After nine bitter years, a development was finally approved by council on June 6 for the corner of Sandalwood Parkway and Conestoga Boulevard, with the blessings and agreement of residents and the developer.

Royalcliff Developments has proposed and asked for a bylaw amendment to build 124 townhouse and 2 single detached units across from Heart Lake Town Centre, near Loafers Lake Recreation Centre and Cyril Clark Library.

It looked like the development might be rejected again, after city planning staff noted many concerns over the proposed townhouses and recommended rejecting the zoning by-law application.

Some of the reasons that staff were recommending rejection of the application:

The townhouses are too narrow at 5.5 metres in width, as opposed to the minimum of 6 metres for transit-oriented development

The intersection of new internal street “B” and Loafers Lane is too close to the intersection of Loafers Lane and Conestoga Boulevard

Internal road cross-section of 15.5 metres is too narrow; city standard is 17 metres

Large blocks of buildings impede pedestrian flow; staff in particular wanted a more formal connection to the Etobicoke Creek Trail

There were 10 delegations of residents prepared to present to councilors, and from the mood in the atrium before the meeting, they weren’t pleased.

Councilor Elaine Moore, chair of the city’s Planning and Infrastructure Committee, warned residents not to berate staff, noting planning staff has to given their best professional advice. She further said council cannot tell staff what to put in a report.

In what was clearly not a surprise move to some members of the gallery, Councilor Michael Palleschi put forward a motion to approve the bylaw amendment, and not go with staff’s advice on the matter.

Most of the delegations withdrew, aside from one person who wished to thank Palleschi and Councilor Doug Whillans for their work in this issue.

Council unanimously accepted the motion. The residents who showed up for the meeting were very happy, congratulating each other afterwards.

For all intents and purposes, this application is approved. While it still needs to go through a Draft Plan of Subdivision process, that process only deals with minor changes. During the meeting Palleschi noted that he hopes staff won’t be sticklers to the developers when working through this process.

A Timeline of the Heart Lake Development Battle

1989: A developer is granted zoning for two 18-storey residential highrises, at 419 units maximum and/or a 7-storey commercial building. The plan fizzled out.

February 2007: Royalcliff Developments and Lake Path Holdings proposes a new development consisting of six 18-32 residential highrises and 47 townhouses.

September 2008: Special City Council meeting sees this proposal application refused unanimously.

OMB approved proposal in April 2010.

April 2010: OMB approves revised proposal consisting of four 20-storey residential buildings, one 12-storey residential building, one 18-storey residential building, one 7-storey commercial building, and 42 live-work units. Judge also rules no building can surpass 20 storeys on this site.

October 2010: City loses appeal against OMB decision regarding this proposal.

City and OMB approved proposal in 2014.

July 2014: City’s planning committee approves a new revised proposal comprising of six 4-storey low rise apartments and nine blocks of 3-storey townhouses. Proposal still goes to the OMB.

September 2014: OMB approves the new revised proposal.

Newest and approved proposal by Royalcliff.

March 2016: Status report of the newest proposal, after the city received the application in May 2015.

April 2016: Statutory public meeting happens. Most delegations are in favour of the new proposal.

June 2016: Planning and Infrastructure Committee approves application to amend zoning bylaw and official plan for 124 townhouse and 2 single detached units. Plan goes to Draft of Subdivision process.

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