By Mark Newman

Nov 16, 2007

Community-generated options range from no development to modest residential housing

Residents living near the Chedoke brow lands have been given five development options for the west Mountain property. The options range from no development to a modest plan for residential housing north of Scenic Drive.

The options were presented to about 100 residents at the third public information centre organized by the city’s planning and economic development department in the Ewart Auditorium at the Chedoke Hospital campus Nov. 13.

Each of the options were presented by members of a citizens sub-committee that was formed last month to mull over and try to find common themes from 12 general development plans that were put together by Chedoke area residents at a public information centre at Mohawk College Oct. 11.

The citizens’ input is being used by city planning officials to develop a modified secondary plan for the area which the residents hope will control the size and scope of future development on the brow lands.

Last spring, Deanlee Management of Mississauga purchased the 9.6 hectare (24 acres) brow lands from the Chedoke Health Corporation and in June submitted a proposal to the city to build 750 high-end condominium units on the site.

It’s expected the city’s economic development and planning committee will consider both the modified secondary plan developed by the residents and Deanlee’s proposal early next spring.

Eric Soberg, who grew up in the area and his mother still lives on Scenic Drive, presented the first option that calls for no development. He urged residents to fight against any development on the property and preserve it for future generations.

“This is a crown piece of property,” Mr. Soberg said. “Chedoke Health Sciences has sold us out as a community.”

The second option calls for limited development, with single detached homes no more than two and a half storeys high on the north-west side of the brow lands and some

similar homes on a pocket of land at the north-west corner of Scenic Drive and Sanatorium Road.

“Everything else we’d like to leave as green space,” said Colleen Morrison, who presented the proposal. “This is what I see as a good option.”

Option three calls for medium-low development with low-rise four storey buildings behind the former continuing care building on the north-west side of the land and a low rise building on the west side of the site near the wood lot and Long and Bisby building.

“We’re looking at development around existing buildings,” said Bart Brosseau, who presented the option.

The plan also calls for two blocks of three storey townhouses on either side of Sanatorium Road just north of Scenic Drive. Green space is proposed along the majority of Scenic as a buffer to the interior development.

Barry Colbert, who presented option five, which calls for mixed-use medium development, noted the property has a healthcare history and he would like to see that maintained in any new development.

“Let’s make this a wellness-themed, mixed use development,” said Mr. Colbert, who noted that could mean a nursing home or some other kinds of wellness facility.

The option calls for four storey terrace buildings near the former continuing care building with wellness services on the ground floor and residential units above. Single homes are proposed along Scenic Drive (west of Sanatorium) with rear access lanes. Townhouses are proposed on either side of Sanatorium north of Scenic and a four storey building is suggested for the middle of the property on the west side of Sanatorium. The Long and Bisby building would be converted for mixed public and residential use.

The fifth option contains the most development of the five proposals.

“The intent here is to provide heavier development within the centre area (of the brow lands),” said presenter John Norris.

The option proposes to retain the former continuing care building and develop six storey (mid rise) terraced residential buildings on the south side of the facility. Parking will be inside the buildings or screened from the roads. A six storey building is proposed near the Long and Bisby building with two low rise (three and four storey) buildings on either side of Sanatorium, north of Scenic. A row of townhouses facing Scenic with rear lane access are proposed for the west side of the site.

“It allows us to get as much green space as possible,” said Mr. Norris, who estimated the plan could include as many as 400 units, 350 less than Deanlee’s proposal.

Mr. Norris said he believes the option is defendable should the developer take the matter to the Ontario Municipal Board.

After the proposals were presented, the residents voted for their first and second preferred options.

City senior project manager Brenda Khes said Chedoke neighbours who were unable to attend the meeting can vote on-line until Dec. 3.

Several residents complained it was difficult to pick an option because the proposals did not come with a number of units attached.

“We don’t have a unit count on them yet because there’s a lot of work that has to be done to figure out units,” Ms. Khes said.

Ms. Khes said planning staff will tally the votes and bring back the community’s preferred option to the next public information centre on Dec. 13. At that time planning staff will also have an estimated number of units for each option.

“If the votes are really close, then we have to decide whether or not are we going to combine the two types of options or are we going to come back with two preferred options,” Ms. Khes said.

Residents will have one final chance to comment on and make adjustments to the preferred option next month before it is incorporated into the modified secondary plan and sent to the councillors.

Ms. Khes said a final meeting may be required in January to complete the process.

She told the residents the time and effort they’ve spent on the secondary planning process will carry have a lot of weight before city council and the OMB.