Vaughan
May 15, 2008 10:44 PM
By: Caroline Grech
Some Woodbridge residents got wind that a 17-storey building could go up in their neighbourhood and they want to have a hand in how the development unfolds.
West Woodbridge Ratepayers’ Assocation president Nick Pinto walked out of Monday’s council meeting mid-way, chastising Vaughan politicians for talking about the quasi-judicial Ontario Municipal Board in relation to the proposed development at Hwy. 7 and Kipling Avenue.
“They don’t have the male attributes to stand up to the developer. They’ve surrendered. They’ve put up the white flag,” Mr. Pinto said. “If we have to take it to the OMB, we’ll take it to the OMB.”
Mr. Pinto also took aim at the city’s official plan, which he said has errors in the mapping. He’s worried that Woodbridge will be turned into a concrete jungle.
Because of its strategic location, it is key for development. A subway and more rapid transit are also in the works.
Regional Councillor Joyce Frustaglio said if the issue goes to the Ontario Municipal Board, Vaughan could lose and an even bigger development might end up approved.
“Let me tell you, ladies and gentlemen, the provincial policy on Places to Grow is very clear on intensification of major corridors and there is no bigger corridor than Hwy. 7 in Woodbridge,” said Ms Frustaglio, who is also chairperson of the region’s rapid transit committee.
“It is of major interest for the region of York. We can’t talk from both sides of our mouth and say, ‘Yes, we want the subway and rapid transit and then say that we don’t want intensification, not in our back yard’.”
Seven-year resident Allen Kershaw, who lives south of Hwy. 7 near Kipling Avenue, said his concern is safety.
“The corner is an absolute bottleneck and we want to be able to get in and out of the neighbourhood,” Mr. Kershaw said, adding that right now, there is only one route in and out.
Vaughan politicians debated whether or not to revisit a section of the city’s official plan that deals with the area. They deferred a decision until next month, but Mayor Linda Jackson contemplated expanding the review beyond the city’s official plan.
Councillor Tony Carella said the way the city informs residents of these issues is not optimal. According to Places to Grow, the provincial document aimed at curbing urban sprawl, 40 per cent of growth must be within urban boundaries.
Ms Jackson was concerned if one section of the official plan is reviewed, then community after community would come forward in the hopes of having their neighbourhoods reviewed, too.
“If staff is saying we shouldn’t be doing it, then I don’t think I can support the motion,” she said.
Councillor Peter Meffe also warned residents could get more than they bargained for at a municipal board hearing.
“The minute we do this, we’re going to be held responsible for delaying this application and the developer will take us to the board,” Mr. Meffe said, adding the same thing happened at Jane Street and Rutherford Road, where council turned down three, 12-storey buildings and four, 16-storey buildings were approved instead.
Woodbridge resident Ann Grech said she is not concerned about the Ontario Municipal Board, rather safety is her concern.
“We don’t mind intensification, but it needs to be planned intensification. You can’t put a 17-storey building on a dead end,” she said.
Ms Grech said the 450 homes in the neighbourhood have only Hwy. 7 as an access road and she questioned what would happen if 150 extra people were added.