Thornhill ratepayer group seeks funds for OMB fight over Sobeys plaza project
Vaughan councillor Shefman predicts condo project will go to OMB

YorkRegion.com
Sept. 22, 2016
Simone Joseph

Going to the Ontario Municipal Board to fight the development of Sobeys plaza could cost $40,000.

Pam Taraday-Levy announced this estimate Wednesday night at Springfarm Ratepayers Association’s annual general meeting, saying the funds were needed to fight a planned condo project.

In November of 2015, RioCan presented its plan to develop the plaza, formally known as SpringFarm Marketplace, at a packed residents meeting. At that point, the plan included building an 18-storey condo with retail and a stacked townhouse block.

The plaza currently includes a kosher Sobeys, kosher Second Cup, kosher restaurants and an Israel’s The Judaica Centre, as well as a Shoppers Drug Mart and a drycleaner.

Since RioCan’s 2015 presentation, two storeys have been added to the plan.

RioCan, a real estate investment trust company, has said that it intends to keep Sobeys and perhaps other commercial businesses in the redesign of the plaza in Thornhill, located near Clark and Hilda avenues.

The $40,000 in funding Springfarm Ratepayers Association requires would be used to hire specialized planners and lawyers, said Taraday-Levy, the president of the association.

She emphasized that this is a large amount for the association.

“We are not professional fundraisers, she said at Thornhill’s Garnet A. Williams Community Centre meeting last night. “We need help. We are willing to do whatever it takes to raise that $40,000.”

She issued a warning to the crowd gathered in the community centre.

“If we can’t defend our position at the Ontario Municipal Board, you will take whatever the OMB decides.”

Residents are not opposed to having a developer build in the area of Sobeys plaza, according to Taraday-Levy. Rather, they oppose the height of the proposed condo building.

“They are objecting to the 18-20 storey highrise being shoehorned into a small plot of land,” she said.

The height of RioCan’s proposed condo building exceeds the height allowed in the City of Vaughan’s official plan designation. The official plan allows for between four and six storeys for the site, while the developer wants the building to be 20 storeys high.

Thornhill Councillor Alan Shefman confirmed that going to the OMB is a very real possibility.

“We will be at the OMB against RioCan. I have no doubt,” he predicted.

He lamented the OMB’s power over municipalities, a widespread fight other politicians have also entered.

“People think I have to power to make final decisions about planning,” Shefman said. “The OMB has the final power,” he said, adding that he is part of a group that wants to bring back planning power to local councils.

Christine Yee, director of real estate planning for Sobeys, spoke about the redesign and renovation of the grocery store in the Springfarm plaza, noting “we’ve just made a big investment in the store”.

Shefman updated residents on several other development projects, including:

The Promenade Mall: Vaughan has a secondary plan for the Promenade, he said, noting he has heard second hand about the future of the mall. “They are not knocking it down,” he said. Based on second hand information from the deputy city manager and a city planner, Shefman learned that the land has been sold so condos can be built on the outer edge of the mall, he said.

Promenade Village Shoppes: This is a plaza at Bathurst and Centre Streets where seven towers, each with 27 storeys, have been proposed, along with new retail and parking. The Shoppes currently include Café Sheli and Glatt Kosher Centre along with other shops. “Every time they come in my office to discuss this, I always start the conversation with ‘are you crazy’?” Shefman told residents Wednesday night. “Our planning department has serious concerns,” he said, but added that the application hasn’t been received yet by the city.”

Yonge Street: Shefman said there is a plan for the car dealerships on Yonge Street north of Steeles Avenue in Thornhill. Within three to five years, the land will be sold for development, he said.

Concerning the empty field near a Vaughan fire hall in the Bathurst Street and Clark Avenue area (and nearby the Reena Foundation building),  Shefman said work will begin within two to five years on this area where 85 townhouses are planned. Shefman called these high-end and said it would be a very classy area. There will probably be a public hearing about this in a month or so, he said.

Garnet Williams Community Centre:  “As you can see it’s pretty tired,” he said, estimating it will be revitalized in 2018.

Concerning The Vaughan City Playhouse,  Shefman said about $1 million is needed to restore it.

Concerning Clark Avenue from Hilda Avenue to Yonge Street, the councillor said this part of the street will be repaved next year.

“We need your involvement,” Shefman said, suggesting people contact their MP or premier. “We are relentless and continue to push for this.”