Rezoning app up on the 12th again195 & 203 Oakmount Road, 200 Keele Street

Ravine Control and Tree Protection

The entire property at 200 Keele Street and the rear portions of the properties at 195 –

203 Oakmount Road are protected under the c. 658 of the Toronto Municipal Code -

Ravine and Natural Feature Protection Bylaw (the Ravine Protection By-law). The

purpose of the Ravine Protection By-law is to promote the management, protection and

conservation of ravines and associated natural and woodland areas and to prohibit and

regulate the injury and destruction of trees, filling, grading and dumping in defined areas.

The revised proposal would result in removal of at least 111 trees, injury to at least three

other trees and the loss of approximately 1,900 square metres of available growing space

in an area protected under the Ravine Protection Bylaw. The vegetation cover in this area

is functioning as a natural area and is contributing to the overall canopy cover in the city.

With stewardship, this area could be improved.

Urban Forestry RNFP does not support the application to allow the consolidation of the

portions of the properties at 195 and 203 Oakmount Road with the property at 200 Keele

Street as the proposal to develop the consolidated land would result in the loss of tree

canopy and growing area that is not in keeping with the purpose of the Ravine Protection

......................nice tree cover for how long?

THE REZONING application for 200 Keele st St in another modified form is up at the city council tomorrow. One of the important community related issues is Ravine Control and Tree Protection.

(see related posts for background on the development proposal)

from the staff report

Ravine Control and Tree Protection

The entire property at 200 Keele Street and the rear portions of the properties at 195 – 203 Oakmount Road are protected under the c. 658 of the Toronto Municipal Code - Ravine and Natural Feature Protection Bylaw (the Ravine Protection By-law). The purpose of the Ravine Protection By-law is to promote the management, protection and conservation of ravines and associated natural and woodland areas and to prohibit and regulate the injury and destruction of trees, filling, grading and dumping in defined areas.

The revised proposal would result in removal of at least 111 trees, injury to at least three other trees and the loss of approximately 1,900 square metres of available growing space in an area protected under the Ravine Protection Bylaw. The vegetation cover in this area is functioning as a natural area and is contributing to the overall canopy cover in the city.

With stewardship, this area could be improved. Urban Forestry RNFP does not support the application to allow the consolidation of the portions of the properties at 195 and 203 Oakmount Road with the property at 200 Keele

Street as the proposal to develop the consolidated land would result in the loss of tree canopy and growing area that is not in keeping with the purpose of the Ravine Protection.

a link contributed by a blog reader

City staff lawyers to be appointed to represent the City Planning position. Here is the link again: http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2010/ey/bgrd/backgroundfile-25771.pdf

Upcoming Parkdale Residents Association meeting on Thursday, January 14th

You are invited to the Parkdale Residents Association meeting on Thursday, January 14th, at the May Robinson Auditorium, 20 West Lodge Avenue, from 7 to 9 PM.

Please feel free to invite your Parkdale friends and neighbours.


The “January Poster” attachment is a PDF that you may print and put on your door, etc., if you wish.

If you have any questions or comments about the PRA, please email
info@parkdale.to or call 416-533-0044.



At the January 14th PRA Meeting:

* Joshua Barndt will talk about the new mural he is painting as part of
“Painting Our Stories,” the Community Mural Project sponsored in part by the PRA. You may see the mural at the municipal parking lot beside 1313 Queen Street West.

* Terence Williams will give an update on tenant rent rebates.

* Gord Perks will report about the progress of the City’s Dufferin Jog
project.

* Victor Willis, Executive Director of the Parkdale Activity-Recreation
Centre, will talk about what PARC does and about Edmond Place, the
supportive housing that is being built next door to PARC.

FUZZY BOUNDARIES MEETING (Jan. 14)

Meeting announcement from the Fuzzy Boundaries group:

More than a year ago, a residents' group called Fuzzy Boundaries asked
the community to name the neighbourhood, and since then more than 200
ideas have been put forward.

