Meadow Wood Rattray Ratepayers Association
Issues & Documents:
For news on issues facing our neighborhood, please see the latest newsletter.
Recent Documents:
- The motion brought forward by Don Stephens, our
Ward 2 Trustee, to change the boundary of Lorne Park
Secondary School to include the Watercolours
development was passed at the Board of Trustees
meeting on February 24, 2009. The change will be
effective September ’09 for grades 9 & 10. There
was a Public Consultation meeting on January 28th, and a
new PDSB Planning Dept. report was issued: Lorne
Park S.S. - Results of Community Consultation on Board
Resolution No. 08-376 (PDF).
The following are
some ongoing issues:
Good Neighbour or Nightmare?
With the warm weather comes the opportunity to see our neighbours more, get to know each other better and apparently that isn't always a good thing.
Occasionally, we receive complaints about "unneighbourly" behaviour, most complaints concern unleashed dogs, unwanted noise, and property/pool maintenance issues. All we can do is remind residents to use common sense and apply the Golden Rule. For those who won't voluntarily act like good neighbours, we have municipal by-laws. A complete list of by-laws and how they are enforced is available on the city's website www.mississauga.ca.
Dogs: There are no "leash free" zones in our neighbourhood, there is one in Jack Darling Park and another just west of Petro Canada on Lakeshore Road. No dog is exempt from the by-law, but if you don't leash your dog as a rule, be prepared to leash it around small children (Meadow Wood Road Park is not a "leash free" zone) or when asked. Unleashed dogs should never be permitted to wander on another resident's property. Common Sense.
Noise: One person's party is another's headache. Noise is considered anything that disturbs a neighbour at any time. This includes mechanical noise, music, or even shouting or speaking loudly. Obviously, we all want to use and enjoy our homes and properties - that means respecting each other's desire to occasionally make noise and likewise to enjoy some peace and quiet. Golden Rule. If a friendly approach fails to resolve the situation, contact by-law enforcement at 905-896-5655.
Visioning for Rattray Marsh
With the sewer infrastructure leaving the marsh new opportunities for restoration of native habitat are opening up. Credit Valley Conservation would like to institute a new restoration plan for the marsh addressing issues of plant loss due to the infiltration of non-native carp, water levels and fluctuations. The carp are a difficult problem and enclosures will be expanded to control the level of destruction to the marsh. Eventually there is hope for a barrier at the outlet allowing for restoration of native ecology. For information call Bob Morris at CVC, 905-670-1615 ext. 254.
Petro-Canada's Emergency Notification Program
Petro-Canada how has in place an automated telephone call-in system that will provide a recorded message related to the sounding of the plant siren. Residents can hear this message by calling the following toll-free number: 1-866-644-5678.
This number may be called at any time. Typically, the mesage will explain that there is a test of the emergency siren every Monday at noon and that there is no abnormal or emergency condition at the time of the call. If, however, an abnormal or emergency condition does arise and the siren is sounded, Petro-Canada will update the message with available information specific to the situation.
Our Municipal Emergency Response Workers continue to be responsible
for communication in the event (whatever the cause) our safety is threatened.
Gypsy Moths
Many of you will have read or heard about the problem with Gypsy Moth infestation. The good news is that our area is considered a low density infestation area and is not to be aerial sprayed. A simple control device for concerned citizens who wish to take vigilante justice is to wrap a tree with a strip of burlap at chest height. The burlap does not kill the caterpillars. They stop in the shade of the burlap on their trip down the tree top from feeding and can then be removed from the tree and destroyed. An easy way to dispose of them is to dunk the burlap, caterpillars and all in a pail of water containing a tablespoon of liquid detergent. More info available at www.mississauga.ca. Just follow the Gypsy Moth link on the front page.
Neighbourhood Changes
Redevelopment has its good and bad points. Property values have risen dramatically, especially those properties that are seen as prime "building lots', and those new homes in turn continue to raise property values for everyone. Some would argue that the newer homes are changing the streetscape and not always for the better. Here are a few facts of interest regarding our neighbourhood of 780 homes.
Our association receives and reviews copies of building applications and strongly supports the enforcement of guidelines and by-laws in place to manage and preserve our streetscape.