Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1975-12-24, Page 17• Reeve Boyle speaks to critics of proposed official plan • SANTA'S HELPER — Santo had a helper over at Precious Blood School last Friday and the children ap- preciated it, They received small gifts, fruits, nuts and other happy items associated with the Christmas season, Opposition at public plan meetin, One Hundred and Third Year "We can't let a few people dominate for the rest", was Reeve Derry Boyle's reaction to a number of protests from developers, realtors, and in- dustrialists over Exeter's official plan, "The majority of those here tonight are vested interests who stand to make money. The other people are not here (at the public An accident involving two vehicles occurred at the in- tersection of William and Vic- toria in Exeter last Friday morning causing $1400 in damage. The vehicles were driven by Margaret Moody of 355 Marlborough Street, Exeter, and Eugene King, RR 1 Exeter, Another accident occurred Thursday when a motor vehicle driven by Doug Triebner of Huron St. W. in Exeter was in- volved in a collision with a motor vehicle driven by Lawrence Becker, RR 2 Crediton, The accident occurred on Huron Street, west of the the C.N,R, tracks. Damage was estimated at $1700, Carol, Don't work too hard Santa. Merry Christmas to you, Mrs, Claus and all the elves, Love, XX00 Kelly Hera, age 6 ARA Exeter meeting), but they would want a strict plan if it meant protecting themselves from getting hurt," A majority of citizens at the meeting seemed to be there on business matters rather than as private citizens. Despite a relative imbalance in citizen representation, a number of different points of view were On Tuesday, December 23 a motor vehicle driven by Murray Moore, 151 Welllington Street, West, Exeter, was involved in a collision with a motor vehicle driven by Jonathan Geiser, 273 Pryde Blvd„ Exeter. The ac- cident occurred on Main Street at Wellington. Damage was estimated at $400. OnFriday and Saturday evenings, two persons were arrested by officers of the Exeter police department. One male and one female have been charged with possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking. Both persons will appear in court in January. Constables McMeekin and Kierstead were the investigating officers. and daddy and not fight with my brother Scott. On Christmas Morning I will be really happy if you bring me a TTP car and a forklift. I will leave you some cookies and milk, Love Mark Amos XXX000 Exeter this eve Santa Claus telephoned the Times-Advocate this morning to confirm receipt of dozens of letters from Exeter and area youngsters. Because this is an extremely busy time of year for him he will not be able to get around td iudgirig the letters until Christmas eve, Watch next week's newspaper for the list of expressed at the meeting. Boyle's comments came after several objections and proposed amendments to the official plan had been requested by citizens attending the meeting. Tom Creech, a second year political science student at the University of Western Ontario, expressed the opinion that many of the objections being raised at the meeting were narrow in scope. "Too many municipalities have become trapped in haphazard development. This is the reason why we decide to have an official plan", he commented. Peter Aunger, who came as a private citizen, wondered why park land, except for existing parks, had not been designated on the official plan map. The answer from Mayor Shaw was that the plan does not reflect the specific zoning requirements which are contained in the restricted area by-law. This led to another comment from Aunger that the map should reflect the requir,ements (CIO by-law and should serve as a specific illustration of them. That same opinion had been stated by Jim McKinley, the town recreation director, at a meeting of council earlier in the week, A certain confusion lies in the fact that the official plan maps are not specific enough to show Please turn to page 2A To Santa Claus: I love you Santa Claus. I like my toys, my name is David Van Vliet, I'm good to my sisters, My Father's the problem. I like your reindeer especially Rudolph. I would like a big Jim for Christmas, Exeter * * * To Santa Claus My name is Tanya Van Vliet, My mommy is writing this letter for me because I don't know how to write, I am four years old, I would like a baby alive and the one that can eat and drink, bless you baby tenderlove. I have a mommy and daddy and baby sister Patricia and big brother David. Love Tanya Exeter More ;SAM,* letters throughout paper egKeaNNICZCIS There will be at least one more public meeting to consider questions and objections to li;xeter's proposed. official plan as the result of last Thursday night's meeting which produced more questions than answers con- cerning the plan. The next public meeting will be held in January. Although the thirty-odd citizens who attended the meeting represented various interests, most of the questions raised came from developers in town who wondered about the effect of zoning changes on their property. No final decisions were reached at the meeting, but when it was concluded, members of council and interested citizens alike, had gained the impression that it might take some time and careful consideration before the plan can actually be approved, due to conflicts and divergent interests, One of the more