Thornhill residential complex approved

NRU
Feb. 25, 2015

In a February 5 decision, board member Sarah Jacobs allowed an appeal by Blue Water Ranch Developments Inc. of the City of Vaughan’s failure to make a decision regarding a zoning by-law amendment and site plan approval for its property at 784 Centre Street. Blue Water is proposing to construct two residential towers totalling 468 units, one at 22 storeys and the other at 19 storeys with a 10-storey wing, as well as a six-storey independent living facility with 149 units.

Since the time of Blue Water’s appeal, the city considered and refused the application over issues of density, access and the lack of commercial uses. The board heard evidence on behalf of Blue Water from planner Philip Levine (IBI Group Inc.), urban designer Andrew Bigauskas (Rafael + Bigauskas Architects) and city planner Margaret Holyday who appeared under summons in support of the proposal. Levine and Holyday testified that the proposed density maintains the general intent of the official plan. They opined that the project did not need commercial uses as the site is already surrounded by commercial uses. Bigauskas said that project design fits well into the local neighbourhood context.

With respect to access, a new road is proposed to be constructed on the neighbouring SmartCentres property that would provide access to Blue Water’s proposed development. Planner Debra Kakaria (MHBC) was retained by the city and testified in support of its position. She argued that the proposal should not be approved until easements for the new road have been secured. Traffic engineer Norman Chung (Poulous & Chung Ltd.) testifi ed on behalf of Blue Water that the site enjoys a good level of service that is “rare to find in the GTA” and that there is enough capacity to accommodate the proposed development even without the new road.

The board favoured the evidence provided on behalf of Blue Water and allowed the appeal. Final order is withheld until the parties provide the board with the final version of the zoning by-law amendment and the site plan and advise that the appropriate easements are secured to allow development of the future road.

Solicitors involved in this decision were Christopher Tanzola and Christie Gibson (Overland LLP) representing Blue Water Ranch Developments Inc. and Andrew Salem (Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP) and Dawne Jubb representing the City of Toronto. (See OMB Case No. PL131327.)