If you care to drive north on Bathurst Street., please note a fence building project being undertaken by the Region. The last figure I heard for this project is $2.million.
The fence is to protect owners who complained about noise of increasing regional traffic.
It's similar to where people bought homes backing on to a railway track, then complained about train whistles.
Normally, responsibility for protection rests with the subdivision developer. Cost is then be included in the price of homes.
This way, the rest of us get to pay for the amenity of a privacy and accoustic fence for the Regional Street dwellers.
If that's not enough aggravation, let me draw attention to the rise and fall of the land and how this beautful , no doubt most expensive fancy fencing follows the contours of the land.
Yards of it dip deep into the hollows.
Houses it is supposed to protect are up at the level of the road and therefore.... the traffic.
In those areas, the fence serves no purpose whatsoever.It is lost in the woods.
It would appear,whoever drew up specifications for the fence , never moved their backsides from the draftsman's stool that accommodates them throughout their working day..
For almost fifty years the Town of Aurora strove to control development so that Bathurst Street retained its rural ambiance.
Trees and brush were not disturbed. Houses were required to be built thirty metres back from the road and hidden in the woods where there was any.
Now trees and shrubs are hidden behind the fence.Whatever vegetation was in the way, has been cut down and removed.
It's sort of like the great slabs of concrete that appeared on boulevards all over town, at a time there was raving or rhapsodizing, depending on one's perspective, about the urgent need to protect Oak Ridges Moraine.
Owners with homes in the Moraine can't as much as lay a slab for a garden shed ,without making an application to the committee of adjustment for the right,at a cost of several hundred dollars.
But the Region can drive around ,apparently in the dead of night, and like the shoemaker's elves,lay hundreds of yards of concrete to accommodate bus passengers who are never seen,. waiting for, getting on or off or riding on a regional bus.
Did they ask anybody?
Only the Shadow knows.
Sunday, 27 May 2012
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6 comments:
There is a great book about that sort of stupidity. called The Wump World by Bill Peet. Not sure who enjoys it more, kids or adults. .It's a keeper.
Book? It is 8 and a 1/2 minutes on U-tube. Costs nothing. Still really good but the final message is that the Wump World was never the same.
Sorry, I write books and am pissed off that authors do not get any benefits. Sue me.
I think the houses on Bathurst have a different perspective to their plight than those near the rail line.
The rail line has bee there since the begining of time. When the houses on Bathurst were built, Bathurst Street was a 2-lane road. It has changed considerably in the 15-20 years since those houses were built.
I attended a party last year at a house that backed on to Bathurst. The noise wall was not there and the constant traffic noise was not very loud but was always in hour head.
The region was originally supposed to put in berms and landscaping when they widened the road far sooner than originally forecasted. The northwestern ratepayers had agreed to that. It was the region who after the fact, decided on the sound barrier fencing. Note that the barrier fencing is installed behind the trees the region planted that died the first season in. This is right up there with the beautification of Wellington that we are currently witnessing.
I know that the Region - particlularly their spending habits - is a constant burr under your saddle councillor Buck so I'm willing to take your little rant with a grain of salt.
For those readers who are interested however here are a few facts for the record.
1. The noise barrier has been in discussion for at least 10 years.
Much of the time was consumed by taking decibel readings and measurements and clarifying exactly what the Regions previously undefined noise policy was going to be.
2. There were several public meetings with the area residents - one was at Aurora Town Hall where we met with Regional staff and consulting engineers.
3. Each homeowners property was inspected and a determination made as to the noise-reduction effectiveness of a barrier and any environmental effects the barrier would have.
Where the barrier was of no use - such as homes with driveways onto Bathurst, homes too far below grade or homes already protected by the natural terrain - a barrier was not put in.
Existing fences on the barrier "right of way" were removed.
Each home lot plan was detailed even to the point of which existing trees had to be removed and which trees would be planted as replacements.
Maybe York Region staff didn't keep Aurora council informed but as far as I'm concerned they were very forthcoming and open in their communications with residents.
Did it take too long to happen?
perhaps.
Is it perfect?
perhaps not.
But it's a vast improvment for homes that have seen Bathurst go from a country cowpath into a very busy four lane thoroughfare.
One could always argue about the cost and whether or not the area "deserved" to get a noise barrier but bear in mind a couple of points.
The noise barrier is in keeping with the Regions noise policy regarding homes abutting 4 lane roads and yes I know - new subs have the cost "built-in".
Expect more arguments when Leslie and Bloomington are made four lane one day.
Also expect a barrier on the west side of Bathurst when King gets developed.
Also - the train whistle argument doesn't quite hold. Train whistles aren't banned in certain areas - they affect anyone that lives near the tracks just as traffic noise affects anyone living next to four lane roads.
Telling some residents that they'll have to put up with the noise is like telling some "whistle" residents that they should have bought a house along a different section of the track where whisltes aren't allowed.
Sorry to be long-winded but one shouldn't assume this was a "midnight madness" quickie job on the part of the Region.
If you want to know more contact the Region's engineering department - talk to the residents in the area.
It's not a secret.
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