On October 1st, Scarborough Community Planning staff and my office hosted a public consultation meeting regarding the planning application for 222 Centennial Road/35 Acheson Blvd., the former Watson Apple Orchard property. The applicant is proposing to construct 24 residential dwellings on this parcel and would include a new internal 16.5 metre roadway. 6 of the detached residential dwellings are proposed to be built along the property known as 35 Acheson Blvd.

The meeting, held at St Brendan's School began with an introduction by Planning staff, myself and a presentation from the applicant's consultant which was followed up by a question and answer session. A number of issues were raised by the residents that included traffic volumes and parking on adjacent streets, the number and type of proposed homes and the question of buffers to the adjacent creek system. The issue of a walkway connecting Centennial Road and Acheson Blvd. was also raised with comments on both sides of the issue.

As a result of the comments from the community the applicant and their consultants have indicated they will review the proposal presented at the meeting. My office has also requested that Traffic Operations division conduct a review of traffic volumes and parking in this area with the new development and the school in mind. They will be working with Planning staff and will generate a report based on their findings.

I would like to establish a park on the northern portion of the property to preserve the wonderful tree's that Cameron Watson treasured. It would also be fitting to name this park in his honour and to recognize his contributions to our community.

I have asked the CCRA to establish a working group with 3 members from the association and 4 residents at large to review the details of this application.

I would like to thank the many residents who attended the meeting and for their thoughtful comments on this application. My office will continue to update the community as information becomes available. In the meantime, if you have questions or concerns regarding this proposal, please do not hesitate to contact my office.

This application proposes to amend the Centennial Community Zoning By-law No. 12077, as amended, to rezone the lands from the Agricultural Uses (AG) zone to a Single-Family Residential (S) zone to permit residential uses and to establish minimum lot frontage and area requirements, as well as front and side yard setback provisions to enable the proposed severance of the lands into seven lots for new single-family detached dwellings. Two of the proposed lots would be located to the west of the existing Centennial Creek ravine, and would have lot frontages of 13.5 metres (44.3 feet) and lot areas of 501.6 square metres (5,399.2 square feet) and 507.2 square metres (5,459.5 square feet). The five remaining lots would be located to the east of the ravine and would have lot frontages of 15 metres (49.2 feet) and would have lot areas ranging from 564.7 square metres (6,078.4 square feet) to 601.2 square metres (6,471.3 square feet). All seven lots would front directly onto Clemes Drive.
A public consultation meeting is required for this application. We will update the community once a date has been scheduled.

The preiminary report is available here

On September 10th, Scarborough Community Council, in a unanimous decision voted to support the community position on 17 Island Road to keep the current commercial zoning on this site.

From the start of this application, I made it very clear to the developer that the proposal did not fit in with the single family character of this community and asked them to submit an application that respected the present commercial zoning on the site.

I want to thank the many residents who took the time out of their busy schedules to fill the council chamber at the Scarborough Civic Centre. I also want to thank the West Rouge Community Association and the working group who did an outstanding job presenting the issues that are related to this proposal. I have always worked closely with our community associations and was very impressed in how this issue was presented to Community Council by all involved.

On October 8th, City Council endorsed the decision of Scarborough Community Council. The applicant has been served a 'notice of refusal' by the Clerk's Office and has until November 12th to file an appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board.

I will continue to update the community as information becomes available.

DATE: Tuesday, November 19, 2013
TIME: 1:30 p.m., or as soon as possible thereafter
PLACE: Council Chamber, Scarborough Civic Centre,
150 Borough Drive
PROPOSAL

The application to amend the Zoning By-law proposes to reduce the minimum lot frontage requirement and to establish minimum building setbacks to facilitate the severance of one existing lot at 1407 Military Trail into two new residential building lots.

This land is also subject to an application under the Planning Act for consent, Application No.: B010/13SC.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Detailed information regarding the proposal, including background information and material may be obtained by contacting Christopher May, Planner at 416-396-7034, or by e-mail at [email protected].

PURPOSE OF PUBLIC MEETING

You are invited to attend the public meeting to make your views known regarding the proposal. To assist in scheduling, if you wish to address the Scarborough Community Council, please notify the City Clerk, attention: Yvonne Davies, Administrator, Scarborough Community Council, at 416-396-7287, by November 18, 2013.

If you wish to submit written comments, please forward them to the City Clerk, attention: Yvonne Davies, Administrator, Scarborough Community Council, 150 Borough Drive, Floor 3, Toronto, Ontario, M1P 4N7 or by Fax: 416-396-4301 or by e-mail to [email protected].

Scarborough Community Council will review the proposal and any other material placed before it, in order to make recommendations on the application. These recommendations will then be forwarded to Toronto City Council for its consideration

The enclosed diagram shows the proposed upgraded to the Port Union Communicty Centre - Sports Pad. Hopefully, this can be completed early this summer, so we can all enjoy the improvements.

Port Union Community Sports Pad

The Highland Creek Village Area Study’s fourth Working Group meeting took place on October 12th, 2011. Part of the meeting consisted of a presentation on Community Services located within and around the study area. City staff also presented their initial conclusions from the study regarding land use, parking, building heights and area characteristics.

The purpose of this area study is to develop a vision for the Highland Creek Village by examining existing needs and challenges, as well as opportunities for improvements and preserving the heritage character of the village. The working group is made up of Scarborough community planners, area residents and members of the local community association.

At the conclusion of the study, the group will be hosting a large format community consultation meeting to present their suggestions to area residents for further feedback and input.

To learn more about this on-going study please visit the City website at: www.toronto.ca/planning/highlandcreekvillage.htm