Richmond Hill residents petition town to stop Mac's gas station construction
Town of Richmond Hill says applicant has the right to build

YorkRegion.com
Jan. 22, 2018
Teresa Latchford

Abbie Farr is frustrated at the lack of response to a petition that challenges the safety of a gas station to be built in her neighbourhood.

The Richmond Hill resident signed a petition, along with 200 members of the Old Colony Residents Association living in the Old Colony Road and Bayview Avenue area, to protest the construction of a gas station and convenience store where the two roads meet.

“We have sent the petition to the town and our local MPP and haven’t yet had a response to our concern,” Farr said. “It’s very frustrating, to say the least.”

She understands the town is listening to the business owner but feels the local residents should be given a chance for their voices to be heard by the decision makers as well. She feels it would only be fair to listen to both sides since residents have concerns regarding the proximity of the station to a nearby school and houses.

The green and forested area, which is part of the Greenbelt, is close to a number of lakes including Lake Wilcox and houses Bond Lake Public School, Farr added.

The residents' association called on the city to refuse the application they believe will have irreversible environmental impact to the area as well as the potential to contaminate drinking water and posing a health risk from fumes and gasses and if a spill should happen.

Longtime resident Carol Davidson echoes her neighbour’s stance, adding that the convenience store and gas station wouldn’t offer Oak Ridges anything it doesn’t already have.

“Within about three kilometres of the site, there are already four existing gas stations with the closest being about two kilometres away,” she said. “Building another gas station in Oak Ridges will service commuters driving on Bayview Avenue but adds nothing to the Oak Ridges Community.”

If there is no interest in adding homes to this specific site, Davidson would support a small plaza that would provide opportunities for local businesses to thrive, such as a hair salon.

Gus Galanis, development planning director for the Town of Richmond Hill, confirmed there are two active applications for the site, a site plan application and a minor variance application.

The applicant has provided the town with revised drawings of the initial proposal, which has been circulated among town departments and external agencies for final review and comment, he explained.

The minor variance to allow specific heights for both the gas bar building and canopy was considered by the town’s committee of adjustment on Dec. 21, 2017, but the applicant requested it be pushed to a later date that has yet to be scheduled.

“This is an unusual case,” Galanis said. “The (commercial) use for the property was approved prior to the homes being developed around it, but for whatever reason nothing has been done until 10 years after. They (the applicant) has the right to build.”

Farr said residents were aware of the commercial property when they purchased their homes but not that it could be a gas station.