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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWD-37-94/` THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY Of CLARINGTON z~16f 1C10ItP10~P~~7;OlIX AI`)Xif(kAIM JRF~MiQ4~~ REPORT Meeting: GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE Fiie # Res. # G~f1 '4Cgl - 9`f Date:. JULY 4, 1994 By-Law # Report#: ~+n-„~.,~_od File#: Subject: PETITION REGARDING PROPOSED STORM SEWERS IN KENDAL Recommendations: It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: 1. THAT Report WD-37-94 be received; 2. THAT the construction of storm sewers in Kendal be removed from the list of projects to be considered by Council in the. event that additional funding becomes available .from the Canada - Ontario Infrastructure Works Program; 3. THAT the proposed Information Centre be cancelled and that all activity regarding the design of the storm sewers cease; and. 4. THAT Marcia Griffin be advised of Council's decision. REPORT 1.0 ATTACHMENTS No. 1: Correspondence dated June 19, 1994 from Marcia Griffin to Councillor Ann Dreslinski No. 2: Key Map Showing Location of Properties Owned by Those Who Signed the Petition - 1~~2~ P.,E ~®w~.<<E REPORT WD-37-94 PAGE 2 2.0 BACRGROIIND 2.1 Aooroval of Contingency Projects On May 30, 1994, Council approved the recommendations contained in Report Addendum to Report WD-17-94 dated May. 16, 1994. Recommendation No. 5 of the report provided for placing two projects on a list, "to be considered by Council if additional funding becomes available under the Infrastructure Program." One of the projects on the list was, Storm Sewers in Kendal. 2.2 Authorization to Proeeed With Design At the May 30, 1994, meeting, Council also authorized the Director of Public Works to proceed with the design and the public participation process for the proposed storm sewers. An Information Centre was scheduled to be held on Thursday., July 21, 1994, at the Orange Hall in Kendal. 2.3 Petition From Residents The petition from the residents requesting that storm sewers not be constructed is signed by 55 of the property owners in Kendal. The location of the properties owned by those who signed the petition is illustrated on Attachment No. 2. 3.0 .CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 3.1 From the above, it is concluded that the vast majority of the residents do not want storm sewers constructed in Rendal. It is therefore recommended that the project be removed from the list of projects to be considered by Council in the event that additional funding becomes available from the Canada - Ontario Infrastructure Program, the proposed information centre be cancelled .and all activity regarding the .design of the. proposed storm sewers cease. 1u29 REPORT NO.: WD-37-94 PAGE 3 i Respectfully submitted, Reviewed by, Walter Evans, P. Eng. W.H. Stoc ell Director of Public Works Chief Administrative Officer WAE/wc June 22, 1994 .attachments pc: Marcia Griffin 24 Monck Street Kendal, ON LOA lE0 - 7 DSO _, - ~ ~~ Marcia Griffin, 24 Monck St., Kendal, ON LOA lE0 June 19, 1994 Councillor A. Dreslinski, Clarington Municipal Building, Bowmanville, ON Dear Counc. Dreslinski, I understand you have spoken to my mother, Mrs. Enid Brewer, regarding the proposed storm sewers for the village of Kendal. As you now know, a large number of villagers are opposed to the proposal. I am opposed as well, and felt perhaps it would be beneficial to state my reasons. First, of course is the very real danger of wells going dry. My father was speaking to one of the men doing the surveying and was told this was a probability. Also, at a recent information meeting regarding the Oak Ridges Moraine, I learned the Kendal area is considered hydrologically sensitive. I already knew our area was sensitive -- a few years ago water was drawn regularly from a local creek (on the 7th line) to be used in construction work on Hwy. 115. Many Kendal wells went temporarily dry, coming back only after the water ceased to be drawn. My grandmother, Mrs. Ethelda Williamson, grew up in Kendal. She used to tell stories of how the well levels were affected by the old mill. My second reason for not wanting the sewers is somewhat sentimental. I like Kendal the way it is. The home I now live in has housed five generations of my family. Kendal has always maintained a "village" character - lots of established