Here are my notes from last night's public meeting; and there will be at least one more public meeting in a few months to discuss issues that were raised last night:
· Ripley plans to have Phase 1 open April 2013.
· The re-zoning application is needed in order to determine if an aquarium use is permitted since right now it reads as commercial use only; clearly an aquarium satisfies the commercial use designation, and since the City is happy with the reduced size of the project massing, etc…then it’s pretty much a done deal (notwithstanding the animal rights/welfare concerns, which the City has no jurisdiction over, and that they are Provincial and National matters).
· Phase 1 will be approx. 95,931 ft; Phase 2 at 53,821 ft and will be added at a later date while Phase 1 operates normally; and CLC will develop Phase 2A at 46,286 ft and it will be a mixed-use multi-level building with retail & restaurant.
· Ripley is seeking to land lease, design, build and manage the project.
· Ripley’s other 2 aquariums in the USA are debt free and financially secure.
· Ripley’s application is considerably lower than the as of right condition GFA equal to about 386,000 ft, which originally outlined a building envelope that would wrap ¾ around the CN Tower. This multi-phase application is much preferred.
· There’s no on-site parking request; however there’s a comprehensive multi-party bus management plan between applicant, Roger’s Centre, and MTCC….they anticipate heavy school bus traffic to the site.
· There are 3,200 public parking spaces within 300m of site, and further 2,000 spaces from 300m-450m.
· No escalators or elevators will be used; use of gradient flooring/ramping and the front entrance (southwest corner) will be vision glass.
· Roof of building will be at same elevation of Gardiner Expressway and will not be a green roof, but rather the preferred white roof (primarily for future large commercial and institutional uses).
· Estimate 1.5 million annual visits; with no real seasonal peaks like the CN Tower.
· Members of the public/residents of Ward 20 expressed concerns with size of signage on building & roof, poor integration of building into the community, not enough green space, too much use of glass and concrete, etc….many were opposed to the whole notion of allowing an aquarium in the City due to animal welfare concerns….Ripley’s stated that they would not include marine mammals in this exhibit and that the educational angle would be paramount to the success of the project…it’s not just a tourist attraction making money.