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The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday April 17, 2002 - A7 True confessions of a red-light running motorist It was interesting to read about the fail ure of the so-called "Red-Light" cameras. 1 guess they weren't watching me. Here's my story: I guess I'm a criminal. After all, I did commit an illegal act. Awfully unlawful. The law of the land lies broken at my feet, the mirrored pieces reflecting a thousand images of a criminal's face. My face. I ran a red light. On purpose. But your honour. I'm guilty with an explanation. You see, I live and work in Oakville. I'm lucky enough to live close to work and I go home for lunch on most days. On a good day, the rare one where I get mostly green lights on the way to work, I can make it to work from home in about eight minutes. And that's why I'm here, your honour. Let me explain: On those golden days when the Traffic Gods smile down upon me, I sail on down the road with one arm out the win dow, the radio playing some forgotten song. And then there are those days - too many of them - when the Traffic Gods are offended that I should hope to make good time on my way to work. They reach down from the heavens and flip the switches on those traffic lights, and all I hit are red lights. I'm being stopped at every intersec tion. Minutes go by. Cars don't. And there's the mb. Let me explain: I'm an adult. I under stand the importance of Fair Play, the cour tesies of Waiting My Turn. But why do I have to wait for my turn when no-one else is taking theirs? (This is the part where I stamp my feet on the floorboards and bang my open hands on the steering wheel.) And there I was, at the comer of Sixth Line and Upper Middle Road. I'm heading north. I'm in one of seven cars sitting at the red light. Waiting Our Turn. I'm third in line for a left turn. On the far side of the inter section, pointing south, are nine cars. We're all Waiting Our Turn. Birds fly through the intersection. A piece Of newspaper blows through the inter section. Some road-sand left over from our last snowfall kicks up and swirls through the intersection, untouched. There are no cars in sight. So here we are, at least 15 of us, all try ing to get somewhere, and we're watching the birds and the newspapers and the dirt as we Wait Our Turn. I remember reading something somewhere about the amount of noxious emissions spewing out of cars Waiting Their Turn at red lights, so I switch off my engine and mutter a prayer that the car will indeed start when the lights change. The lights are still stubbornly red. And look! Cars are approaching from the east! I watch as they approach, a cluster of them running like a pack of dogs toward the intersection. They've got the green and they're coming closer, and closer, and it's still green and it turns yellow! These lights catch a new batch of cars. It's as if the lights saw them coming. The first car in this gag gle hits the brakes hard and the nose dips, but they stop in time. Hah! Too bad for them, eh? It's our turn! I re-start my car. Fifteen of us stare at our red light, knowing it's about to change, and silently lording it over those who got caught. Ha ha, you weenies! You had to stop for us! We get the advanced! The green arrow! The three of us in the left turn lane accelerate towards our freedom. I'm third. The first car rolls through slowly, as stately and important as befits a car in its position. It makes a wide sweeping turn. The second car cuts it a little fine and comes very close to the center island. And my green arrow turns yellow. I have to stop. The lights go green for the people going straight through. I'm trapped. As the cars heading south zoom past me, I curse every one of them. Not fair? Of course it's not fair. My sense of Fair Play, of Waiting My Turn, has been eroded by time. Time seems to have slowed down. Albert Einstein had the idea that time could be bent and stretched like warm putty. He suggested it had something to do with approaching the speed of light. He was almost right. I think it actually has something to do with the speed of traffic lights. I'm sure there's a connection he missed. More cars have been added to this line vlsit-wwwoakvllletrails'com.discover* heading south. Some go straight through and some are thoughtful enough to signal before turning. Some. And now - remem bering Einstein - time speeds up. Before I get to go through, my precious green light turns