Walmart plaza in Stouffville could see addition of highrise condos

Landscape could look different with 12-storey buildings

Yorkregion.com
May 21, 2019
Simon Martin

The Stouffville SmartCentre, where Walmart is located, could look a lot different in the future. Instead of the plaza consisting only of large retail stores and parking lots a new vision could see you looking up at condos.  

SmartCentres has submitted an employment land conversion request to the region for the property located at the southeast quadrant corner Hoover Park Drive and Highway 48. in Stouffville. The proposal intends a mixed-use development consisting of office, retirement and residential space. The land in question is to the east of the current centre.

“Why not have mixed use?” Ward 4 Coun. Rick Upton said. “It’s good for residents. There is too much open space that we are having no return on whatsoever.”

A spokesperson for SmartCentres told council that it did have some interest for the property over the last 12 years, but it was a tough sell to businesses due to the lack of a 400 series highway near the location.

Not every member of council was excited about the proposal. Ward 6 Coun. Sue Sherban said while the vision sounds wonderful she’s not sure they will be able to attract businesses for the mixed-use concept. “I haven’t heard any really solid business plan,” she said.

But Sherban was the lone dissenting voice on a council that was excited to dream about the future vision for the location. Ward 1 Coun. Ken Ferdinands said he had expected the conversion request several years ago as the SmartCentre struggled to fill the land. Ward 2 Coun. Maurice Smith echoed that sentiment. “There is a need for conversion,” he said.

Ward 3 Coun. Hugo Kroon said the land has been underutilized for far too long. “This is the perfect opportunity,” he said.

The lands being contemplated for conversion, comprise a total area of 27 acres. They are serviced, but vacant. The lands subject to the conversion request are directly east of the current SmartCentre. SmartCentres also owns lands south of Sam’s Way, some of which front onto Highway 48.

Town planning staff completed an analysis of the proposal and were of the opinion that request is reasonable and suitable for the location.

According to the staff report, the specific proposal is seeking eight- to 12-storey office buildings, mixed use buildings and residential buildings along the Hoover Park Drive frontage. The proposal contemplates a new municipal road extending Rougeview Avenue to Hoover Park Drive. South of the mixed-use building is a proposed 10-storey retirement building and eight-storey mid-rise residential buildings. A new community park is also proposed. South of Sam’s Way are several eight-storey mid-rise apartment buildings. The lands west of the conversion lands are proposed to remain for employment-only uses with primarily two- to three-storey office buildings and warehouse/light manufacturing uses. Those lands are not subject to the conversion request.

The developer has indicated to the town that the proposal within the lands subject to conversion will generate about 1,078 jobs and accommodate approximately 1,448 residents.

“We need to turn some of these open fields into tax dollars,” Upton said.

The land conversion request isn’t the only one being proposed in the area. Earlier this year, council heard of a land conversion request for the property on the northeast corner of Hoover Park and Highway 48. In that case, the developer is proposing a mixed-use development with employment, commercial, institutional, and residential uses. Specific uses being contemplated include a marketplace, library (not municipally owned), office, hotel and conference centre, school/residence, agricultural centre, live/work townhouse units and apartment units.

In the concept plan presented to council, it was estimated the developable area on the north side of Hoover Park was 45 acres. According to the staff report, the area has been designated “Employment Area” in the town's Official Plan for more than 20 years, and failed to attract the intended developments.