A Program of Toronto and Region Conservation Authority)
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Authority Minutes of Meeting #8/15 September 25, 2015 Authority Meeting #8/15 was held at TRCA Head Office, on Friday, September 25, 2015. The Chair Maria Augimeri, called the meeting to order at 9:43 a.m. PRESENT Paul Ainslie Member Maria Augimeri Chair Vincent Crisanti Member Glenn De Baeremaeker Member Jennifer Drake Member Rob Ford Member Jack Heath Member Jennifer Innis Member Maria Kelleher Member Matt Mahoney Member Giorgio Mammoliti Member Glenn Mason Member Mike Mattos Member Jennifer McKelvie Member Ron Moeser Member Linda Pabst Member Anthony Perruzza Member John Sprovieri Member ABSENT Jack Ballinger Member David Barrow Member Michael Di Biase Vice Chair Justin Di Ciano Member Chris Fonseca Member Rodney Hoinkes Member Colleen Jordan Member Jennifer O’Connell Member Gino Rosati Member Jim Tovey Member RES.#A152/15 - MINUTES Moved by: Ron Moeser Seconded by: Maria Kelleher THAT the Minutes of Meeting #7/15, held on July 24, 2015, be approved. CARRIED ______________________________ 357 DELEGATIONS (a) A delegation by Sandra Smithson, daughter of resident of 197 Greyabbey Trail, in regard to 8.2 - 220 Greyabbey Trail. RES.#A153/15 - DELEGATIONS Moved by: Glenn De Baeremaeker Seconded by: Jack Heath THAT above-noted delegation (a) be received. CARRIED ______________________________ PRESENTATIONS (a) A presentation by Chris Bagley, General Manager, Black Creek Pioneer Village, TRCA, in regard to item 7.1 - Black Creek Pioneer Village. (b) A presentation by Brian Denney, CEO, TRCA, in regard to item 7.11 - Review of the Conservation Authorities Act. (c) A video presentation of the Girls Can Too Program at Bolton Camp. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/life-video/video-girls-can-too- construction/article26126709/#video0id26126709 RES.#A154/15 - PRESENTATIONS Moved by: Ron Moeser Seconded by: Glenn De Baeremaeker THAT above-noted presentation (a) be deferred to Authority Meeting #9/15, scheduled to be held on October 30, 2015. CARRIED RES.#A155/15 - PRESENTATIONS Moved by: Jack Heath Seconded by: Ron Moeser THAT above-noted presentation (b) be received. CARRIED RES.#A156/15 - PRESENTATIONS Moved by: Jennifer Innis Seconded by: Linda Pabst THAT above-noted presentation (c) be received. CARRIED ______________________________ 358 CORRESPONDENCE (a) An email dated September 12, 2015 Dana and Jiri Kopka, 201 Greyabbey Raod, Toronto at in regard to item 8.2 - 220 Greyabbey Trail. (b) A letter dated September 20, 2015 from Roy Wright, resident, 471 Guildwood Parkway, Scarborough, in regard to item 8.2 - 220 Greyabbey Trail. (c) An email dated September 20, 2015 from Christine Vachon & Elizabeth Byrnes, residents, 203 Greyabbey Trail, Scarborough in regard to item 8.2 - 220 Greyabbey Trail. RES.#A157/15 - CORRESPONDENCE Moved by: Glenn De Baeremaeker Seconded by: Jack Heath THAT above-noted correspondence (a) – (c) be received. CARRIED ______________________________ 359 "Dana Kopka" To <[email protected]>, <[email protected]> > cc 09/12/2015 04:04 PM bcc Subject Notice of Violation #V 2814 Dear Mr. Ainsley and TRCA staff, We would like to acknowledge that we have received your invitation to the upcoming TRCA meeting th regarding Notice of Violation # V 2814 of 220 Greyabbey Trail on September 25 . Regrettably, we are not able to attend the meeting at the scheduled time to once again voice our concerns, but felt it prudent to at least re‐express our immense concern in a letter to you, in hope that you will present it on our behalf during the meeting. Although we are pleased that you have taken interest in the issue, and continue to investigate potential resolutions, we feel that the amount of time that has already lapsed since the mountain of dirt was carved out of the Scarborough bluffs and deposited directly in front of our house, is beyond unacceptable. The respective agencies involved in approving this project have thoroughly failed in actually exploring and understanding the project’s impact and magnitude prior to approving it. The individuals that should have been overseeing this project failed to do so, as the project was allowed to continue until irreparable damage has been caused. As a result, environmental harm has been caused, important habitats destroyed, community appeal has been damaged, our property values have been decreased, our sanctity has been violated and our peace has been disturbed. All this has been going on for two years with empty promises of a soon‐to‐come resolution that never appears to make it out of the committee’s meeting room. We are frustrated that this project was allowed to happen, we are furious that (to our knowledge) there have been no consequences for the parties involved in this epic failure, and that no reprieve or answers have been provided to the residents of our community in two years. At this point, given that the damage has already been done, we only have the