Proposed townhouses would threaten Aurora's McKenzie Marsh environmental 'jewel,' residents say

Project will be discussed at Jan. 23 town planning meeting.

Yorkregion.com
Jan. 22, 2024
Lisa Queen

A proposed 45-townhouse development on St. John’s Sideroad threatens the McKenzie Marsh, an environmental “jewel” and designated provincially significant wetland home to many fish and wildlife species, residents fighting the project say.

“It’s not a case of NIMBYism because we understand that there is a need to develop and we’re all accepting that the land is going to be transformed at one point or another,” said Paul Martinelli, who is helping to lead a campaign against the proposed development.

“Why we are so opposed to the 45 (townhomes) is because it abuts to the McKenzie wetland. The McKenzie wetland has been in place since 1973. It’s a natural habitat for turtles, trumpeter swans, Canada geese, mallard ducks (and other species).”

Brian Holton, working with Martinelli to fight the project, known as Side Park, agrees.

“This is just the wrong place to put that kind of development. The town has put so much money into protecting this (wetland) and growing it,” he said.

In 2006, an award-winning $20-million redevelopment project saw St. John’s widened to four lanes and boardwalks overseeing the wetland added. The site draws visitors from well beyond the surrounding area.

Almost 100 people attended an information meeting Jan. 8 to hear about Medal Homes Inc.’s plans to build the townhomes at 65 St. John’s, east of Yonge Street and Old Yonge Street adjoining the marsh.

Dozens are expected to attend a town planning meeting about the development on Jan. 23 at 7 p.m. at the town hall at 100 John West Way.

A spokesperson for the developer could not be reached for comment but a report prepared on behalf of Medal Homes says the project would consist of 45 three-storey townhouses in seven buildings.

“The design vision for Side Park is to create an attractive, compact, high quality, pedestrian-scaled, and transit-supportive residential enclave of standard common element condominium townhouses that will appropriately integrate with the surrounding residential neighbourhood in north Aurora,” the report said.

“A significant portion of the site is located in a flood plain and will require re-grading to accommodate the development, not limited to engineer fill and retaining walls.”

Martinelli believes the development could do irreparable environmental harm.

“I think at this point they (the developer) are trying to wedge a square peg into a round hole because they have to do so much modification to the surrounding area to make it sustainable and that’s not what the land was ever intended for,” he said.

“It was intended for a single dwelling unit and not for a massive amount of 45 townhomes.”

In 2018, a house on the site burned down.

When the site was sold three years later, it was listed as a 3.2-acre property, of which 1.3 acres could be developed for a single dwelling, Martinelli said.

He and Holton are adamant the site should remain zoned for a single residence due to the sensitivity of the McKenzie Marsh, pointing out they aren’t opposed to other development projects in the area that don’t abut the wetland.

Twenty years ago, council rejected a proposal to build 26 townhouses on the site, Martinelli said. With today’s improved knowledge about the environment, he questions how it could possibly make sense to almost double that number of townhouses beside the marsh.

Martinelli and Holton are also concerned about the impact the development would have on busy St. John’s as well as access and exit from the project.

Coun. Ron Weese, who represents the area, understands residents’ concerns.

“Frankly, my opinion of this one, outside of the official meeting, is that there is more information that needs to come forward. When we have all that information, then town council will be able to make a decision in the best interest of that community,” he said.

“I’m certainly in support of the residents’ concerns and I’m not convinced that this is where that amount of density is appropriate but I’d like to see the data ... on this.