obvious changes in the plan calls for an Christmas is . . . by Leigh Robinson Christmas is the time of the year for Faith, Hope, and Charity. It never ceases to be the case. When we were youngsters, our beings were filled with these three essences and we did things like go for walks on Christmas eve in search of the brightest star that ever adorned the heavens. When we got older, our images changed but the essences remained. Instead of looking forward to the most grand of all days some three months in ad- vance, we were satisfed with two weeks. Then came more cynical times. Suddenly the world was filled with disillusionment, semi- truths, poverty, and human misery. Christmas became a far away isle that took a certain amount of struggle in order to be reached, Each year since then, mankind has burdened itself with this struggle in hopes that the sacred Christmas package would undo all the mistakes and wasted moments. Then we came to look upon Christmas as a burden. Gone was the sacred package. It was opened two seasons before and nothing came forth. Why believe that it ever will? If we narrow our vision just enough, we can look through the package and see nothing. Nothing at all. But nothing did not ever exist. In its place were all of the things which we have searched for all of our lives, Christmas is like that, At the very point where the most sacred of all packages would take on the character of nothing, something is there, Oh it has a little to do with the normal tinselled packages which we hand out to our relatives and friends to atone for our lack of humanness throughout the past year. And even with the feasting and drinking which have so become an integral part of the day's festival atmosphere. It certainly has nothing to do with Christmas, or the money extension to Alexander St., eventually developing the street into a community collector road to alleviate traffic problems on Highway 83. The extension and zoning changes in that area became the focal point for most of the discussion at the meeting. Len Veri, developer of Veri Mobile Home Park Subdivision, and perhaps the most vocal citizen at the meeting, had a number of questions for council and planner, Dave Keenan, representing the planning con- sultants, Damas and Smith Ltd. of Toronto. He raised an initial objection concerning the route that Alexander Street would take, cutting through his property. Receiving an affirmation from Mayor Shaw that the road was designed to act as a "buffer" between industrial and residential properties in that area, he asked that the road be moved to the east before it begins generating' capabilities of the so- called festive season, Its just a little spark that combines the essences of Faith, Hope, and Charity and tells us we have even one more chance to become real. its southward descent. Council accepted the proposed amend- ment to the plait for con- sideration, Veri's request sparked an objection from 13111 Smith, representing Custom Trailers, located along Highway 83. He told council that if the extension were to come further to the east, it would absorb a strip of land along his property that would conceivably^ result in making it impossible for the company to turn its trucks around and back them up to the loading door behind the plant. "The road would take away some of our property and put the area where trucks turn around right up against my factory. It would hamstring our entire operation," Smith said, Both gentlemen agreed on one item, however, the existence of an Alexander Street extension. Neither man could see its It was an ill-timed an- nouncement for some 300 em- ployees of the Goderich Hospital last Friday when Ontario minister of health, Frank Miller, released a statement that the institution would close down in April. The detrimental effect on Huron County, in terms of health service, as well as job losses and economic regression left many with something less than the Christmas spirit. The decision to close came with other austerity measures that the provincial government is taking to cut back on the 1976 budget. Mayor Deb Shewfelt of Goderich was quick to comment, saying that the $4 million dollars that the hospital operates under would be a significant loss to the Goderich -cornmtnity and to Huron County. Most of that budget is paid out in salaries. He suggested that the county begin immediately to come up with an effective use for the facility and suggested that something should be done to maintain employment for the employees, about two- thirds of the present staff at the hospital. The mayor will meet with county Warden Anson McKinley and board of health chairman, Ed Oddleifson to come up with postive alternatives. Huron-Middlesex MPP, Jack Riddell condemned the govern- ment move, calling it "a decision which can only be regarded as the most retrograde step in mental health care ever un- dertaken by the ministry," Riddell added that the mental hospital had one of the highest admission rates for its size of any mental hospital in the province. He accused the ministry of using necessity. "I don't believe any industries down there want that road", Vert told the T-A in a later interview, He also said that he was never notified in advance that a road would be coming through his property. As the plan now exists, Alexander Street would only be partially extended. The road would not go far enough to con- nect with Rosemont