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http://www.yorkregion.com/news/article/1322955--richmond-hill-highrise-projects-panned-by-residents
Richmond Hill highrise projects panned by residents
By Marney Beck|Mar 23, 2012 - 1:04 PM
Richmond Hill highrise projects panned by residents
By Marney Beck|Mar 23, 2012 - 1:04 PM
All councillors present and all delegates speaking out for the nearly 100 residents who packed Richmond Hill council chambers Wednesday night said the two Baif Developments projects planned for lands at Yonge and Major Mackenzie were too dense and too high.
Despite colourful artist drawings and a glitzy presentation by Baif representatives at the public meeting, resident after resident pleaded with council to deny the official plan amendment sought by the developer for a 1,560 residential unit project on Yonge, between Harding Boulevard and Hopkins Street, especially concerned that the three proposed building towers would be 31, 28 and 20 storeys high.
Baif architect Dave Pontarini walked onlookers through a presentation of both projects and councillors were told the developments would bring new residents to support current retail stores and fill vacant lands with gateway projects in a location that meets provincial and regional urban planning requirements.
Marj Andre, representing the Richmond Hill Chamber of Commerce, said while the architect drawings were “beautiful†and the chamber looked forward to the central lands near the downtown being “revitalized,†the board did not support the proposals due to concerns about traffic and Baif’s request for higher densities and heights than provided for in the town’s official plan.
Councillor Carmine Perrelli reminded residents there was already a precedent set by the provincial Ontario Municipal Board, which approved a 28-storey building at the corner of Yonge and 16th Avenue. He stressed “if this project goes to the OMB, this council has no control over the height, so the best thing is to work with the applicantâ€.