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: :rmJAvcEE mm at VOLUME LXXXI, NUMBER 32 York County Hospital Commission Recommends Addition At Newmarket And New HOSpitaI Here Council Agrees With Proiecfi Mayor To Discuss Annexing Of Proposed Golf Ciub Site With Vaughan Twp. Soon Construction of a golf course at the northern end of Richmond Hill would be a decided asset to the municipal- ity, it was pointed out by a report from the planning board to town council, discussed at the latter’s meeting this week. Council agreed in principle but thought that the subject should be discussed, in a spirit of good neighborliness, with Vaughan Township, Where part of the land is located. Mayor Haggart was authorized to proceed with such a discussion. Editorial GAS HEATING OIL ALSO STORM DOOR, WINDOWS Home Comfort Sales TU. 4-2892 “If it shouldn’t be a seventy foot setback, what should it be ?”'asked 3 Richmond Hill citizen last week following the well-attended meeting at which revised zoning regulations, prepared by the planning board, were presented for public comment. Among the suggestions drawing considerable discussion â€" and in this particu- lar case scorn â€" was one which would enforce a set-back of commercial buildings seventy feet from the front of properties on certain parts of Yonge Street and twenty- five feet from the rear. One speaker after another, at the meeting called by Town Council to present Planning Board proposals publicly condemned a suggestion which in many cases,‘ would ban the use of privately owned property to an uneconomical and hurtful degree. The committee cannot complete its big job in a day. But a little delay is, in the long run, a small price to pay in such an important matter. President Wentworth Dowel] (right) of the Thornhill and District Associa- tion for Retarded Children, accepts a cheque for $707.65 from President Roy Chandler of the Richmomd Hill Rotary Club. The cheque represents the pro- ceeds from the sale of Rotary Christ- â€"_€â€"Tn'ci ADVICE and E TIMATE’S Is Your Furnace Set To Its Efficiency Point 10 Foot Setback Rotary Presents Cheque Retarded School Public Library, 56 Yonge N., Ri chmofid Hill, Ont. mas trees during December. The presentation was made at the regular weekly meeting of the local club. The Retarded Association oper- ates the Thornhaven School located' on Centre Street East. An investment of $330,000 would be entailed, developer John Griffin told members of the town council, includingbuildings and land. These would be servic- ed by well water and septic tank, at no expense to the town. Ser- ious consideration ‘should be giv- en to this phase of the operation, said the planning board’s report, so that danger of contamination to stream and pond waters would be avoided. It was pointed out by Mr. Griffin that as the club house would stand in the middle of a large open acreage the danger was slight. Demand Said Great The Toronto Board of Trade had 312 firms wanting locations for the holding of/ their golf tournaments, Mr. Griffin told council. If part of this business could be attracted to the Hill, he said, it would rub off on stores, gas stations and other mercan- tile establishments, he declared. In order to help the winter work program fifteen men had already been employed. Assessment lead- ing to increased tax revenue for the town would also be a favor- able factor. if the land could be annexed from the Township of Vaughan. The developer should be re- quired to complete an agreement with the town that the golf course, if constructed. would not be redeveloped for a consider- able period and its character changed, the planning board recâ€" ommended to town council. That was hardly likely, Mr. Griffin told council, considering the large amount which would be expended in development. Say Engineers “Whistle Happy” At Local Crossings Engineers on trains pass- ing through Richmond‘ Hill had become “whistle-happy.” Mayor James Haggart told members of Richmond Hill Town Council this week. Many complaints had been received, he said. They were blocking crossings too long as well. declared Councillor Tom Broadhurst, saying that on one occasion recent- ly the Crosby Avenue cross- ing had been blocked for 18 minutes. Agreeing that there was possible danger in de- laying fire trucks and ambul- ances, Council members de- cided to take the matter up “ith the C.N.R. . Photo by Lagerquist “In Essentials Unity: In Non-Essentials Liberty; in all things Charity RICHMOND HILL, ONTARIO, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1961 ] Fight Against Blightâ€" First meeting of the recenth- formed committee to study pos- szbilities of the redevelopment of down-town Yonge Street took place last week with Mayor James Haggart being named to the chairmanship. Col. F. J. Pick- ing. president of the Yonge Street Business and Professional Association. was named vice- chairman. with John MacDiarmid, representing the town planning board on the committee. being chosen as secretary. Other mem- bers of