and therfore would not be ready for use as an alternative route to alleviate traffic along Highway 83 for some time yet. There were other objections. Gus Gregus and Mr. Vert were mutually concerned about specific zoning changes affecting their property. Gregus objected to an R-1 designation for property at the corner of John and Carling which would prohibit an apart- ment building in the future. Veri objected to some of his land adjacent to his mobile home park inaccurate statistics in giving their reasons for the hospital's closing. The employees will find it difficult, Jim Banks, ad- ministrator of Alexandra Marine To the complete amusement of some 100 children who made their way to the Exeter Public Library last Saturday afternoon, the "No Break-ins salved by Exeter OPP Exeter OPP have cleared up a case of break and enter that occurred at the Protective Plastics Plant in Huron Park earlier this year. A total of $2700 had been taken during the break-in. After in- tensive investigation, the detach- ment has laid charges against a Huron Park man, John McNair. The detachment has also cleared up numerous other break-ins throughout the area. Several juveniles have been charged. The detachment advises people to stay away from drinking if they are going to drive. A thorough check will be made during the holiday season on all roads, Officers will be watching for drinking drivers as well as continuing their normal patrol of the detachment area. being zoned agriculture instead of residential, expressing the opinion that the land should be specifically designated for usage while the official plan is All under consideration. Ed Middleholtz was concerned because his residential complex on Nelson Street had been designated as an apartment building, He has hoped to have it designated as condominiums, which are sold, apart with the land remaining in possession of the original owner. Another man had registered a complaint that his residence on Main Street had been designated as commercial, although he is allowed to retain residential privileges as long as he owns the house, There was a general complaint from citizens that they were not notified in advance that zoning Please turn to page 2A Price Per Copy 25 Cents and General Hospital in Goderich said that their facility would be unable to hire any of the unem- ployed staff because of a "provincially imposed hiring freeze." Strings Attached" Puppet Theatre from Perth County put on a show that couldn't have been any more appropriate for the rush and excitement ac- companying the last week before Christmas. The puppeteers presented the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, "The Fir Tree" dramatizing the story with the hand puppets they create themselves. The children were mesmerized. The fact that Christmas was still several days away made no difference, The gift was as good as anything they will find under the tree Christmas day. In addition to the family of puppets, each possessing his or her own distinctive character, the No Strings Attached Theatre consists of three very gifted and sensitive humans named Mary Ransberry, Cheryl Smith and Richard Keelan. After the main presentation, the puppeteers, accompanied by puppet friends, wandered out into the audience to get personally acquainted with their young fans. The laughs, giggles, oohs and ahs were delightful to see and hear. The trio also led the children in singing several Christmas carols Please turn to page 2A Two car crash causes $1400 damage Dear Santa As you check your Christmas list please think of the sad and hungry children, Please Make something that will give them a happy smile on Christmas morning. If you have time left Santa I would have fun with a new buggy and Baby That A Ways My brother likes guitars and farm implements to play with. Daddy always needs tools and mommy's coffee Judge winners pelt is broken, Please don't forget that we have a dog named Pip and a cat called NOEL is a simple, one-word message announcing the joyous tidings of Christmas. One of the simplest and sincerest of gifts at this time of year is the Christmas carol which can give as much happiness to the singers as to the listeners. The children of Exeter United Church discovered just that Monday night. Photo by Robinson. Dear Santa . • . Christmas wishes * * Dear Santa I am 4 years old and try to be a good boy for my mommy Winners, tanNAMMOMMUMMEMnangaggmastammenalsw,fflyal DONATION FROM LEGION AUXILIARY — The ladies' auxiliary of the 12, E. Pooley Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion worked hard to raise $2,000 to help purchase the parking lot beside the Legion Hall in Exeter. Pauline Dyck, president of the auxiliary, presented Doug Brintnell, president of the Legion with a cheque for that amount last Thursday night. Faith, Hope, Charity CHRISTMAS AROUND THE WORLD was the theme of the Sunday School program presented in the Exeter United Church last Sunday evening in celebration of the most important of all events in the Chris- tian religion, While Bruce Shaw narrated, each class presented a brief EXETER, ONTARIO, DECEMBER 24, 1975 `fie elteferitnesativocate Goderich psychiatric to be closed in Ont. budget move Puppets delight kids at Exeter library representing a different cultural contribution to the obser• vance of Christmas. Above a choral group sings against she -dramatic backdrop of the church altar. photo by Robinson,