HawthorneVillager.com

Sorry guys - we pulled out of the deal today

We are going with GreenPark homes - as they are offering a lot of Free Upgrades and Mattamy does not want to budge.

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Sorry to see you go abridgel- Mattamy does not budge on free upgrades or anything of the sort but i'm sure you'll be very happy in your Greenpark home Good luck!

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Welcome M&CTAYLOR!, congrats on your purchase

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Hi, welcome and congratulations Kevin and Hilda!! It's great to see so many new VISTA members on here. I've added you guys to the main list on the first page.

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A little bit of VISTA news... Nunn Crescent is now officially Nunn Court instead. I kind of like the sound of it better anyway. And they have moved the sidewalk from the the homes that back onto the creeklands to the inner side of the court and it will wrap around to Savoline blvd. Not too happy about that to be honest but we'll still love our home regardless. Also I went in to the sales centre yesterday and there are still quite a few premium lots left.

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Hi Kanada 08
Thanks for the question. I figured someone would ask this question soon after the misleading headline the Champion printed a few weeks ago.

In answer to your question you can check milton.ca click on council then agendas and scroll down to July 21st meeting agenda. The report which is 2009 Budget Call Report CORS-054-08 (you can also just type in that number on the site search button).

The report is the initial presentation for the staff to prepare the budget which will be considered at the Budget Committee on December 8th and 9th for:

-And that staff be directed to prepare and submit the 2009 operating budget with a range of tax impacts between 2.2% and 9.8% including.

- an operating base budget with a tax rate increase not to exceed 5.66% in order to accommodate existing Town service levels and base budget operation needs.

- and up to 2.1% be included to phase-out the eliminateion of the OMFP grant. (this is a provincial grant the Town was receiving)

As you can see this is much different to the headline and the following discussion.

Last years Town tax increase was just over 6% which was needed to fund the addition mostly of 5 full time firefighters to keep up with Provincial Standards which Milton is below in some areas (check Second Quarter Fire Department report on the same agenda) and the construction of the new Beaty Library.

My personal goal is to keep any tax increases to the level of inflation or below which we face a few challenges in 2009 due to increasing energy costs (ie.+40% for fuel and natural gas) the annualization of the new Town Hall addition and branch library and the lack of funding from development charges etc. that the Town and Region have asked for through the Fairness for Halton project (check halton.ca home page for details)

The Town's long term plan is to hold the level of tax increases to inflation and to accomodate growth through financial agreements over and above
the Development Charges Act to pay for new facilities.

In way of comparison I have checked with other muncipalities on what their taxes are for 2008 for a average house assessed at $ 300,000 (which is the norm for the western GTA)

Toronto $ 2,624.77

Rural Milton 2,694.75 +2.7% or $ + 69.98 more

Urban Milton 2,829.77 + 7.8% + 205.00

Caledon 2,802.79 +6.8% + 178.02 (rural & urban)

Mississauga 3,104.29 +18.3% + 479.52

Oakville 3,137.13 +19.5 % + 512.36

Halton Hills 3,182.91 +21.3 % + 558.14

Burlington (urban) 3,323.94 +26.6% + 699.17

Brampton 3,732.16 +42.2% +1,107.39

Hamilton 4,937.72 +88.1% +2,312.95

These rates are for typical homes and services usually within the same prices as Milton homes.

This process is typical of budget calls with other municipalities starting much later than Milton which has won awards on its budget process and also cuts costs from between 10-20% as tenders for projects are done 2-3 months before other municipalities.

Anyone with any political experience knows this has been typical for decades, staff presents a proposal and councillors whittle down the increase to an acceptable number usually after much grandstanding and debate.

I will be posting more information on the budget and other important matters in the next few weeks as there is a public meeting scheduled on September 9th in Milton for the options on the Sustainable Halton process which is part of the Places to Grow requirements by the Province which could add about 60-130,000 people to the urban milton area by the year 2031 which is on top of the already projected 175,000 people which is in the Town's Official Plan which the Province is dragging its feet on funding such projects as the Hospital expansion and the Tremaine Road interchange with Highway #401 which are both needed now.

Colin Best
Local & regional councillor
Wards 2 & 4
Miltonb/Halton
(which includes the Vista area)

Thanks again Buttafly 77 for introducing me to this thread. I just took an hour reading all the post... Wow... Lot of info... Who needs Mattamy U with this web site.

Hey Just a Girl,

Welcome and congratulations on your home purchase! Finally we have found some fellow Wettlaufer Terrace neighbours! It's nice to meet you on this awesome and informative community website. We have found many helpful discussions and forums. I am sure there is one already for all Juneberry owners as the one for our model is very good.

I am not sure if we can see you from our lot when it is all finished (in the not so distant future), but that would be great. Feel free to chat and ask away if you have further queries!

Satmatrix
Lot 184

Thank- you and congratulations on your purchase. Can't wait... I went down to the lot on Tuesday, drove down with my truck. I stood on my soon to be property, looked out onto the pond and watched as a mother duck led her young ones out onto pond. It was so beautiful.

Heeeey Everyone...

Just wanted to let you know that I spoke with my mums friend who is going to be installing our HVac. She said that whoever is interested to give her a call and she would work up a quote for you. This is guaranteed to be less than what Mattamy is offering and is a 110% job! My parents got theirs done not too long ago by them; their service and workmanship was beyond expected. I would highly recommend giving them a call. You are under no obligation, but a personal quote will be made for you if you supply them with the square footage of your house, and any other requirements. Please let them know who referred you, only because they like to know where their references are coming from.

Contact Jeannine or Brian @ 416 298 3891.

Good luck,

Lesley

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Lesley

Pure Aperture Photography
http://www.pureaperture.ca
Photo Services in Peel/Halton Regions.

Hi all,

Just drove by the site this afternoon on our way back from Hilton Falls and noticed that a new sign is up by the entrance that shows the locations of the bus stops and mailboxes, along with the trails and sidewalks.

Unfortunately I didn't have a camera with me or I would post a photo.

I noticed 2 bus stops on Savoline, one on the bridge and another on the opposite site near the elementary school/park.

Just thought I'd keep you in the loop. The sign looked like it was issued by the city of Milton, I wasn't there too long so I didn't get all the details.

MandM

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HVOP Phase 7

Congrats on your new home. And welcome to Milton, you will love Milton, once your here you'll never leave.
The Escarpment has SIX Conservation Parks each park has there own features, these are must see places. We also have a pretty good fall fair coming up, you may want to come by get to know the town a little. Well good luck with your new home. Mattamy has a great team of workers, I'm sure you will love the process of purchasing a new home with Mattamy.

Cool link SDF, thanks for sharing! We have about 426 days to go. I'm sure they'll just fly by right?

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Hi everyone
We just bought Royal Fern 'B' yesterday in Vista 1A, and the lot # is 245 on Leitch landing. Wondering who is on # 244 and #246. Would be nice to know my neighbours

Hi Cooldude!! Welcome to our neck of the woods!

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