Report urges downtown Nose nudge THREE-YEAR-OLD ÃMelissa couldnt help but give a tug on Frosty the Snowman's nose. Frosty was on hand for the winter games planned Sunday at Memorial Park during the Brooklin Winter Carnival. However, the brooklin Kinsmen, who are coor- dinating the week-long carnival, can- celled the games after an hour due to a lack of participation. Other events con- tinue this week. Free Press photo Lot frontage criticized Housing, office plan to be reviewed A recommendation on a proposed 12-story condominium and eight- story retail/office building north of Rossland Rd. and east of Garden St. has been referred by Whitby's administrative committee until March. - Concerns by councillor Ross Bat- ten over the small lot frontage for 10 single-family units on the same 5.7-acre property and by councillor Joe Drumm over impact on neigh- boring wells and fencing were among the reasons given for Fox to try again for seat Dennis Fox bas announced he will be a candidate for the east ward seat in the November municipal election. DENNIS FOX Fox, a schoolteacher in Toronto, said he was "happy" to learn that Joe Drumm will not seek to reclaim the seat. Drumm, who has represented the ward for five ter- ms, will instead seek one of the Whitby seats on regional council. Fox lost to Drumm in the two previous municipal elections. "Joe and I have been at it for quite a while," said Fox, who has been pushing for bus transportation of some students who will attend the new Bellwood school scheduled to open in March. Fox was president of the Education Action Committee, a parent group seeking to address school concerns such as transpor- tation, until he resigned last sum- mer after a disagreement over use of a photograph of committee members in a local Progressive Conservative newspaper adyer* tisement for the September p'ooin- cial election. delaying a recommendation on the plan by Whitby Landmak Development Inc. Barry Evans, a lawyer for the developer, complained about the large park block required relative other developments. "You're asking us for a hell of a* lot more than we're asking from you," Drumm shot back. Batten said the park area, to be a half- acre, may seem to be a high per- centage of the total property acreage but noted there were to be "a lot more people on that land," thus requiring more park area. The condo would have 162 units. "I think we're within our rights to ask for that," he said, later stating the park was "too small." Batten also said the 25-ft. lot fron- tages for the single family units were also too small. Planning director Bob Short said the fron- tages were consistent with thùose of nearby housing. Batten asked staff to "take a fur- ther look" at the lot sizes. "I think we're trying to squeeze too many into that property." SEE INSIDE DURHAM. MOVES improvements Whitby's downtown commercial area needs more variety and better quality of merchandise while the stores themselves should improve, recommends a Main Street Canada report. But Rob Morton,. chairman of the downtown Business Improvement Area (BIA), says the downtown is already moving in that direction. The report, prepared following a three-day visit to downtown last April by Main Street Canada representatives, suggests that .improved quality would help capture a bigger proportion of Whitby shoppers. The recommendation, based on a 1984 survey which shows that one-third of all Whitby shoppers shop downtown, is not news to Morton who adds the downtown has come a long way since that 1984 survey. "I think we have to create a healthy mix of convenience and specialty shops but not to the exclusion that we cannot bring shoppers into the downtown," says Morton. Some suggestions in the report for new stores and services downtown include an Italian restuarant, a fitness club, a movie theatre and men's clothing stores. Morton, however, points out that some of those stores have moved into the downtown since the report was authored. The report states that the "Bigalow block," on the north side of Dundas St. W., immediately west of Brock St., is the finest building in the downtown. The report adds, however, that "it has been left abandoned without . tenants and is deteriorating rapidly." According to Morton, the problem is absentee landlords who have no interest in investing money in their property. "As downtown properties become more appealing, people will be willing to pay higher rents and landlords would be more willing to spend money. It is a circular thing," says Morton. He also notes that unless store owners are offered a longterm lease they will be unwilling to invest money in their businesses. The report says other design improvements should take place in the downtown, including signs and storefronts. "At present, signs on many businesses are in poor condition, and do not enhance the building facade," states the report which also notes that parking in downtown is a problem although it is more "perceived" than real. "Better signage and direction to existing - parking will autoniatîcally solte. much of the perceive parkiig .problem," it is stated. A strong municipal "policy stance" is also required if strip retail development is to be SEE PAGE 14 Merchants oppose Sunday shopping A "straw vote" by the Downtown Business Improvement Area (BIA) merchants shows most are opposed to Sunday shopping, says BIA board chairman Rob Morton. But he adds that some merchants have spoken in favor of Sunday shopping and some businesses are now closing on Saturday in order to open Sunday. "The consensus on the board is to leave Sunday as Sunday but we will have to take some sort of formal poll before the Noveinber municipal elections," says Morton.