A proposal for two five-storey apartment buildings on Yonge Street raised concerns from residents and councillors about the impact of the increased density at a public planning meeting.
The plan for 300 units of housing, presented by consulting planner Joan MacIntyre of Markham-based Malone Given Parsons on behalf of owners P.A.R.C.E.L. Inc., would see the buildings constructed in two phases on the 8.9-acre lot at 14070 Yonge St., which fronts on Yonge and Elderberry Trail, north of Bloomington Road.
The first phase is a 180-unit residential apartment building, while the second phase would be a 120-unit lifestyle condominium apartment building aimed at "seniors living."
The 180-unit building would feature largely two and three-bedroom units and have 1.5 parking spaces per unit, with two levels of parking underneath.
Speaking during the public planning meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 12, MacIntyre said the development will provide “missing middle” housing, and is along the Yonge regional corridor, which had been targeted for denser development.
She also added a traffic impact study found any increased traffic as a result of the development along Yonge, a regional road, would be within acceptable limits.
Several residents spoke out against the development with concerns about density and traffic brought up several times during the public planning meeting.
“Step back, and imagine the impact of these two massive, multi-storey structures placed very close to Yonge Street,” said resident John Green, who is co-chair of the Ratepayers of Yonge Street South.
Green also said that pedestrians on Elderberry Trail could be at “great risk” with the increased traffic.
Connie Wong, who has lived on Elderberry Trail for more than 30 years, had similar concerns about density and pedestrian safety, adding that she thought the increase in density is “too extreme, greedy and unreasonable for this area.”
She also said that the development did not fit in with the estate lots already in the area, and worried the development would impact property values.
Councillor Michael Thompson raised similar concerns, saying the development did not fit with the town’s Yonge Street south secondary plan in its official plan amendment, saying, “We have to respect that.”
Maurizio Barbon, who lives on Championship Circle Place, said he wanted to see traffic lights and sidewalks along the frontage of the development, as well as more street lights.
Marco Ramunno, town planning director, said the town would have to work with the region on signalizing the intersection, since Yonge is a regional road, but noted “in the long-term, that intersection will need to be signalized.”
The property has been subject of re-zoning applications in the past.
According to town planner Felix Chau, the land owner successfully applied for site-specific zoning to allow for construction of a wellness centre, a four-storey 20-unit apartment building and a detached dwelling, with the site plan being approved in 2021. But they were never built.
Currently, the lot contains one abandoned building previously used as a presentation centre, according to Chau.
Mayor Tom Mrakas echoed Thompson's concerns, saying, "The proponents need to go back to the drawing board, sharpen their pencils and come back," saying the proposal did not fit with the town's official plan for the area.
A report that includes comments made at the meeting will be presented at a future public planning meeting.
