Adam Mc Lean, Staff Writer

 It ended a guessing game amongst concerned Richmond Hill residents and observatory activists that was reminiscent of a ‘who shot JR?’ debate. It also turned the page to a new question.

What does Metrus plan to do with its new purchase?

According to company spokesperson Jim Maclean, Metrus plans to keep the observatory, its telescope, the administration building dating from 1935 and the Alexander Marsh farmhouse dating from the 1850s as is. It will do this regardless of a possible heritage designation by the Conservation Review Board, which has yet to hold hearings on the matter.

“We are well aware of the importance of the Dunlap lands and Metrus is very keen to find a group or club that can operate the telescope and keep it a centre of learning and scientific research,” Mr. Maclean said.

As for the 190-acre parcel of land, no decision has been finalized by Metrus and it appears game on for Richmond Hill’s guessers, as any blueprint remains in its infancy until development approvals are obtained, water and sewer allocation is available and a slew of environmental tests are carried out.

“Everything is on hold in terms of development. It is steady as she goes, but the town and the people of Richmond Hill won’t notice any big change in the lands because there won’t be anything done on it for years and years,” Mr. Maclean added.

The same can be said for the observatory land the Elvis Stojko arena sits on. The town holds that lease until 2015.

Mr. Maclean said Metrus has no official plans for the Stojko arena land.

The key word regarding the future of the observatory lands and whether it is put to the sword or nurtures sapplings in the coming years, could likely be water.

Richmond Hill Naturalists president Marianne Yake points to high water pressure on the observatory lands as a possible road block for any future residential or commercial development.

“If you go out on the property now, there is water bubbling up,” Ms Yake said. “We hope to work with the developers to resolve the hydrogeology issue on the property and find a solution that will benefit Metrus, but also the surrounding community.”

She explained that the observatory lands are part of an aquifer with multiple springs running underground that were once used as Richmond Hill’s drinking water.

Ms Yake credits this for what some saw as a lower than expected price tag from the sale of the property.

Seventy million dollars isn’t exactly chump change, but it fell well short of some forecasted price tags. Some predicted the university would walk away with up to $100 million.
University spokesperson Robert Steiner said the figure of $100 million was blown out of proportion and that the sale was based not only on price, but Metrus’ reputation of accountability.

“We wanted a good, reponsible buyer and owner of the land and a price that maximized the value of the property. It is a good price for us. If we thought otherwise, we wouldn’t have sold the land,” he said.

Mr. Steiner was unable to provide exact figures, but said the bulk of the $70 million will go to the university and support its new Dunlap Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics.

The remaining money will be given to the grandchildren of Jessie Donalda Dunlap, who donated the 190-acre plot to the University of Toronto in memory of her astronomy-loving husband, David, in 1932.

The university announced its intention to sell the observatory lands in September last year and opened bidding for the lands Oct. 31.

According to the town, the land is zoned and designated as institutional, and if Metrus wants to go an alternative route, they have to go through a process of zoning and planning amendments.

“Through this process, there is an identification of what is environmental heritage, what is natural heritage, what cannot be built on. That is what the town’s role is with significant community involvement,” Richmond Hill commisioner of planning and development Ana Bassios said.

With Metrus officially on board, a three-legged race involving the town, activists and developers has shot out of the gates, barelling towards a hazy finish line years in the distance.