Council meeting focuses on development plans and resident concerns
At the November 6 Stouffville town council meeting, there were presentations, inquiries, deputations, and follow-up resolutions about proposals and applications for development.
Ute Maya-Giambattista of O2 Planning Design Incorporated reported on the Westfield Estates Neighborhood Land Use Study. Her report included information about plans for community services, transit and mobility, parks and natural areas, urban form and development. She related that there had been an Open House on October 2, where the public moved between stations outlining the development plans, and then submitted feedback.
Maya-Giambattista explained that the public gave a high priority to the green and open character of neighbourhoods, preservation of mature trees, tree canopy and balancing this with infrastructure upgrades and development. Future phases of the planning process include public engagement about three land use alternatives. The final phase of the plan is scheduled for Spring 2025 when recommendations to the council will be presented.
Ward 2 Councillor Sue Sherban said, “The horses are out of the barn, trying to mitigate development.” She raised concerns about the application process, three-story buildings and accessibility for seniors and the disabled and questioned the precise meaning of “gentle densification” for which residents had expressed support. She asked, “What does ‘gentle’ mean? Ten or one-hundred and ten per cent densifications?” Sherban acknowledged that the town is obliged to follow provincial policies but also feels constrained in her ability to help residents. Maya-Giambattista said that development is more intensive along arterials and that there are different ways of managing growth.
The town council heard public deputations from Heather Lind, David and Susan Jones, and Lorne Michell. Their concerns centred on an application to build a forty-foot-high building on Eastern Gate Crescent and Main Street planned by developer Elite Class Developments. Lind expressed unease about how the building would complement the neighbourhood and suggested softer roof lines rather than a flat roof. Michell added that the proposed building protrudes sixteen feet and blocks the sun.
David and Susan Jones said that over the last two years residents did not receive any response to their requests to discuss the application for a four-story building. Mrs. Jones said that their concerns were about privacy for neighbouring homes, noise from air conditioners, loss of trees and the tree canopy. She said, “It’s been a long two years, and the basic issues have not been addressed.” She questioned the wording in a report, said it was too general, and asked council “to send the applicant back to the drawing board.”
The deputations from residents were followed by Kayly Robbins, a senior planner from Weston Consulting Group, working on behalf of Elite Class Developments. She expressed appreciation for the comments from the public about the zoning application, explained that there had been two public meetings over Zoom but that they had also been insufficient. She said, “We are aiming for a viable development and will consider the public deputations over the next days, weeks and then return to council.”
Ward 3 Councillor Keith Acton expressed disappointment that there was not any consultation between the applicant and residents. Sherban suggested Weston Consulting Group had met with a different group of residents. Ward 5 Councillor Richard Bartley insisted that “residents and developers need to cooperate before it comes back to council.” This was agreed to and the results were motioned to be moved to a future council meeting.
Photo (L-R): Susan Jones, Sandra Lamoureux, Heather Lind, Lorne and Lynda Michell have expressed concern about the development at 6835 Main St.
*Story and photo submitted by Andrew Fuyarchuk.