christmas Tree of Hope hosted by the Aldershot Village BIA Fri, Nov 20, 5 - 8 p.m. Tree lighting at 6:00 p.m. Plucker's Restaurant, 335 Plains Rd. E. Entertainment by Aldershot School, Burlington Christian Academy and Fern Hill School. Horse drawn wagon rides, hot dogs and hot chocolate.

Hampton Terrace Christmas Show Sat, Nov 21, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. 75 Plains Rd. W. Bake sale, craft table, special prize draw, penny auction with great prizes.

Blazing Fiddles Concern West Plains Church, 549 Plains Rd. W. Fri., Nov 27 Silent Auction at 6:30 p.m., Concert at 7:30 p.m. Tickets available after Oct 15 - $25.00, includes refreshments

Holy Rosary Parish Annual Turkey Roll & Silent Auction Fri, Nov 27, 7:00 p.m. Holy Rosary School Gym, 261 Plains Rd. E. Tickets $5.00 Contact Don Prescott, 905-523-7518 or Ken Fleming, 905-336-6521 Silent Auction, door prizes and roast beef on a bun. All proceeds go towards supporting local charitable activities. Mistletoe Marketplace Park Avenue Manor, 924 Park Ave W. Sat, Nov 28, 2 - 4 p.m. Crafts and vendors, baking, raffle Vendors wanted Contact Leah Brakewell, 905-333-3323 or leahb@parkavenuemanor.ca Shop the Neighbourhood Sat, Nov 28, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. The Aldershot Village BIA will be celebrating local shopping and local businesses with Shop the Neighbourhood. The BIA will be supporting this program with free shopping bags that businesses may distribute to their customers if they are participating in the program. Shop Aldershot!