the committee are Coun- cillor Margaret Southwell, rep- resenting town council: Donald Plaxton, representing the town parking authority; Joseph Parisi, representing the Yonge Street Business Association. Also pres- ent at the meeting was Secretary J. Brown of the town planning board. To Counteract “Blight” The situation. said the Yonge Street business people in their submission to town council. was one which affected all taxpayers as retrogression of highttax-pay- ing areas meant a decline in mun- icipal revenues from the section affected. Council. agreeing un- animously, left it to Mayor Hag- gart to name the committee, which commenced operations this week. Study First Objective The committee had a great deal of scope in its operations, said the Mayor. “You cannot isolate any corner of the com- munity.” he declared as he point- ed out the importance of keep- ing the down-town area alive and active. To be able to say what had to be done would entail. first of all, a tremendous amount of study. The experience of the "k mnhiv annv- AAMMII“:“;I\H "uh: Redevelopment Committee Begins Study Of Problem Formation of the committee was suggested to town council a short time ago by the Yonge Street Business and Professional Association. Pointing out that the older sections of many comâ€" munties had suffered deterior- ation which had to be overcome at tremendous cost eventually, the association recommended or- ganization of a committee which could study the local problem. I! “Corporate Piracy, Says Speaker Overflow Audience Criticizes Highrise Apartments, Setback The first hour of the public meeting called on Thurs- day evening of last week to discuss the amended zoning by~1aw proposed for Richmond Hill was quiet, even a little monotonous and boring, as the recital of the official lang- uage of the suggested by-law droned on and on. Then some- body mentioned high-rise apartments and seventy-foot setbacks and, from that point until the end of the meeting, a steady barrage 0f .comment - often critical - was heard. Whether or not the meeting was deliberately packed with “antis” or not, the fact remained that those who were there were definitely against proposals made by the planning board. At times remarks from the audience bordered on the personal, with notâ€"too-thinly disguised suggestions that the planning consultant and members of the board had much to learn about conditions in the Hill. The proposed 70-foot setback for properties in a section of Yonge Street North was a “nice dream," realtor Jasl; Seaton told the gathering in an address which brought hearty applause at its conclusion. It violated all prin- ciples of ownership, he declared. The Sorbara property, standing practically vacant opposite the Municipal Building for months. was an example of the lack of wisdom in the plan, it was de- clared. “You cannot see the place.” said Mr. Seaton. Traffic was too fast. Setback “Nice Dream" The meeting was well-attended. Packing the Council chamber to lche walls, the audience overflowed into the halls. “What is a man going to have left to build on? he asked, re- ferring to the fact that the new zoning regulations called for a seventy foot setback in the front and twenty-five feet in the rear. “Take that from a hundred and sixty foot lot and what is there left to do anything with?" Mortgage Companies Against “It isn’t the business of coun- cil or the planning board to tell a man whether he can build or not,” asserted the speaker. Mort- gage companies, he declared. were not in favour of the set- back. They would not loan the same amount of money. It was “corporate piracy." he said_ The Seaton theme was repeat- ed time after time. Former town ofiicials took a leading part in the attack. One-time Reeve Torn Taylor declared that Planning Consultant Farrow was not ac- quainted with the land where the set-back was proposed. Why was the 25-foot setback at the rear of the property required, he ask- ed. To provide a service lane, said the consultant. “Well, you had better go and look at the land,” said Mr. Taylor amid laughter. “The lots are not even all the same depth.” More laughter arose when former Reeve P. C. Hill also said that access could not be secured through other prop- erty. William Neal, former reeve The committee had a great deal of scope in its operations, said the Mayor. “You cannot isolate any corner of the com- munity.” he declared as he point- ed out the importance of keep- ing the down-town area alive and active. To be able to say what had to be done would entail, first of all, a tremendous amount of study. The experience of the many other communities which had experienced similar problems should be reviewed. nearest employment office, said Mayor Haggart in introducing the subject. Establishment of a local office would be of value to both employers and workers. Other council members agreed. :While Councillor Howard Whi1~ [lans declared that “there are lfar too many people drawing un- I It was seventeen miles to the l l The Province of