You are invited to our third public meeting, where residents will make
their pitch for a favourite name.

There will be no keynote speaker, just a gathering of neighbours
exchanging ideas. Brockton Addition? Junction Triangle? The Railpath?
As always, it promises to be a lively and engaging discussion.
Afterwards, vote for your choice January 15 to 29 at
www.fuzzyboundaries.ca or at the Perth/Dupont Library.

When?: Thursday January 14, 7pm, at 45 Ernest Avenue (the new Boys and
Girls Club location).

All are welcome to attend this free event.

For details, call Kevin at 416-537-1128 or visit
www.fuzzyboundaries.ca where discussions about our great neighbourhood
take place online.

Wise Daughters Craft Market 1 year success

post link to Junction parents blog or click the image to visit the JPB and read the post

(where I scoffed the image bit above)

This store which is more important than I believe a lot of people know to the junction helps to revive the long history of craft in the Junction, that is considerably unknown.

Locksmiths in the Junction can't remember when

The author of this post cannot remember when there was a locksmith in the Junction. This service will most surely be welcomed.

In addition the addition of new type of retailer helps fill out the  retail mix in the area.

Junction ice rink in the works ya yeah yeah!

You can get  a glimpse from Dundas St West just before going down Pacific Ave around the back of the building to get the view of the ice rink going in on the Junction square.

Nice low sidebars this year.  Great fun for kids of all ages. Yet last year the toddlers ruled.

Last night Annette Library, Lower Level, Committee Room 1 - A Short History of Haida Gwaii

West Toronto Junction Historical Society talk

This talk has taken place now

Thursday, January 7, 2010

7:30 p.m. Refreshments 7:50 p.m. Business Meeting
8:20 p.m. A Short History of Haida Gwaii (more commonly known as the Queen Charlotte Islands). Gib Goodfellow
will illustrate his talk with images recorded by Phyllis Goodfellow and Lynn Wiggan on their excursion to these
isolated and scenic islands north of Vancouver Island in June of this year. Haida Gwaii is composed of two principal
islands. The southern most has a small community, an airport and numerous historic Haida sites which have been
vacated since the small pox epidemics of the 19th century. Some are open to the public and exist within a unique
partnership between Parks Canada and the Haida people. The north island contains most of the current population
and economic activity, as well at the six larger communities.

More cognitive dissonance in the area of Junction building facades.

One begets another in the Junction it seems, or does it?

Building number 2 certainly has had it's facade "improved" with a serious amount of cognitive dissonance [1] in the way most people feel is the nature of the Junction street scape and heart. It is common to hear people new to the Junction or long time residents speak of the historical character of the community and it's difference in living culture as well as lack of pop architecture renewal.

Building 2 would fit well in the chosen style that has developed of the area of  College Street West. This areas restaurant/bar/shopping strip along College Street which is centered on intersection of College and Grace Streets has developed its own unique style from it developed culture.

This  building façade going up at Dundas in the West Toronto Junction  doesn't exactly blend into its surroundings or fit the developing culture of the Junction, but  its neighbors are  bound for the local architecture history books.  Building  1's owner did a great job blending the cost/value situation of  the façade renovation and the new old material use, this past summer

Building 3's owners have consistently maintained their building over the years in a way consistent with the historical nature of the building. they stepped away a few years ago for th ground level area - but not so much as to harm the buildings character.  with the area

At least it's got large symmetrical windows on the second level. and the arch is a Junction historical feature, just not in the size and placement they have used. Still when this new construction  is finished, it'll really stick out.

[1.A condition of conflict or anxiety resulting from inconsistency between one's beliefs and one's actions]

Toronto West Diamond grade separation class action lawsuit meeting

MPP Cheri DiNovo's  class action lawsuit  at her office at 3136 Dundas Street West 7pm  tonight

Thursday, January 7th, 2010

Now

Thursday, January 14th, 2010