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SATURDAY. December )2. 1.9.92 ANNEXATION Now, here it is . . . theneW London After years of intense negotiations, public hearings, and heated political debate, the Ontario government this week finally approved London’s bid to annex thousands of hectares of land from its neighboring municipalities. As of New Year’s Day, London becomes one of the largest municipalities in the province â€" about 80 per cent the size of Metropolitan Toronto â€" with room to grow well into the let century. Here are the final boundaries of the new London. m Followmg are highlights cl the plan to nearly triple the srze or ‘ London by annexing 25.000 heclares (64,220 acres) of surroundr my land, malt/rig ll 80 per cent the Size of Metropolitan Toronto The plan is to lake effect Jan. 7. 1993 p Westminster ceases to exist, With nearly the entire town ol 7,000 absorbed into London > The annexed area Includes London Airport and large sections of Highways 401 and 402 b Middlesex County loses 35 per cent of its tax assessment, but the my Will pay compensation at about 520 million over 10 years. The county says that amount is inadequate. > London Public Utilities Commisswn Is abolished and its role In ‘ setting power rates is lranslerred to a newly appointed hydro- electric commISSion Responsibility for parks and recreation pro gramming Is translerred to the City > School boundaries are to remain the same pending lunher talks to restructure City and county school boards > Employees of Westminster and London PUC 7 and n‘unicipal workers declared redundant in annexed areas 7 are to be otr fered similar jobs by the city > City police expand their jurisdiction to include the annexed area. p A preliminary financial study by the Ontario munICIpaI affairs ministry suggests it Will take 11 years before the City of London obtains a net cost benefit of 5200.000 from annexation. b The city is expected to benefit from new taxation and vast new tracts of land for industrial. commercial and residential development The London Free Press C3 By Chip Martin The London F rec Presx When the province announced this year it planned to let London nearly triple in size, it released a map showing the city‘s new borders. After months ol refinement and minor changes to reflect property holdings that straddled the proposed boundary. several modifications were made. Among the changes was a slight I Ford plant shrinking ot the proposed buffer zone in which non-agricultural development will be discouraged. This map is based on the revised map released by Ontario's municrpal attairs ministry. ‘Among the more significant changes: Removal 01 the hamlet of Meltose from the butter zone. Adoption of the ThamesRiver as one oi the western boundaries. radming problems tor Nonh Dorchesler Township. A CHANGE IN PLANS Several changes have been made in the boundaries 01 both the annexation area â€" the white area surrounding the present city. which is indicated in blackâ€" and the buffer zone (grey). The previous boundaries are indicated by dotted lines. Six key areas at change are highlighted. . Belmont slightly the city's bite of London Township. . Zigzagg‘ing to reflect contiguous property ownership. â€"t Addition of a triangular spur to London that Delaware Township would have had difficulty servicing. More zigzagging because 0t ownership patterns. Ceding of more land to Belmont because of potential servicing Nata: Boundary changes aie based on uiioiixmi swine: and may nut ti: :xacL Al filcilardsfl‘he Landon Fret Pres-i m