UPDATED: Town could negotiate Glenway settlement or try OMB again

YorkRegion.com
March 31, 2014
By Chris Simon

One of the main critics of the Glenway development is now open to a negotiated settlement.

Councillor Chris Emanuel indicated a willingness to compromise on the project during a special town committee meeting this afternoon.

"My hope is that we could have some positive discussions. If we can avoid phase two and potentially have some settlement, that might be helpful," he said, noting all parties have to agree with that. "We want a genuine discussion about opportunities, not just putting lipstick on a pig."

Last week, Ontario Municipal Board chairperson Susan Schiller sided with Marianneville Developments in the first phase of the Glenway hearing. The decision will ultimately permit development on the 146-acre site, located south of Davis Drive West, between Yonge and Bathurst streets.

The second phase could begin April 22 and will determine the amount of development that can take place on the former golf course and country club property.

Echoing Ms Schiller's ruling, Glenway association chairperson Christina Bisanz said the town failed to properly study and appropriately designate the lands when it had the chance.

"We certainly did appreciate the support from this town council, to try to protect to the greatest extent possible, the precious Glenway lands," she said. "The action should have been taken by the town four years ago, to protect these lands by designating, at least some of it, public greenspace. In our perception, the board basically advised us our position was akin to closing the barn door after the horses had left."

The board was also influenced by Newmarket's failure to conform to certain aspects of York Region's growth plan, Ms Bisanz said.

The association will meet this week to formulate an official position on the matter.

Marianneville wants to construct 730 homes on the property. If approved as planned, the project would accommodate about 1,900 people.

"I don't think (Ms Schiller) was clear that those were the exact reasons for the decision," Regional Councillor John Taylor said, responding to Ms Bisanz. "The reasons were almost entirely driven by provincial policy statements. We would have had those decisions regardless. We stood for a principle we believed in and put forward the strongest argument we could."

Council has asked town staff to explore all of the municipality's options on the matter — which could include entering into negotiations to reach a settlement with the developer or simply proceeding with the second phase of the OMB hearing. The report will be presented during a town committee meeting on Monday.