Ontario had a special department devoted to assisting municipalities.in con- nection with redevelopment prob- lems, it was learned, and it was agreed that the committee’s first move would be to secure informa- tion from the source at an early date. Acting as chairman of the meeting, Mayor Jim Haggart took a non-committal stand, saying that the proposed by-law had been under study for more than a year. The purpose of the meeting, he declared, was to give residents an opportunity to advance their views and to let council know What they thought of it. The by. law, said the mayor, had been given first reading only. Citizens interested were invited to sub- mit briefs on the proposal. Sec- ond reading would be given at town council meeting on Febru- ary 16th at which time a decision, for or against, would be given. and Richmond Hill’s first mayor, also could see little in favour of the proposed amendments. Var- ious members of the audience joined in the criticism_ Under Study Long Time The proposed set-back was de- fended by the Planning Board's With a suggestion that the old Post Office building at Yonge and Centre Streets would make a good location, members of Rich- mond Hill town council, at their Haggart. Service should be pro- meeting on Monday, decided to vided anyway. seek establishment of an office One local firm, Ratclms’ had of the National Employment Ser- - vice in the Hill. ' :Pflfimht“: 3139.33 33°. 21,1321 2?: employment insurance now" he voted for the motion to seek lo- cation of an office locally. That wasn’t the point, replied Mayor To Ask Employment Service To Establish A Local Office Suggest Old Post Office Siteâ€" Program To Be Carried Out In Stages â€" Present Shortage Hospital Beds Serious And Alarming-Four Millions In Hospital Insurance Premiums Annually Now Spent Outside The Countyâ€" l One local firm, Ratcliffs, had {told him a year ago that they {would be glad to see a local em- ployment office, said Reeve Floyd Perkins. It would provide better supervision, said Council- lor Tom Broadhurst. Consultant, M. Farrow and its chairman, Ross Scrimger. It was an effort to avoid the prob- lems which had arisen in older sections due to lack of parking space, said Mr. Farrow. He de- tailed the lay-out which could be followed to provide parking, ve- hicular and pedestrian movement. Chairman Scrimger likwise spoke'strongly in favour of the proposal. Applaud Councillor Councillor A1. White drew ap- plause also when he asked the planning board consultant if he was going to make property own~ ers in the south end of the town, where restrictions would apply in certain parts similar to those pro- posed for the north, use a great deal of high-priced land to pro- vide an excessive amount of en- trance space. “Mr. Whillans, you’re going to have to give a second look at this," said Mr. Seaton in a fur- ther attack on the plan. He de- clared that developers of prop- erty would provide parking “on a good solid basis, not what you are suggesting, which is four and a half times what the City of Toronto insists on.” “If you don’t come up with good planning and sensible requirements you won't have anybody buying anything in Richmond Hill," he added. “My criticism is that this by-law is too stringent," said Deputy-reeve John Bradstock as he spoke brief- 1y. Harrygan Resident Speaks With Reeve Perkins moving and Councillor A1. White second- ing it, a resolution to take im- mediate action was unanimously adopted by council. High-rise apartments came in for criticism from D. W. Bray- shaw of 243 Harrygan Crescent, one of a considerable group from that area. He and others ques- (Ccntinued On Page 15) Mr. and Mrs. Dick “The Liberal” joins with their many friends in ex- tending congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. J. Albert Dick who on January 25th cele- brated the fiftieth anniver- sary of their marriage. They have lived all their married life in the Nashville district. and Mr. Dick for several terms was a member of the Vaughan Township Council. On their anniversary many friends called to extend good wishes and they were recip- ients of many gifts and flor- al tributes. Celebrating with their parents were their three daughters,- Miss Jean Dick of Toronto, Mrs. Sarah Devins of Sand Hill, Mrs. Grace Robb of Bolton. and two sons, Robert and Henry. Golden Wedding HOME PAPER OF THE DISTRICT SINCE 1878 SINGLE COPY 10c A Hospital program for York County to meet the ex- isting critical shortage of accommodation was recommend- ed to County Council by the York County Hospital Com- mission this week. It is recommended that a building pro- gram be commenced at once and carried out in stages to make a substantial addition to the existing York County Hospital at Newmarket and build a new Hospital at Rich- mond Hill. The report'was presented to County Council by John W. Rye, Commission Chairman and recommends a program to cost $4,350,000. It is proposed that the County’s share be raised by twenty year debentures with the first pay- ments coming