Kleinburg residents upset with Vaughan council over development approval

'The traffic to me is a huge concern:' Local councillor Marilyn Iafrate

Yorkregion.com
Nov. 3, 2017
By Tim Kelly

A group of longtime Kleinburg residents are worried for the future of their community after what some are calling "the wrong development" was approved at Vaughan council last week.

A 28-unit development on what was formerly property that held three homes, was approved 7-1 at Vaughan council with only local ward councillor Marilyn Iafrate voting against it. Deputy Mayor and Regional Councillor Mario Ferri was absent.

The development, which the developer advertises as single and detached homes but which are linked underground, is located off Stegman's Mill Road and Napier Street.

Bob Klein, who has lived in Kleinburg since 1975, said the development, which was approved upon staff's recommendation that several Official Plan exceptions be granted, does not fit within local Kleinberg Official Plan guidelines.

"We talk about Kleinburg as a rural village. That was done by residents and all previous councils. But an exception has been made," said Klein who now worries further developments will take advantage of the official plan exceptions granted to the Stegman's Mill Road development.

Ward 5 Councillor Alan Shefman, who ultimately voted for the project, expressed dismay that the developer was advertising the homes as singles.

"They are not singles or detached, no matter how you describe them. They are linked... they are not separated," said Shefman, who said council should make it clear "we should not approve something to mislead our residents or future residents."

For Ward 1 councillor Iafrate, the real issue is that the village of Kleinburg had enjoyed special status in  the Official Plan and that this specific development allows many variances that are not "within the spirit of the original document."

"The traffic to me is a huge concern: Islington Avenue can't be widened, Stegman's Mill can't widened and it's winding, it dips and has a real severe curve," said Iafrate.

"We have to discourage the amassing of lots together and this has taken three lots and put them together and consolidated them... we spent close to $20 million on the official plan. Why did we waste the money (if we aren't going to follow it)?"