Beverley Glen Ratepayers Association
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Meet members of the BGRA executive and get involved in our neighbourhood!

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Jan 31, 2012 meeting was attended by over 150 residents of Thornhill & Concord - article covering the meeting is below followed by petitions.

  • By Kim Zazour   Feb 02, 2012 Thornhill Liberal
  • Tempers flare at transit ‘town hall’
    Thornhill politicians and a representative from VIVA Transit faced hot
    tempers and threats of a class action lawsuit Tuesday night as angry Thornhill
    residents met to discuss Centre Street development plans.
    Regional councillor
    Deb Schulte, Thornhill councillor Alan Shefman and VIVA spokesperson Dale Albers
    agreed to meet with residents to answer questions about plans to intensify
    development in the area and connect the Hwy. 7 rapidway line with bus-only lanes
    down the middle of Centre Street.
    They faced a hostile crowd who accused
    politicians of forging ahead without consulting with the community.
    The
    meeting, organized by Beverly Glen Ratepayers Association, quickly spiralled
    into shouts, jeers and boos as residents expressed their outrage over plans they
    say will destroy their community.
    The City of Vaughan is planning for
    increased development along Centre Street between Dufferin and Bathurst streets.
    At the same time, VIVA plans to include that stretch of road as part of its new
    east-west rapidway line.
    Mr. Albers told the group that VIVA let neighbours
    know about its plans using advertising, mass mailings and public meetings, but
    when asked for a show of hands, only four among approximately 150 residents
    packed into the Patricia Kemp community centre gym said they had been informed.

    Jody Klapman, a resident since 1986, was one of the few who knew about the
    public meetings.
    “They say they want your input but make it so difficult and
    they’re conniving about it.”
    She said she was reassured by politicians at
    that time that their objections were being heard, “but here we are so many years
    later and it’s a done deal.”
    Gila Martow, president of the ratepayers group,
    asked why the rapid transit line needed to cut through their neighbourhood.

    The route will follow Hwy. 7 from the border of Brampton to the border of
    Pickering.
    “Everywhere it stays on Hwy. 7 until it gets to our neighbourhood.
    Why?
    “If this truly were an express route, shouldn’t it take the quickest way
    possible?”
    She suggested synchronizing stoplights to alleviate congestion,
    keeping the rapidway on Hwy. 7 with feeder buses to link Centre Street riders to
    the route. The buses are not well used along that part of the route anyway, she
    said.
    But Mr. Albers told the meeting the rapidway line is not detouring off
    Hwy. 7, the bus route is already there and is being enhanced.
    “We will not
    remove existing transit to move it to Hwy. 7 or elsewhere.”
    Residents also
    expressed anger at the city’s plans to intensify development in the area.

    The province requires Vaughan to increase its density, Ms Schulte said, and
    the city is trying to keep that development along major corridors.
    “We have
    no choice. We have to take a certain number of people. We’re just trying to
    figure out where to put them.”
    Mr. Shefman said the city hopes to put
    together a plan that is pragmatic and meet all needs, but is also defensible
    before the Ontario Municipal Board. “There’s no doubt in my mind that we are
    going to be challenged left right and centre for higher buildings to go in
    there.”
    But their answers did not appease residents who shouted out their
    objections, called the city and VIVA inflexible, insulting and, in the end,
    called for a class action lawsuit.
    “We have to hire our own professionals and
    our own lawyers,” said resident Frank Ragni. “We can talk until the cows come
    home...but we have to pull money out of our pocket and spend it. The time for
    talk should be over. It’s time for action.”
    One resident called it the
    elephant in the room. “This goddamn thing is not moving and we need to put our
    hands in our pockets and kick ass.”
    Others joined in the shouting: “We were
    not consulted and I find it despicable for you to come here and say you
    consulted us. You spoke with a few and you did not listen.”
    “You consulted
    with developers, not residents!”
    Residents were advised to put their comments
    forward to the city clerk and local councillors. A further public information is
    planned by VIVA for the spring. To learn more, visit vivanext.com
    and http://tinyurl.com/Vaughan-Centre.
    The Beverley Glen ratepayers website is beverleyglenra.com



    Petition to Vaughan Council by Ward 5 Vaughan Residents Regarding
    Rezoning Of Center St between Dufferin and New Westminster


    As residents of Ward 5 in the City of Vaughan we are concerned with the rezoning plans for the north side of Centre St, Thornhill
    between Dufferin and New Westminster and ask Vaughan City Council to consider the quality of life for area residents in regards to blocked sunshine, traffic,
     parking, green space and community safety.

    We understand that the Province of Ontario has called for increased high density in our city. We have experienced an explosion
    of condominium development around Disera and the Promenade Mall with plans for more development in these areas, on Bathurst north of Center, as well as at
    Dufferin and Center. We believe that additional high density should focus elsewhere in the city with zoning remaining as it is for the north side of
    Centre St while we determine how the area is affected by the high density development already under construction.

    We also understand that York Region has plans to create center HOV lanes for VIVA buses along Bathurst and Centre St with future plans for light rail transit.  
    If the necessity for increased high density on Centre St is directly related to this increase in mass transit through our neighbourhood please consider asking for
     the HOV lanes to remain only on Hwy 7.

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    Petition to York Region Council by Ward 5 Vaughan Residents 
    Regarding Bus Only Lanes on Bathurst and Centre St

    As residents of Ward 5 in the City of Vaughan we are concerned with York Region plans for bus only lanes on Bathurst and Centre St down the center lanes. We ask
    York Region Council to consider the quality of life for area residents in regards to blocked sunshine, traffic, parking, green space and community safety.

    We understand that the Province of Ontario has called for increased high density in York Region. We have experienced an explosion of condominium
     development around Disera and the Promenade Mall with plans for more development in these areas, on Bathurst north of Center, as well as at Dufferin and Center.
    We believe that additional high density should focus elsewhere in the region with zoning remaining as it is for the north side of Centre St while we determine how
     the area is affected by the high density development already under construction.

    We also understand that York Region has plans to change the bus only lanes into light rail transit. The express bus route travels along Hwy 7 from Markham and takes
    a detour on Bathurst and Centre and rejoins Hwy 7 - if bus only lanes are essential then we ask for the express service to remain on Hwy 7.

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