trees, some beautiful older buildings and of course, every house in the village is within easy walking distance. It makes for a real feeling of community . During my time here, I have seen many changes. I am not against change; it can be a, positive force. For instance, there has been a lot of growth in Kendal. Luckily, most of the newer residents feel the same way about Kendal as I do. Well, I guess its not luck -- they choose to live in Kendal because they like its character, too. Perhaps it is because Kendal is a little rough around the edges, not "suburb-ized" with storm sewers, curbs, natural gas and the like. (But feel free to fill some of those pot- holes:) There is a real feeling of cultural heritage here and I Z ATTACHMENT No. UJ I ien_~~_an -2- wish, in a country which strives to respect cultural diversity, that my heritage was respected. Rolling over and modernizing Kendal will only erase those tenuous ties to the past, creating a bland suburbia which can be found just about anywhere else. Now to address the problem of the spring run-off. Yes, it has been heavy some years, especially along the back-yards of Monck St. residents. But this problem has grown for a number of reasons. First, two homes built by a local developer were graded in such a way as to funnel a heavy run-off into my parent's yard (24 Monck St.); second, a culvert was put in which drained the corner field on Church St. into the back of Monck; third, a culvert used to exist which crossed under the Newtonville Rd., carrying the water from the Monck St. back-yards into the field across the road; for some reason, this culvert was removed. All these changes, I believe, had to be approved through your Planning Dept. The house on the corner of Monck St., which was obviously built too low, would have also had to have been approved. Perhaps had more careful thought been given to the outcome of some of these actions, this whole issue would never have arisen. However, this issue, such that is, is not as large as you may have been lead to believe. The spring run-off lasts no more than a few days at most. Once the frost is out of the ground, the water is sucked right up. Sometimes the water is gone in a day. Perhaps you have seen the picture of the Monck St. man paddling a canoe in a puddle in his back yard? I took that picture. It is of my father and my son. I thought the situation humorous, took the picture and sent it into the Orono Weekly Times as a "stand alone". To the point -- that puddle, large though it was, was gone the next day. Certainly a solution should be found for those people that find the run-off to be a problem. But storm sewers for a problem that lasts such a short time? That's overkill in my opinion. Better culverts might be an option (but I'd want to see some plans!). There is a rumour about town that the culvert draining the water on the corner of Monck was to be 24" but went in at only 16". If this is true, I find it funny the Town would scrimp at something like this and then spend a fortune on storm sewers. It might have saved some trouble had the culvert been installed the right size in the first place. Another rumour flying about via my disgruntled neighbour on the corner is that "there is money to be spent; why not spend it on Kendal!" Well, I'm sorry bit I can't follow that logic. If you want to spend money on Kendal, there is always the possibility of improving our culverts or fixing those pot-holes I mentioned earlier. Maybe the preservation of Kendal's "heritage" look could be undertaken. A beautification project, if you will. For instance, we have some older looking side-walks crumbling away. Maybe the style could be copied and new side-walks put down. Kendal ball- parks could maybe use something. But don't spend money on something ~5~ -3- we don't need. And if some other town has a real water problem, or some other major crisis, spend the money there. Having money to spend is an unusual commodity nowadays. Please don't waste it on something as foolish and destructive as storm sewers. Thankyou for your concern in this matter. Your help is very much appreciated. Yours Sincerely, ~.~^ ~/_~- ~Plarcia Gr c.c. Counc. D. Scott Mr. Walter Evans 1 ~~35 Regional n ~o~o~ 0 ,~ °'I I I' Water Shaer Represents residents wha have signed petition ~. 0 I~ DRAWN BY: JM DATE: 1UNE 1994 ~ ATTACHMENT N0. 2 WD-37-94 Road 9 K~'NIDA 1;54