yellow for what appears to be about three nanoseconds. And then, before the elements in the yellow light can cool, we're back to red. I can't go. I'm held in place by the power of the light. And time slows down again. The other line of cars, the one heading east, stretches out like a caterpillar as it pushes on through. I sit and watch them go. And now I'm back to watching birds and newspapers and swirling dirt. No cars.. All gone. I sit for a few moments, and a little light of my own switches on inside my head. Hey. There's no-one around. I twist around in my seat to get a good look. No-one. I'm the only one sitting at this intersection. I can clearly see for at least a few hundred metres in all directions. No-one's coming. The only sounds are my engine and my signal clicking left, left, left. So - with no evil intent your honour - 1 hit the gas. I was free! That red light loomed over me as I made my left turn and headed on down the road, all by myself. I turned the radio on and, feeling like a little boy who has just jumped down from the kitchen counter with a mouthful of cookies, I drove away. The green light at the next intersec tion was roughly two hundred metres ahead. As I approached, it turned red. I had to stop. I was all alone. Isn't that punishment enough, your honour? Isn't it? MALCOLM REID G> T i r o o p e r O A K V I L L E C o u n c il & (9 0 5 ) 845-6601 S t a n d in g C o m m it t e e M e e t in g s s a y s : D R IV E DRY! A m e s s a g e f r o m t h e M a y o r 's S p e c ia l C o m m itte e A g a in s t Im p a ire d D riv in g M o n d a y ,A p ril2 2 ,2 0 0 2 Planning & Development Council Council Chambers 7:30 p.m. T u esd ay ,A p ril 2 3 ,2 0 0 2 Community Services Committee 7:30 p.m. - Oakville Room Administrative Services Comm. 7:30 p.m. - T rafalgar Room M o n d a y ,M ay6 ,2 0 0 2 Council Meeting Council Chambers 7:30 p.m. M o n d ay ,M ay1 3 ,2 0 0 2 Planning & Development Council Council Chambers 7:30 p.m. THE CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF OAKVILLE SALE OF LAND BY PUBLIC TENDER, under the MUNICIPAL TAX S A L E S A C T Take notice that tenders are invited for the purchase of the lands described below and will be received until 3:00 P.M. (local time), May 21, 2002 at the office of the Clerk, The Corporation of the Town of Oakville, 1225 Trafalgar Road. Oakville. ON L6J 5A6 A public tender opening will be held on the same day at 3:30 P.M. (local time) at the Oakville Town Hall, Trafalgar Room, following the closing of tenders: Tax file # 94-08 Description of Land(s) Block 3, Plan M515. Town of Oakville, Regional Municipality of Halton, PIN 24902-0022, vacant land south side of Bristol Circle Lot 73. Plan M34, Town of Oakville, Regional Municipality of Halton, PIN 24873-0177, property municipally known as 141 Oakdale Drive Lot 120, Plan M335, Town of Oakville, Regional Municipality of Halton, PIN 24871-0245, property municipally known as 1468 Ambercroft Lane Minimum Tender $55,666.23 C ouncil & C ommittee T ouchtone P hone L ine 815-5959 REQUEST FOR TENDER CONTRACT NO. PW-02-01 CONCRETE SIDEWALK AND ROADWAY PAVEMENT REPAIRS TENDER DOCUMENTS: Plans, specifications and tender forms will be available on or after Tuesday, April 16. 2002 and may be obtained from the Department of Public Works, 1140 South Service Road for a non-refundable payment of twenty-five dollars ($25.00), G.S.T. included, by cash or certified cheque payable to the Town of Oakville. The Contractor whose tender is accepted shall be required to post a Perfor mance Bond satisfactory to the Town of Oakville, equal to 100% of the Con tract Price and a Labour and Material Payment Bond totaling 50% of the Contract Price. 00-03 $26,895.18 01-08 $27,924.34 PROJECT NUMBER: PW-02-01 PROJECT DESCRIPTION: "Mlacallanaoua Major SidawaULCurb aosL B oasttax.EM saamtL Raoaira" Removal and replacement of approximately 464m2 of existing concrete sidewalk, 416 m of existing concrete curb in various selected locations. Removal and replacement of approximately 1200 m2 of existing asphalt paving in various selected locations. The sale is governed by the Municipal Tax S a le s Act, R.S.0.1990, c. M.60 and the rules made under the Act. Tenders must be submitted in the prescribed form and must be accompanied by a deposit in the form of a money order, bank draft or cheque certified by a bank, trust company or Province of Ontario Savings Office, payable to the municipality and representing at least twenty percent (20%) of the tender amount. The Corporation of the Town of Oakville makes no representation regarding the title to or any other matters relating to the land to be sold nor does the municipality provide vacant access to the successful purchaser. Responsibil ity for ascertaining these matters rests solely with potential purchasers. The successful purchaser will be required to pay the amount tendered plus any accumulated realty taxes, the relevant land transfer tax and Goods and Sales taxes (GST) where applicable. For further information regarding any issues relating to the sale please contact: Erica Roberts, Tax Collector, Finance Dept. (905) 845-6601 Ex. 3055 For a copy of the prescribed form of tender and information regarding the arocess, please contact: Purchasing & Office Services Division, Finance Department 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville ON L6J 5A6 (905) 338-4197 ADDRESS: Sealed tenders on forms provided will be received by the Town Clerk, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville, Ontario, L6H 2L1 or by mail to P.O. Box 310, Oakville, Ontario. L6J 5A6. CLOSING TME/DATE: 2:00 p.m., local tim e, Tuesday A pril 30,2002 Tenders will be opened publicly at a meeting of the Tender Opening Commit tee at the Oakville Municipal Building, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville, Ontario on Tuesday April 30, 2002 at 2:30 p.m. local time. TENDER DEPOSTT A certified cheque, a Bank/Trust Company draft or a Bid Bond for the amount specified in the tender documents MUST accompany each tender. The Corporation reserves the right to reject any or all tenders and the lowest or any tender will not necessarily be accepted. R.G. Green, P. Eng., Director Department of Public Works NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING APPLICANT: Eighth Line Developers Group Files: Z .1410.13. 24T-02001/1410 and 24CDM-02001/1410 Please be advised that a public meeting will be held to discuss a proposed Draft Plan of Subdivision, Draft Plan of Condominium and Zoning Amend ment as submitted by the above-noted applicant. This meeting will be an information meeting hosted by the Planning Services Department at which time details of the applications will be presented and public concerns noted. This meeting will take place on Wednesday, May 1, 2002 com m encing at 7:30 p.m. in the Cafeteria, Town Hall, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville. Any individuals wishing to attend this meeting and speak to these matters are invited to do so. An explanation of the purpose and effect of the proposed applications, describing the land to which the proposed applications apply, and a key map showing the location of the land to which the proposed applications apply can be found below. If a person or public body that files a notice of appeal of a decision in respect of the proposed zoning amendment to the Ontario Municipal Board does not make oral submissions at a public meeting or does not make written sub missions before the proposed zoning amendment is approved, the Ontario Municipal Board may dismiss all or part of the appeal. If you wish to be notified of the intent to approve the Draft Plan of Condo minium, or the Draft Plan of Subdivision, you must make a written request to Mr. Peter Cheatley, Planning Director at the Town's Planning Services Depart ment, Town of Oakville, P.O. Box 310, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville, ON. L6J 5A6. Any other questions may be addressed to Mr. David Nelson, Planner, Tel: 845-6601, Ext. 3039, em ail dnelson@ town.oakville.on.ca,. Location - The subject property is located at the southeast comer of the intersection of Dundas Street (Regional Road 5) and Eighth Line in the Iroquois Ridge Community, North District. The land is legally described as Part of Lot 10, Concession I, S.D.S. O fficial Plan - Figure M2, Iroquois Ridge Community, North District, desig nates the subject land Residential Low Density 2 with a maximum density of 22 units per site hectare. The Official Plan also requires a 15 metre buffer strip along the south side of Dundas Street. Zoning - The site is zoned Agricultural - A. Prooosal - The applicant has submitted applications involving a Zoning Amendment, Draft Plan of Subdivision and Draft Plan of Condominium, to permit a total of 28 detached dwelling units with lot frontages ranging from 13 metres to 20 metres. The zoning amendment would rezone the lands from A, Agricultural to