'Secret' Mount Albert townhouses to alter Vivian Creek Park

YorkRegio.com
Feb. 8, 2017
Simon Martin

Robert Morris was one of the first residents to move into the Averton development in Mount Albert in 2004. “It was known as Beaverbrook then,” he said. Morris purchased a lot that backed onto the woodlot that many consider to be part of Vivian Creek Park.

At the time, Morris said there was no indication of any development plans for the forest. So imagine his surprise when two weeks ago he received a letter form Averton’s lawyers saying the property, with hundreds of trees behind his house, was being turned into a 64-townhouse development. “It was a shock,” Morris said.

It was the first time he had heard about the forest being cut down for townhouses. Morris brought out the original site plan he received when he bought the house in 2002, and it shows the area behind his house designated for park and open space.

He was one of several upset residents that showed up to council Feb. 7 to voice their displeasure about talks held behind closed doors between Averton and the town about the property.

“This is directly adjacent to Vivian Creek Park,” Morris said. “You are spoiling the natural beauty of the park.”

“There was no public consultation,” resident Jennifer Gleitman said. “The residents of Mount Albert should not be having to spend their time and energy investigating a situation which was deliberately withheld from the public until the last possible moment.”

Mayor Virginia Hackson said it was unfortunate how this matter has been held mostly behind closed doors. “We could have done a much better job, there is no question about it,” she said.

According to a town memo, the issue stemmed from the town’s Official Plan in 2010 which Averton appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board. The appeal was generally intended to maintain the village core development rights for commercial and residential uses on 19267 Centre St. that had been part of the Mount Albert Community Plan previously.

The town entered into negotiations with Averton in private due to legal issues involving land acquisitions.

In December 2015, Averton submitted a zoning bylaw amendment and a site plan application to the town for the subject property. Averton appealed the bylaw to the OMB after it said the town took too long to hold a public meeting. As a result, the town’s director of planning, Nick Pileggi, said the public planning process was in the OMB’s hands.

The town settled with Averton in April 2016, allowing for a 20,000-square-foot commercial/mixed-use building, with associated parking facilities, and residential townhouse units on the property.

As part of the settlement, the town would receive $250,000 from the developer.

Gleitman said she intends to fight the decision at the OMB, but residents will face an uphill fight battling the town and the developer.

She asked the town to rescind their agreement with Averton. The town will hold a public meeting about the issue at it next council meeting, Feb. 22.