'It's like opening the floodgates': Proposed 141-unit Ballantrae development under fire
Yorkregion.com
November 21, 2019
Simon Martin
A 141-home development proposal for a gated community on Lakeshore Road in Whitchurch-Stouffville has local residents up in arms.
The site of the proposed Far Sight Homes condominium project is approximately 500 metres east of Hwy. 48 on 5426, 5452 and 5584 Lakeshore Road. The road connects the Ballantrae Community to Musselman’s Lake and ends at Ninth Line.
The proposal has urban-sized residential lots on private streets.
The developer is asking for lots to be a minimum 370 square metres, which is more than four times smaller than what is set out in the town’s Official Plan through a minor variance. The proposed homes are two storeys with double-car garages.
The developer is proposing to hook into the existing private sewage treatment plant at Ballantrae Golf and Country Club.
Kate Greenway has been a resident in Ballantrae for 25 years.
“This is now way close to compatible with what has been recommended,” she said. “We’re being asked for high density lots as one might find in downtown Toronto.”
Greenway was appalled the developer was trying to ram through a proposal that had lot sizes four times smaller than what was set out in the town’s planning documents as a minor variance.
“If I made four times the money I make right now, I would buy a villa in France. If I weigh four times as much as I do, I would be in serious health jeopardy. If I was four times as attractive, you’d have the pleasure of Angelina Jolie delivering this message tonight. But that would require major variance, not a minor one,” Greenway said.
Another concern raised was the state of Lakeshore Road.
“You are introducing a minimum 230 cars onto this substandard road,” Musselman’s Lake resident Bob James said. “This road is already significantly deficient in both condition and design.”
James is worried that if improvements to the road are not made, there is potential for drivers to go over the bank and into the lake.
Mary Ann James said people need to start making their feelings known to council. “I think the problem here is not enough people are speaking up."
A number of residents at a public meeting last month voiced concerns over density and potential flooding.
Georg Jiang specifically moved to Ballantrae for its unique feel and worries about what such a development would mean for the future.
“To me it’s almost like opening the floodgates. If we allow this one, then the new one comes in, then the third one comes in. But that’s not what we signed up for,” Jiang said.
Ward 6 Coun. Sue Sherban grew up at Musselman’s Lake and said she can’t support the development.
“We just keep pushing water around from one location to another location. We keep on pushing the flood water onto other residents,” she said. “I just can’t believe that we’re even discussing this, that it’s even coming to the council table.”
Before anymore development is approved, Sherban said infrastructure needs to be upgraded in the area.
“The Region of York, where are you? I mean you know what, for all the thing they’re putting down Yonge Street, these bus terminals that look like Taj Mahals, but we can’t get a flipping fake road to go around Musselman’s Lake,” Sherban said.
Ward 5 Coun. Richard Bartley said he is concerned the development proposal is on a flood hazard and is also worried about the state of Lakeshore Road.
The development land is part of the Ballantrae Future Residential Area, which was not approved by the Region of York due to concerns about water and wastewater servicing capacity. The region’s nondecision on the matter is subject to an LPAT appeal.
The town’s transportation master plan recommended a north-south connector road be built from the proposed development to Aurora Road