an appropriate residential zone to permit construction of the dwellings noted above. The draft plan of subdivision would create freehold lots fronting onto a common elements condominium roadway, the Eighth Line and a public road to be constructed on lands to the east of the subject lands. The draft plan of condominium would provide for the common elements roadway with a width of 7 metres. Dated at the Town of Oakville this 17th day of April 2002. David Nelson. Acting Manager, Current Planning Section Planning Services Department NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING APPLICANT: M archetti/Kowalchuk Files: Z.1410.12 and 24T-01007/1410 Please be advised that a public meeting will be held to discuss a proposed Draft Plan of Subdivision and Zoning Amendment as submitted by the above-noted applicants. This meeting will be an information meeting hosted by the Planning Services Department at which time details of the applications will be presented and public concerns noted. This meeting will take place on Wednesday, May 1 , 2002 com m encing at 7:30 p.m. in the Cafeteria, Town Hall, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville. Any individuals wishing to attend this meeting and speak to these matters are invited to do so. An explanation of the purpose and effect of the proposed applications, describing the land to which the proposed applications apply, and a key map showing the location of the land to which the proposed applications apply can be found overleaf. If a person or public body that files a notice of appeal of a decision in respect of the proposed zoning amendment to the Ontario Municipal Board does not make oral submissions at a public meeting or does not make written submissions before the proposed zoning amendment is I _I__ I____ approved, the Ontario Municipal Board may dismiss all or part of the appeal. If you wish to be notified of the Intent to approve the Draft Plan of Subdivision, you must make a written request to Mr. Peter Cheatley, Planning Director, at the Town's Planning Services Department, Town of Oakville, P.O. Box 310, 1225 Trafalgar Road. Oakville, ON. L6J 5A6. Location - The subject property is located on the south side of Dundas Street (Regional Road 5) approximately 200 metres east of Eighth Line in the Iroquois Ridge Community, North District. The land is legally described as Part of Lot 10, Concession I, S.D.S. O fficial Plan · Figure M2, Iroquois Ridge Community, North District, designates the subject land Residential Low Density 2 with a maximum density of 22 units per site hectare. The Official Plan also requires a 15 metre buffer strip along the south side of Dundas Street. Zoning - The site is zoned Agricultural - A. Proposal - The applicant has submitted applications involving a Zoning Amendment and Draft Plan of Subdivision, to permit a total of 38 detached dwelling units and 12 semi-detached dwellings. The lot frontages for the detached dwellings range from 12 m to 17.5 m and the lot frontages for the semi-detached dwellings are 15 m. The proposed semi-detached units would be located adjacent to Dundas Street. The zoning amendment would rezone the lands from A, Agricultural to an appropriate residential zone to permit construction of the dwellings noted above. The draft plan of subdivision would create freehold lots fronting public roads. Any other questions may be addressed to Mr. David Nelson, Planner, Tel: 845-6601, Ext. 3039, email dnelson@town.oakville.on.ca,. Dated at the Town of Oakville this IT*1day of April 2002. David Nelson,Acting Manager, Current Planning Section Planning Services Department Spring flowers - the first · blooms of the forest JC The Pioneers used to say that if you listened carefully on still, spring nights, that you could hear the spring flowers poking their way up through the ground. Before the trees get their leaves, the forest floor is covered with many beautiful, fragile and delicately scented flowers that bloom in the warmth of the spring sun. Watch for the first spring flower as you walk the trails. Start a Nature Notebook and see if this flower is the first to poke up again next year! * J 3 » I · 2 = · ~ < = " . ·» H E R ITA G E TR A IL S · A signature project o f The Community Foundation o f Oakville in partnership with the Town o f Oakville www.oakvilletrails.com h i k e · w w w · o a k v l l l e t r d i l s · c o m · e x p l o r e · *< ,, a -- ° 1225 TRAFALGAR R O A D · OAKVILLE, O N T A R IO · L6J 5A6