WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4,1989, PAGE 11 '88 REVIEW '88 REVIEW '88 REVIEW '88 REVIEW '88 REV1EW RE AC TION TO DE VEL OPMENT i New residents' group emerged ANDERSON 1988 saw a lot of growth and plans for future growth in the municipality and one con- sequence in east Whitby was the emergence of an Anderson St. residents'group. Throughout 1988, the North Anderson St. residents attended a number of public meetings concerning the large subdivision planned for south of Taunton d., between Garden and Ander- son. The subdivision, proposed by Group 2 and River Realty, con- tains 465 lots ranging in size from 40 to 70 ft., 54 lots ranging from 30 to 35 ft., a senior citizens block with between 120 and 140 apartments a separate second- ary and elementary school, a park and a commercial block. The total size is 150 acres. Residents were concerned that the subdivisions could affect Pringle Creek, the residents' source of water. "I am concerned with an in- crease or decrease of the creek's flow. If that happens I am with- out water," said James Priest at a public meeting in March. The creek runs through the easterly boundary of the subdivi- sion. By July, council had heard from various agencies on the ap lication, and gave its appro- val. But the Anderson.St. residents kept reminding council of their concerns about the water includ- ing contamination of the creek during the expected three- to four-year construction period. Priest, who was founder and co-chairman of the North Ander- son Residents' Association, told council the developer had pro- mised that water hook-ups would be provided, at no cost, to the residents. "This commitment must be duly recorded," he said. Council voted 5-2 in favor of the subdivision. Regional council- lor Gerry Emm was opposed because of concerns about storm water run-off. Councillor Tom Edwards, as he has done on many previous occasions, voted against the subdivision because he felt the lot frontages were inadequate. In December, Priest launched an appeal over the subdivision to the Ontario Municipal Board. His concerns include a lack of water, and noise and dust during the lengthy construction period. SUNDAY SHOPPING With the Province's decision to give municipalities the power to decide whether or not to allow Sunday shopping, a survey by Lynda Buffett showed that 91 per cent of Whitby businesses were opposed to the idea. Durham Region council voted 21-2 against Sunday shopping while Whitby council voted 6-0 against Sunday shopping at a meetinginMay. (Regional coun- cillor gerry Emm was absent from that meeting but he had voted against Sunday shopping at the regional level.) - A second study by the Whitby Chamber of Commerce in May showed that 72 per cent of Whitby businesses opposed Sun- day shopping. OTTER CREEK Both Durham Region and No date has yet been set for the hearing. The residents also offered a modification of the road system for another subdivision planned· for their area. A 232-lot subdivision has been proposeed south of Taunton and, east of Anderson St. At a meeting in September, Priest and Hugh Robertson pro- posed that a second Anderson St. be built to take pressure of the existing Anderson while con- struction takes place. They also were concerned about trafflic using the road as access to the new GO train station. Council has yet to make any decision on the subdivision. Whitby councils approved a 50- lot single family home subdivi- sion in Otter Creek on land previously zoned for high density residential development. Region and Whitby planning depart- ments had recommended high density development. In October, Susan Fletcher, executive direc- tor of the Social Planning Coun- cil of Newcastle, Oshawa and Whitby, criticized the decision and in November the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing objected to the decision, saying it did not conform to local politices designed to encourage a variety of housing tvpes. OMB DECISION Overturning a Whitby council decision, the Ontario Municipal Board in October approved an addition to the Lorraine Willis boarding house on Euclid St. A VISIT by the Easter Bunny to the Pearson Lanes' boutiques last April. Owner Bill Little continues to extend the development using reno- vated older homes. Freo Press photo* çREG ION VISITB1TRIL . HOME OF THE ME omD GO CONSTRUCTI15OFDsmT CO R NTER OI 0SE Aug. 10/88 No new hotels HOTELS Just as in 1987, Whitby coun- cillors and residents heard a lot about hotel construction in 1988 but saw no evidence of such development, mostly due to delays. In June, administrative com- nittee members received assurances that hotels at Brock St. S. and the 401 and on Cham- alain Ave. north of the 401 would begin as soon as possible. But roblems with the exten- sion of Consumers Dr. held up the Brock St. S. hotel. In September, cuancil was in the enviable position of having two hotels bid to