following request: Remove the pile of dirt, restore the value of our properties and return peace to our community. Sincerely, Dana & Jiri Kopka 201 Greyabbey Trail Scarborough See below one of our previous emails: From: Dana Kopka Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2014 8:17 PM To: [email protected]; planning&[email protected] Subject: Destruction of the Scarborough Bluffs 360 Importance: High Dear Sir/Madam, We are writing to you to request an explanation regarding a construction at 220 Greyabbey Trail in Scarborough. We have raised our concerns with our local MP, Mr. Paul Ainslie and we were advised that you are responsible for permitting the construction and later stopping the project due to owner’s “non- adherence to your guidelines”. Because of that the whole neighborhood has been affected by this unsightly construction site for over a year. There sits an approximately 10 m high pile of dirt directly across the street from some houses which markedly decreases the value of our properties by thousands of dollars, not to mention the ugly obstructed view and ever-present dust. How does this agree with your policy :“our goal is to support a greener, cleaner, healthier place to live?” Please explain, how is it even possible, that you gave the permission for the destruction of a sizable part of the Scarborough Bluffs which are considered an ecological treasure. Did you really think that the Bluff can be remodelled to its original shape after agreeing to a construction road to be built from its top ? FYI this has caused several months of very busy heavy machinery traffic on a street which had “No entrance to trucks” sign due to weight limits. It is especially difficult to understand because there was already an access road built through the Guildwood Park to enable the Bluff reinforcement along the shore. It is even more confusing now in the light of the proposal of developing a “Waterfront Park along the Bluffs” in the very same area. Obviously your assessment and permit seem very short sighted. We understand that you have stopped the work due to “a violation of the strict guidelines for the environmentally sensitive area” following Ms. Connie Pinto’s inspection, however we believe that much greater violation was done by issuing the permit. We are asking that you at least move quickly on the matter of finishing this shameful project as soon as possible in keeping with your vision “ for a new kind of community, The Living City, where human settlement can flourish forever as part of nature's beauty and diversity.” Please update us on the progress, time-line and final plans for this construction. Thank you. Dana and Jiri Kopka 201 Greyabbey Trail Scarborough "*PLEASE CONSIDER THE ENVIRONMENT BEFORE PRINTING, STORING OR FORWARDING THIS MESSAGE* Toronto and Region Conservation Authority Confidentiality Notice: The information contained in this communication including any attachments may be confidential, is intended only for use of the recipient(s) named above, and may be legally privileged. If the reader of the message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution,disclosure or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please resend this communication to the sender and delete it permanently from your computer system. Thank you." 361 TRCA Board Members: September 20, 2015 Re: Violation #V2814 – 220 Greyabbey Trail, Scarborough My name is Roy Wright, I live at 471 Guildwood Parkway located six houses west of 220 Greyabbey Trail. I am writing this deputation on behalf of myself and 12 other Greyabbey neighbours (names and addresses available upon request). The Greyabbey community at large all agree that the 220 Greyabbey home situated on a large lakefront property has been a proud and positive asset to the whole neighbourhood. For the past dozen years, the grounds have been professionally landscaped with a full time gardener and other employees. During the Christmas season, this property has become somewhat of a celebrity and a tourist attraction. The spectacular Christmas light show draws admirers both locally and visitors from out of town. We are urging TRCA to help the Greyabbey property owner (Ms. Greening) to both save her substantial home from the erosion problem and to bring her unique lakeview property back to its former glory as soon as possible. I fully understand Ms. Greening’s worrisome erosion urgency and her self help effort to save the eroding tableland as others have successfully been allowed to do. The City of Toronto, The Toronto Hunt (golf course) and myself procured TRCA permits to construct the previously accepted Geotech approved method of top filling that Ms. Greening was seeking (and was denied thus creating this violation problem). Note 1. The 100% successful result of capping the cliff face with solid rubble fill has enabled TRCA approval for a new 2015 building permit for a 4,300 square foot house to be built 60 feet from the edge of the cliff at 473 Guildwood Parkway.