Newmarket town council has decided to sell a portion of the Hollingsworth Arena property to a developer rather than all of it.

The mayor and councillors were presented a staff report that included two scenarios for the potential redevelopment of properties located at 693 and 713 Davis Dr. and 35 Patterson St. The Hollingsworth Arena is being decommissioned due to age following this season.

Both scenarios align with the town’s Secondary Plan that directs intensification to major corridors, include two 15-storey towers with the second option including an additional 6-storey mid-rise building. The first option would add 289 residential units to the properties and the second, 409 units. Both include an urban park fronting on to Davis Drive but the second option would also include a community park fronting on Irwin Crescent.

Despite town staff’s preference for the town to endorse scenario 2 in principle, Ward 3 Councillor Jane Twinney could not support selling the whole Hollingsworth property.

“I think there is a lot of potential there for a recreational facility or green space, that can give back to the community as we intensify,” she said. “Whether it becomes a splash pad or a basketball court, people in the area have had that space since they moved there and it needs to be preserved.”

She made it clear she could get behind the first scenario that would only sell 21-metres of the property to the developer on the condition the intersection be examined closely to handle the influx of traffic a new development would bring.

But not everyone agreed.

Ward 1 Councillor Grace Simon felt the second scenario was a better option.

“We already have lots of green space and parks in Newmarket still needing attention and we have set priorities like developing the Mulock Farm,” she said. “If we hold this how long will it sit there? If we go with option 2, we are guaranteed something will come of it.”

The majority of council voted to endorse in principle scenario 1 and directed town staff to return with a report exploring options for the town owned property including financial options.