OMB hearing date set for controversial Woodbridge condo development
Week-long hearing slated to begin April 24, 2017

YorkRegion.com
Sept. 16, 2016
Adam Martin-Robbins

An Ontario Municipal Board hearing to decide the fate of a controversial condominium project in Woodbridge's historic village is slated to take place next spring.

At a pre-hearing meeting Tuesday morning, it was decided there will be a week-long hearing, starting April 24, 2017, for arguments to be made for and against a proposed seven-storey, 119-unit building at the corner of Woodbridge Avenue and Wallace Street.

The property is in an area designated for heritage protection and there are two historic homes on the site.

Although a hearing date was set, OMB adjudicator Jason Chee-Hing said he would "strongly encourage" the developer, Cityzen Development Group and Fernbrook Homes, the city and the Village of Woodbridge Ratepayers Association to consider taking part in some sort of mediation process.

But, at this point, it's not clear if that will happen.

Christopher Tanzola, lawyer for the development group, said there's been several meetings with residents during the last couple of years and the two sides appear to be too far apart in what they want to see built.

The development expectations are very disparate, he said.

Denise Baker, a lawyer with WeirFoulds LLP, who is representing the city, said she hasn't discussed the idea of mediation with her client.

In fact, city council still has to ratify a decision made by councillors at last week's committee of the whole meeting to reject the project, despite a planning staff recommendation to approve it.

That committee vote came amidst intense pressure from area residents, who've been opposed to it from the outset.

Among their concerns are the levelling of the hilly site, the removal of several large trees and the plan to relocate portions of Dr. Peter McLean House (built in 1893) and Thomas Frazier Wallace House (built in 1875) to the edge of the property.

They've also argued the building would overshadow the historic homes and add far too much traffic to already congested roads.

Residents are hopeful a technical report prepared by a heritage expert will bolster their case at the OMB.

In a technical memorandum to the city, the heritage consultant recommends:

• Leaving the Wallace House in its original location
• Increasing the space between the new building and the heritage homes
• Keeping the McLean House intact rather than removing the "tail"
• Reducing the height to six storeys or pulling back the seventh storey
• Taking steps to preserve the rolling topography.

Maria Verna, president of the Village of Woodbridge Ratepayers Association, said in an interview last week residents are hopeful the OMB hearing will result in a development that is more in line with what they want to see on the site.

"We're looking for an application that meets the needs of the community, that is four-storeys, that has a compatible design, that takes into consideration the recommendations of the technical report," she said.

Whether or not that will happen is really difficult to predict, according to Woodbridge West Councillor Tony Carella.

"I have no idea (what will happen) because the OMB is a crapshoot," he said.