Message from the Mayor by Mayor Josh Morgan mayor@london.ca
One major highlight is the removal of certain development charge backfill requirements for municipalities, thanks to my work with the provincial government, which means fewer unexpected costs being passed along from past years (those funds will no longer need to be made up through surpluses or reserve funds). I made a commitment to ensure property tax increases stay under 5%, and the measures above, along with direction to public bodies such as the London Police Service to find efficiencies, are intended to help keep taxes more affordable while maintaining services. These budget changes are meant to help homeowners, renters, small businesses and anyone considering investing in Wortley Village, from renovating, expanding, or just staying in place. Keeping costs reasonable while preserving the character and quality of our city and its neighbourhoods is among my top priorities. Thank you for being part of what makes Wortley Village special. Your involvement, whether in local events, supporting small businesses, or simply caring for your street, matters. I look forward to seeing many of you in Wortley this October at a market, an event, or just out appreciating the fall colours.
519-661-4920 Hello Wortley,
Autumn has arrived in Wortley Village! Leaves turning gold, sweater weather, warm mugs and earlier dusk. It’s one of my favourite times in the neigh- bourhood, when the smell of fall baking drifts through the air, walkers pause to admire heritage homes in their autumn glow, and community life moves into cozy local cafés and gathering spaces. I’m writing today to share some news from City Hall that affects all of us, including Wortley Village — particularly the upcoming 2026 city budget announcement later this month. Ward 11 Update from City Hall by Skylar Franke, Ward 11 London City Council 519-661-2489, extension 4011 • sfranke@london.ca Ward 11 Update: Infrastructure, Parks, and City Hall Decisions Happy fall season! Enjoy the crisp air, Halloween in the Village activities and cosy sweaters. I wanted to share several important updates happening across Ward 11 – from construction pro- jects and park enhancements to motions at City Hall. Infrastructure Improvements As part of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) construction, City staff are recommending new stormwater upgrades on streets adjacent to Wellington on both sides. These enhancements were not in the original design but came forward after resident feedback and further engineering work. The improvements will help manage water collection more effectively in these areas. On Ridout Street South, several changes are on the way. The stretch between Horton and York will see a fresh makeover, while bike lanes from Horton to Commissioners will be repainted and outfitted with seasonal bollards. Development Applications Two applications are currently in the works in Ward 11: • 144 Base Line Road W – proposed infill project, 2.5-storey stacked townhouses with nine units. Visit www.london.ca to view the application. • 10 Marley Place – proposed infill project, eight stacked townhouses and four units in an existing heritage home. An application is forthcoming, and a rendering is already available online at www.siv-ik.ca/10mp. Park Updates Earlier this year, Murray Park celebrated major upgrades, in- cluding a new playground, more trees, a basketball court, and naturalized areas. Rosel Park has also been the subject of renewed discussion. While earlier engagement showed mixed feedback about adding
To advertise here, please contact Cathy@villagerpublications.com Ward 11 continues to grow and evolve, and I’m grateful to residents for their feedback and engagement on these important issues. Please continue to share your insight with me at sfranke@london.ca Agricultural Offset Policy – unfortunately, this narrowly failed in an eight to seven vote. If approved, it would have reviewed ways to protect agricultural land from development. amenities, recent community responses — sparked by a London Free Press article — demonstrated strong support for playground equipment. After meeting with staff, it was determined a new design concept will move forward in 2026. This plan balances open green space with new features such as a small playground, additional trees, picnic tables, and a walkway. Thames Park has moved to the design phase and will be constructed in 2026. See the preferred design alternative at getinvolved.london.ca/thamespark. Decisions at City Hall Several key motions have recently been debated at Council: Green Building Incentives – I brought forward a successful motion to include green building measures in Transit Oriented Development incentive applications. Dangerous Dogs and Licensing – staff will bring forward options to address concerns around dangerous dogs. No Hot Pets Bylaw – new measures are being explored to prevent pets from being left in overheated vehicles.
Page 2 Wortley Villager • October 2025
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