due in 1964. The impact on the local tax rate will not exceed 2.1 mills in any municipality and in Richmond Hill would be 1.23 mils. The York County Hospital Commission members are: John W. Rye, East Gwillimbury Twp., an ex-warden of the County, Chairman; Mrs. Elton Armstrong, Armitage; Norn Garriock, Reeve of Woodbridge; William Sellers, Reeve of Sutton; W. A. Spears, President the York County Hos- pital Association; D. H. Storms, Richmond Hill, President The York Central Hospital Association; Dr. William Mc- Clintock, representingAtherYork County Medical Society. The Commission was complimented on presenting a very thorough report and the recomendations will have the careful consideration of County Council members. From The report submitted to County’Council Wednesday was as follows: The Council.and its Members â€" Sirs: The Commission has the honour to report and make recom- mendations for the providing of hospital aceommodation and ser- vices for the County of York in Stage I as follows: The shortage of hospital accommodation within the County has become so serious as to warrant immediate drastic action. As a first step County Council at a meeting April 28th, 1960, requested the two County Hospital Associations to prepare a report jointly on the County hospital situation. On May 315t, 1960, at a meeting at County Council. the report was submitted entitled: “The Need and Recommendations for Ad- ditional Hospital Facilities within the County of York." (To be referred to herein after as the “Joint Report”) The Joint Report was carefully prepared and approved by the Trustees of the two hospital associations. the Boards of which are composed of representative citizens of the County and certain Mem- bers of County Council as ex-otficio members of the Boards. A special meeting of County Council October 4th, 1960, auth- orized the establishment of “The York County Hospital Commis- sion" (to be referred to herein after as “The Commission”), The duties of this Commission briefly are to investigate, plan, recom- mend as to capital requirements and the raising of same; to co- ordinate all hospital facilities, services and organizations and to ad- vise County and Municipal Councils on all matters relating to the foregoing with the object of providing uniform and efficient hos- pital services for all persons within the County of York. The Report was backed by a survey and report of the Ontario Hospital Services Commission, by an outstanding firm of hospital consultants, Agnew, Peckham 8: Associates. and financing statistics prepared by McDonald, Currie & Co., Chartered Accountants; the County Auditors. The Joint Report was discussed at length at the May and sub- sequent meetings of County Council. It was decided to table the Report to allow time for further investigation and recommenda- tions for the implementing of the report. The machinery for this was set up as follows: (1) There is a desperate urgency fot immediate action to pro- vide the people of York County with hospitals and hospital services. The County has now 113 hospital beds for over 100,000 people, 1.1 beds per thousand. the bare minimum requirement is 5.5 beds per thousand. The only hospital in the County. The York CountyJ-Iosv pital, Newmarket, with 113 beds. operates under emergency condi- tions. strained beyond the limit of its capacity, is forced to turn away all but the most serious and extremely urgent cases. Due to overcrowding. a very high percentage of utilization and the short stay of patients, the result of extreme requirements for beds, the very capable and willing staff cannot render the technical service and attention to patients that their unfortunate condition of sickness and disease demands. Since its formation the Commission has investigated, enquired into and studied the County hospital situation. Many meetings have been held, special reports have been received from the County' Medical Society and the two hospital associations. The Commission has confirmed the fact that the lack of hospital beds and hospital services within the County is an extremely serious and alarming matter. now and will become more and more desperate as time goes on unless immediate action is taken. Any plan for the solution of the problem must be established on the principle of balancing the urgency and need with the ability to raise funds for the necessary capital investment. This suggests a realistic development by stages to arrive at’the main objective. The Commission considered and brings to your attention some of the factors which have a great bearing on seeking a' solution of the profilem: (2) The shortage of hospital accommodation in Metro Toronto, and the Municipalities bordering York County is becoming more The York County Hospital Commission The Council of the Corporation of the County of York. February 7, 1961. ONLY AT CANADIAN TIRE MGR-POWER (CONTINUED ON PAGE 17) DRY CHARGE . locks in all the power - until you buy it! 3 months insurance guarantee $14.95 ‘15?" $18.95 trade in