Quarry Lands, Gerrard & Clonmore
Members of the public who want to learn more about plans to construct low-rise housing and big box retail in the Quarry are invited to a meeting on Monday, May 13th at Blantyre Public School at 6:00pm.
Organized by City of Toronto planning staff, the meeting is the first opportunity for residents to hear details about the plan submitted by Build Toronto, the arm’s length development agency of the City.
Representatives from Build Toronto are also expected to attend the meeting.
The new president of the Concerned Citizens of Quarry Lands Development, Tim Weber, described the proposal as a “preliminary vision” and is encouraging the community to participate in the process and “…make it the best we can make it.”
CCQLD President Tim Weber
“We’re hoping people are going to bring constructive suggestions and we’re also very interested to hear how people feel about having another large retail presence in our community, aka a big box store,” said Weber.
The CCQLD’s approach meshes with an online survey the group conducted earlier this year in which 73% of respondents said they wanted to work with Build Toronto and city planners to make the concept better, versus 27% who favoured rejecting the plan and fighting.
The question was prefaced, however, with a statement indicating that Build Toronto says the plan is only feasible if 25% of the development is commercial, which means big box retail.
110,000 square foot big box store
Build Toronto is planning to construct a 110,000 sq. ft big box store where the driving range used to be located, as well as a four-storey apartment building behind the Shell station, townhouses to the east of that, stacked townhouses along the CN rail line, and 1.3 kilomeres of new roads.
The development is slated for a 19-acre irregular parcel of land on the western portion of the Quarry owned by Build Toronto and is separate from the Conservatory Group’s controversial plan to construct high-rise towers on the eastern portion of the Quarry.
Requires rezoning and Official Plan amendment
Principal Planner Rod Hines said the community meeting was triggered by Build Toronto’s request to amend the Official Plan and rezone parts of the land that are currently zoned agricultural.
Hines described the meeting as the first step in the public consultation process.
“Basically the intent of the meeting is to provide an opportunity for the community to learn more about the proposed development, the nature of the planning applications and how they will be processed, and to ask questions,” said Hines.
Hines said this won’t be the only opportunity for the community to provide feedback and raise concerns.
There will be a statutory Public Meeting at Scarborough Community Council where residents will be able to submit statements and make deputations.
Hines also said it’s not unusual for the local Councillor to host additional meetings in these kinds of circumstances.
Hines said 4,000 letters are in the mail inviting residents to participate in this particular meeting project after Scarborough Community Council approved a motion by Ward 36 Councillor Gary Crawford to expand the usual notification procedures.
