Richmond Hill residents vow to fight development proposals
Townhouses 'don't fit' with unique single-family neighbourhoods, homeowners say

YorkRegion.com
Oct. 28, 2016
Kim Zarzour

Several hundred residents from Richmond Hill’s Ward 4 crammed into council chambers Wednesday night to express their concerns about proposed development in their community.

Three applications – for a 28-unit townhouse development in Heritage Estates, a 19-unit townhouse development on Elgin Mills Road West, and two-home construction on a single-home lot – all represent the trend towards intensification, and all have raised the hackles of the nearby community.

The majority of those who attended the public meeting were in opposition to an application by Technor Developments for a townhouse complex on a two-acre parcel at 71 Regent St.

The lot, which formerly housed Richmond Hill Golf and Country Club offices, a shopping plaza and most recently, a Montessori school, is surrounded by a prestigious subdivision known as Heritage Estates.

Technor built the high-end subdivision in the 1980s and at that time, residents said, the developer insisted purchasers of the Colonial Williamsburg-style homes agree to their strict design standards.

Residents were expected to follow rules governing changes to the exterior of their homes including colour, lighting, and fence post caps. “We even had to sign contracts that we wouldn't put up clotheslines,” said Carolynne Davy, one of the original homeowners.

For many buyers, this was the appeal of the subdivision.

“There’s no doubt most purchasers bought into the developer’s vision,” resident David Bishop said. “The strict development and design standards allowed Technor to obtain relatively high prices.”

Now, Bishop said, Technor wants ignore its own standards and build something that does not fit with the community.

Residents presented councillors with a 750-name petition and a steady stream of delegations took to the podium, raising concerns about traffic, impact on an environmentally sensitive site of the Oak Ridges Moraine, and precedence-setting for incompatible projects in other established neighbourhoods.

Dan Kelly noted that the adjacent Mill Pond Park makes the land worth special consideration for its connection to sensitive wetlands and potential habitat for endangered species.

Ted Leider said many residents in the community are approaching retirement, counting on the equity of their homes; some could stand to lose $200,000 in home value as a result, he said.

Other residents voiced concern that the proposed development is not compatible with a registered covenant signed by some homeowners with Technor ensuring no buildings or parking would be constructed on the land.

A large number of residents also spoke against a proposal to build two three-storey homes at 100 Mill St., raising similar concerns about the impact and precedence of dense development in an established – and unique – neighbourhood.

Susan Hart said she moved to the Mill Pond from Aurora one year ago, leaving a “big house on a little lot –a dime a dozen in York Region.

“We got less house for the same money but that’s what we wanted. We wanted to live in the heritage core, we wanted a smaller house, wanted that sense of community, that sense of uniqueness and nature and that’s what we got….We don’t need three-storey monstrosities on tiny lots. It sets a horrible precedent.”

Robert Young showed councillors photographs of other homes being built in the area that were able to stay within the parameters of the tertiary plan.

“Kudos to them and kudos to staff and council for enforcing the framework which helps preserve this fantastic character that drew us here in the first place.”

Brian Abbey, principal with Adtek Building Consultants, said the developer is prepared to work with staff to come to a compromise that everyone is happy with.

“We realize we’ve probably been a little bit over the top.”

Brad Rogers, speaking for Technor, also expressed hope that a resolution or compromise could be reached to avoid an expensive Ontario Municipal Board hearing.

The majority of councillors spoke in support of residents but Ward 2 councillor Tom Muench offered a word of caution.

“Let’s be clear that this is not super-high density and the province is pushing us and all municipalities because we’re going to have 60,000 more people here in Richmond Hill in the next 13 years,” he said. “If we have no farms left, where are they going to live? So those of you that say ‘not in my neighbourhood, down the street’, we have to manage the growth.”

David West, councillor for all three communities impacted by the intensification, said he was impressed with residents’ presentations.

“I was just thrilled with the quality and quantity of delegations.

“What I’ve heard here tonight is just a huge amount of passion. These people obviously really, really love their community…and that is what I hope is what Richmond Hill is all about.”

“This is, perhaps, one of the finest examples I’ve ever come across of the power of the voice of the people,” added Ward 5 Councillor Karen Cilevitz.

The comments and submissions from the public meeting will be forwarded to town staff for consideration.