Vaughan ratepayers continue to reject condo proposal, say retail plaza needed

Developer amended proposal to 6-storey, 135-unit project

Yorkregion.com
Nov. 20, 2020
Dina Al-Shibeeb

Despite an amendment made by a developer to bring its proposed 139 residential units in a seven-storey building down to 135 units in a six-floor project, the Vaughan-based Weston Downs Ratepayers Association still has objections.

Last year, an application was submitted to redevelop the plaza by Velmar Centre Property Limited at 4101 Rutherford Rd., on the southwest corner of Rutherford Road and Velmar Drive, into a seven-storey condo building.

It was vehemently rejected, citing the need for retail space, existing traffic gridlock and how the current zoning does not allow for the high density.

“The commercial plazas in Weston Downs are the only amenities that our community has,” Victor Lacaria, co-president of the Weston Downs Ratepayers Association, told the Vaughan Citizen in a response that he sent.

Lacaria wrote his statement after Yorkregion.com published this story: WHAT’S GOING ON HERE?: Revised application for Vaughan plaza to be developed into condo.

While the developer in the application says the “plaza is underutilized,” Lacaria said, “We, the residents, know he is wrong.”

“Residents in Weston Downs and around the City of Vaughan utilize the plaza on a daily basis. Whether it is families that have their children learning music at SoundWind Music Academy, friends coming together to enjoy dinner at Motorino, or neighbours running in to use the convenience store, this is a highly frequented neighbourhood plaza.”

While Weston Downs sees itself as an already established community since its inception more than three decades ago, the ratepayers have “never received amenities, such as community centres, libraries, fire halls, or district parks, that other communities across the city have received.”

If the 135-unit building is approved, Weston Downs reiterated its previous concern about the “insufficient transit infrastructure to service the increased needs for those 200+ future residents living in that building.”

“Currently, the community is experiencing large amounts of traffic infiltration and gridlock into the community and at the intersection of Rutherford Rd. and Velmar Dr.,” Lacaria said.

“We are disappointed that the developer is obsessed with making massive profits instead of working together with the community to achieve a positive outcome that is in harmony with the character of Weston Downs.”