The Annual General Meeting of the Leaside Property Owners Association Tuesday night heard Engineer Gene Chartier discuss traffic calming studies and plans for Leaside. Mr. Chartier is vice president of Paradigm Transportation Solutions Limited, the firm hired to complete a traffic study of the community. About 100 people, some standing, filled a room at the Trace Manes Park field house for the meeting. Following LPOA business, the meeting was turned over to Chartier. It was noted that plans to calm traffic and reduce speeds are in a wait-and-see period because of the confusion created by the LRT construction.
GATEWAY TO LEASIDE
Nonetheless, the planners have a number of ideas for the time when a clearer traffic picture is available. Mr. Chartier named the “entranceway” concept for the whole of Leaside. Drivers would find signs and “geometric features” like raised crosswalks and “curb radius reductions” to make a statement. He said drivers tend to respond at least for a time to the sense that they are crossing a boundary. (This idea may have tickled some ardent Leaside folk). Such things as speed bumps, enhanced crosswalk markings like graphic “ladder rungs” painted on the pavement and the raised crosswalk are on the table. Chartier also mentioned a seasonal feature called “speed cushions” which appear to run the length of the road in some places to narrow the pavement and thus slow vehicles. Speed cushions come out in winter.
ELECTRONIC ENFORCEMENT
Electronic enforcement has become the order of the day for City Hall where it is seen as a way to intimidate drivers without employing an expensive policeman to do so. Red light cameras — which issue a ticket photographically — would be suitable at Laird-Wicksteed/McRae and Millwood and McRae beside Trace Manes Park and playground. Engineer Chartier said education of all roads users — drivers, cyclists and pedestrians was needed. He said these concepts will be uploaded in graphic slide form to the LPOA website in coming days.
SUNNYBROOK PLAZA
Those who had hoped this meeting might reveal details of the still secret arrangements worked out for the redevelopment of Sunnybrook Plaza were disappointed. Jon Burnside (Ward 26) said it may be December before such information is made public. This process will not please everyone but there is no doubt the City’s hands are not as free as might be wished because of the prospect of a hearing at the Ontario Municipal Board. RioCan, Sunnybrook’s owner, must feel the odds at OMB favour its first scheme to build towers 13 and 19 storeys. The meeting also heard a roundtable discussion of the City’s Committee of Adjustment.
