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Sunday, September 7, 2008

Old Mill 10-Storey Condo Approved by City Council (26-12)

A battle to save 322 trees and stop development on green space along the Humber River was lost. On March 4, City Council approved a 10-storey condominium building on the upper parking lot across the street from the historic Old Mill Inn despite much opposition from councillors backed by KPRI, Old Millside Residents' Association, Swansea Area Ratepayers, Warren Park Ratepayers Association, Confederation of Resident & Ratepayer Associations in Toronto (CORRA - representing some 24 ratepayer associations city-wide, of which KPRI is a member), Humber Heritage Committee, Swansea Historical Society and many residences. 

A sense of being in a unique enclave of the city with a view of the vast Humber Ravine will soon be lost to urban development. A new precedent has been set along the Humber River and on green space throughout the city. For this development, it means rezoning the site from R2 to R6 and an amendment to the Toronto Official Plan to change the site from "Parks and Open Space Areas - Natural Areas" to "Apartment Neighbourhood". No where else in the immediate area is property rated R6.
 

Councillor Peter Milczyn brought the motion before council in support of the application. He cites support for the project by staff - Toronto & Region Conservation Authority, Urban Foresty and City Planning. Staff have made recommendations, including an extensive ecological restoration and new trees to replace the ones cut down. However, staff only comment on the affects to the environment and make recommendations. They do not comment on whether it is good planning. Here is an example where the community is not empowered to stop development on green space and the City is not protecting, improving and adding green space as it said it would in the Toronto Official Plan.

Yours truly,
Board of Directors
Kingsway Park Ratepayers Inc.