Corridor Area Ratepayers Association said Monday that his group will be unable to prevent the develop- ment of the GO-ALRT (Advanced Light Rail Transit) -,maintenance yard on Champlain Ave. However, he assured his fellow Corridor area residents that the association will stili press for an environ- mental assessment the yard has the minimal possible im- pact on' neighbouring residents. Over the course of the past few weeks, residen- ts in the area have said that the maintenance yard will not only have a detrimental impact on their property values but will produce in- crease noise and other pollution as well. Colin Duddridge, president ofuC.A.R.A made his comments at Monday night's meeting of Whitby Town Coun- cil's operations commit- tee. He told both the com- mittee and other area residents at the meeting that the Výhitby site was chosen from 26 possible sites and was deemed to be the best by GO-ALRT officials because the track will run along the north side of Highway 401. Duddridge said that the residents have many valid objections but most of them come because residents don't know-wbat the facility will look like or how it will operate. "It has become quite apparent that it comes down to' afear of the unknown," he said, "What's it going to look like? What is it going to d o my house? . do to my bouse?" He also admitted that the association was iprobably out to lunch on pollution" noting that because the cars will be electrically powered they will produce little convention pollution. Duddridge noted that the GO-ALRT cars are being built by the Urban Transit Development Corporation, a Crown company wholly owned by the Ontario gover- nment. The government nment. The government Y Vol. 14, No. 49 Wednesday, December 5, 1984 32 Pages m1 will want to sell these railway cars to transit authorities not only in Canada but across the world as well.. This means that the Whitby yard will have to have a "show place" where the vehicles can be displayed to potential buyers. "That yard is going to be a show place for the world," Duddridge said, "And because its going to be a show place, then its got to look like a show place." . And, that, he added, is what the association wants both council; and the provincial gover- nment to ensure. Duddridge has already resigned him- self to seeing the project developed. s. "It will probably hap- pen no matter what we do," he said. However, he assured his neighbours that should the association be successful in getting an environmental assessment bearing they will ask for certain protections. "We're asking for a $4.3 nilllion will be spent renovating Iroquois Park hearing tò prevent pollution to your sight and pollution to your ears. " After the meeting, Duddridge noted that: "It is my personal opinion that it's already a fait accompli. "Let's push for whatever is needed to minimize the impact." Mayor Bob Attersley lent his support to Dud- dridge's comments stressing that the main- tenance will create new jobs for the area. "This will be a good facility for the Town of Whitby," he said adding "Some of the concerns have been over exagerated." Reg. Coun. Gerry Emm noted that he has been assured by the provincial government that the project will also provide for tree planting and berming to help ob- scure the residents' view of the yard. "It is going to look like a Cadbury's plant,"1 'be said, "And I'm going to strive to see that's what they will build."P Sue Tabuchi and Marlene Hilton-Moore seen here examining prints of "Serenity Spring" -as they come off the lithostone at1 Nicholas Novak Print Studio which is part of1 Whltby Arts Station Gallery. are of the the Free Press Staff Photo Tabuchi's print Is being offered in a limited edition of 50 to raise funds for the gallery. "Serenity and Spring" Is being printed on 100 per cent rag paper, by hand, ready to be mounted and f ramed. Print to raise money for gallery For the fourth time in its history, the Whitby Arts Station Gallery is publishing an exclusive limited edition print by a Canadian artist in an effort to raise funds for its operation. The gallery is publishing a multi-color lithograph by member artist Sue Tabuchi en- titled "Serenity of Spring" with plum blossoms against a midnight blue back- ground. The prints are being made by lithographer - artist Marlene Hilton-Moore in the gallery's Nicholas Novak Print Studio on 100 per cent rag paper, ready to be mounted and framed. There are seven colors in the print and the edition consists of only 50 prints, each of which are signed and numbered by the artist. "Serenity of Spring" is available at the gallery, which is located at the corner of Henry and Victoria Sts. and cost $235 (plus retail sales tax). Tabuchi says she was inspired to make the print because of her love ofnature. "I am inspired by anything that relates to nature," she says, "Nature is where my in- spiration comes from." Tabuchi, who also teachers Japanese brush painting at the gallery says that the print is a celebration of the onset.of spring. "Because we go through the bleakness of winter, we always look forward to spring," she says. The Town of Whitby has started a process that will see $4.3 million worth of improvements made to the Iroquois Park Recreation Com- plex beginning in 1986. At its meeting Mon- day night, Whitby Town Council's operations committee adopted a report from ad- ministrator Bill Wallace that calls for the im- provements to be made over a three-year period. However, before con- struction begins, council will spend 1985 hearing public input on the needs Of local recreation. The report also calls for the town to be the contractor in the project, taking full con- trol of the day-to-day construction of the project. The proposal put before the committee calls for the renovation of the Anne Ottenbrite Pool, the construction of a second ice pad, a mar- tial art and fitness room as well as a multi- purpose room, a lounge and a warm up running track. Wallace's report echoes many of the recommendations laid down in the Jean Mon- tieth study that was tabled earlier this year. The only major ex- clusions are the development of squash and racquet ball courts. However, Wallace said that they are items that council could. con- sider. "The budgetary con- siderations might in- clude other elements that are not contained in this report, such as, racquetball courts, as an example," the ad- ministrator said in his report. In the Montieth study it was noted that facilities such as squash and racquet ball courts are excellent revenue producing facilities and other pay for them- selves and more. While Wallace admit- ted that such facilities could prove beneficial council will have to con- sider the impact such facilities would make on privately owned operations providing the same services. "We will have to be conscious of the private concerns that are operating in the town," he said. Wallace's report gives top priority to the con- struction of the second ice pad. While the other items are treated with equal importance he recommended that council consider "such other facilities as coun- cil may consider ap- propriate from a revenue producing point Of view." He also stresses that 1985 is needed as a year of planning. "We are placing heavy emphasis on 1965 being a year of planning CONT? ON PG.7 1 Thepr C.A.R.A.president adnits nothing will stop maintenance yard project esident of the hearing to ens rurethi, tn a Jelm. In A1A