'Dangerous precedent': Sharon residents voice opposition to eight-storey proposal on Leslie Street

More than 800 people have signed a petition against proposed eight-storey building on Leslie Street

Yorkregion.com
Feb. 26, 2021
Simon Martin

“That’s not happening.”

That was the reaction from Sharon resident Denise Tennant who was shocked and outraged when she first heard, about three weeks ago, there was an eight-storey, mixed-use condominium proposal for the northwest corner of Leslie Street and Manor Hampton.

An eight-storey building at the gateway to historic Sharon didn’t sit right with her. “This would set up a dangerous precedent for future development along Leslie Street,” she said.

So Tennant started a petition to stop the eight-storey building. “I have never done anything like this before,” she said. More than 800 people have already signed the petition. “That's huge for Sharon,” she said.

Those residents were out in full force virtually Feb. 17 for a town-organized public meeting held over Zoom. Sharonvit Estates has filed an Official Plan amendment, and a zoning bylaw amendment, with town council to try and make the project happen.

The proposal is for 258 residential condominium units, with retail on the ground level. Amendments would be needed to allow for an eight-storey building on the 1.14-acre site. The building would be made up of 127 one-bedroom, 91 two-bedroom, and 40 three-bedroom units. There would be three levels of underground parking with 312 residential spaces, 65 visitor spaces and 31 commercial spaces.

According to the staff report, the property is currently zoned for a maximum height of five storeys.

Residents blasted the proposal for being too big for the site. More than 30 written comments against the proposal were submitted.

“This building doesn’t belong in this area,” resident Richard Ships said. He said every tower that gets proposed is a stepping-stone to a taller building coming to Sharon.

Sharon resident James Repas was blunt in his assessment of the proposal. “It’s the equivalent of putting both feet into one shoe,” he said. “This building is shameful thing. It is an ugly thing,” Repas said.

Others were concerned about what such a proposal would do the historic feel of Leslie Street in Sharon. Shaun Tanaka, vice- president of the Sharon Temple Board, said there is a visual historical landscape on Leslie Street from the Sharon Burying ground, past Walnut Farm to the Sharon Temple.

“What is being proposed is not only architecturally in opposition to the surrounding residences, but would sit prominently in the middle of our historic main street,” she said. “These seemingly innocuous proposed amendments completely change the landscape and the historical integrity of the entire community."

Immediate neighbours to the site had serious concerns. Barbara Anschuetz said the building would have a major impact on the Trauma Centre she runs directly to the north of the proposed site on Leslie Street. “(There will be) 67 balconies facing directly onto our property. Over the past 11 years, we have built a safe sanctuary for community members to have access to confidential services for mental health injuries,” Anschuetz said.

Richard Mills grew up on a farm directly across from the proposed site on Leslie Street. He now lives in a house across the road with his wife Deanna Mills.

They first heard about the proposed condo three weeks ago when the signs were put up on the property for the public meeting. Mills had always thought the corner which has housed sales offices for several years would be a two-storey mixed use building with commercial and residential. “We were kind of OK with that. We figured this corner would be something anyway,” he said.

The proposal for an eight-storey building was also a surprise for resident Ruth Ruttan. She said she always knew the area was going to grow. That’s why she was invested in the planning of the new Sharon development in the mid-2000s. At that time, discussions for the land in question involved a two-storey mixed use building. The new proposal "doesn’t go with the fabric of the area,” she said.

At the online meeting, Mayor Virginia Hackson said residents delivered a message that council heard very clearly. There is no date set as to when the matter will return to council for a decision.