be the first to be built in Whitby. Council gave approval to a 144-room hotel on Sunray St., proposed by Marquis Invest- ments. But the approval received objection from Kingeast Develop- ments which was planning to corner of donsumers Dr. and Thickson Rd. S., less than one kilometer from the Marquis site. Kingeast had indicated a pos- sible objection to the Ontario Municipal Board. PETER PERRY In January, the late J.O. Ruddy was named posthumously as the winner of the Whitby Chamber of Commerce Peter Perry award for his efforts to get a hospital built in Whitby. He held several prominent positions at Oshawa General Hospital and was involved in the Rotary Club. He died in 1969. In November, Betty Weldon, an active member of the Whitby Historical Society, LACAC and the Whitby Heritage Advisory Group. was given the Peter Perry award for this involvement, other community efforts and her battle to keep Whitby designated a town. 60 years for Chamber CHAMBER 1988 marked the 60th anni- versary of the Whitby Chamber of Commerce, and the group was quite active with meetings and discussions on various business and related matters such as free trade and the environment. Bob Richardson was elected Chamber president in February. A highlight of the anniversary celebrations was the anniversary dinner Oct. 25, featuring guest speaker Peter Brophey, president of the Ontario Chamber of Com- merce. He spoke about free trade, the provincial deficit and government spending at the event held at the Garden Gate restaurant at Cullen Gardens. The Chamber gave out three awards to Whitby citizens in the fall. Irene Westrik of Towne Flowers was given the business person of the year award for her personal and carng service in er family run business; Sanjay Vakil, Henry Street High School student, was awarded the stu- dent of the year award for out- standing curricular and extra- curricular work, particularly in space research. The Peter Perry award to an outstanding Whitby citizen was given to Betty Weldon, a long- time Whitby resident noted for her work in historical preserva- tion causes. She spearheaded the effort to keep Whitby a town by organizing a 3,000-name petition in the space of a month; and sits on the board of directors of the Whitby Historical Society, is a member of LACAC, and the Whitby Heritage Advisory Group. The Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1928, and pro- vides Whitby business with representation at all levels of government and internationally. ATLANTIC PACKAGING In March, it was announced that a 300,000-sq. ft. recycling plant would be built by Atlantic Packaging in Whitby. Expected to employ 200, the plant is loca- ted on Thickson Rd. S. at Tricont Ave. Construction is to be in phases with the first phase to be completed in 1989. COSCAN Continuing the frenzied wave of building and development in Whitby, Coscan Development Corporation unveiled a $150-mil- lion plan for redevelopment of 22 acres of land at the Whitby harbor at a June meeting of Whitby council. The development plan, which proposes low rise townhouses and three 22-story condominium apartment buildings, recrea- tional and commercial uses is for the former Cartier-MacNamara lands. Should approvals be granted, construction is planned for Octo- ber of 1989, and will take five to eight years for completion. However, the plan for the har- bor brought concern from some residents. At a Sept. 19 meeting of Whitby administrative com- mittee, residents and municipal election hopefuls were permitted to voice their objections to the plan when Coscan unveiled the "Harbor Isle" draft plan. At a Sept. 26 committee meet- ing, Coscan objected to the public input that was permitted at the previous meeting since it was only to be an information session and notapublic meeting. Whitby harbor development became a municipal election issue, with many candidates air- ing their opinions on such issues as the heiht of condominiums to be allowe at the waterfront. WHITBY'S population passed 51,000, accord- ing to a census taken last June, and Mayor Bob Attersley perfor- med the sign change. Frec Press photo PEREZ Whitby council twice turned down a townhouse develeopment for the northeast corner of Brock St. N. and Manning Rd. in 1988, and 1989 will likely see an Ontario Municipal Board hearing on the matter. Council's rejection of the plan was based on the pre-sale of the units by the developer, Perez Corp. Perez's first proposal was for a 230-unit subdivision, but further meetings with planning staff reduced the number of units to 227 and included a recreation facility. Council opposed both proposals and were informed by represen- tatives of Perez that they intend to take the matter to the OMB. GRAYWOOD In July, Whitby council appro- ved Graywood Development's proposed $300-million office and commerciaf complex north of Rossland Rd. and west of Garder, St. Sunday shopping rejected