4 things to know from Richmond Hill council’s heated July 12 meeting

Pausing pickleball, contentious plan for 25-storey building approved

Yorkregion.com
July 14, 2023
Melissa Wallace

The last council meeting prior to the summer break was long, uncomfortable and full of disruptive, emotional outbursts. Here are a few items of note:

1. Council dismissed a complaint by Terra Hill Ambulatory Surgical and Medical Centre at 9355 Leslie St. to exempt city development charges. “If we forgive development charges for this enterprise, what is the difference with other businesses that feel equally valid to exist in Richmond Hill to come and ask the same thing?” asked Councillor Carol Davidson. The city’s director of financial services and treasurer, Gigi Li, explained that there was no cross-subsidization with development charges, and exempting them would transfer the charges to another funding source that the city would have to pay for because the infrastructure still needs to be built. The centre was requesting exemptions for city development charges totalling approximately $500,000.

2. Locations of 18 pole-mounted speed radar board signs in Richmond Hill were approved for 2023-24. The signs are intended to remind motorists to slow down and obey the posted speed limit.

3. Plans for the David Dunlap Observatory Park 16-court pickleball hub have been paused. A small group of pickleball players joined the meeting in person, and council heard delegations virtually from Mike Bowcott, Richmond Hill Pickleball Club, and Justin Lin, a pickleball player who shared how the sport is growing among youth. “Pickleball is not a fad, its growth is unprecedented,” said Bowcott. Mayor David West said council was committed to adding more pickleball courts, and pausing the project would give them time to find out answers to questions, especially concerning noise. He mentioned that other municipalities had to shut down their courts, constructed at significant expense, because the noise “was driving the community crazy” and the situation was one they wanted to avoid at all costs.

4. The proposed Official Plan and Zoning bylaw amendments to construct a 25-storey high density mixed-use residential/commercial apartment building at 10684 and 10692 Yonge St. was approved, much to the anger and disappointment of residents. Neighbouring residents organized a protest hours before the council meeting began and many stayed until the meeting adjourned after 4 p.m. Residents expressed fury at what they felt was a betrayal of trust. “We do not want a 25 floor highrise on this tiny piece of land,” shouted Mark Wang. “We will continue to fight for our rights ... When you are running your campaign, do not knock on our doors, do not put your signs in front of our house, do not send your flyers. You are not representing the people in the community. You are not welcome in our community.”

The next committee of the whole meeting will be Sept. 6. The next council meeting will be Sept. 13.