Whitehead wants city to purchase part of brow lands

The old baseball diamond

Members of the city’s planning committee will be asked to look at purchasing a portion of the Chedoke brow lands.

Ward 8 councillor Terry Whitehead wants the city to purchase a parcel of land, once home to a baseball diamond on the north-east corner of Sanatorium Road and Scenic Drive.

“There’s a deficiency of parkland in the area and it would serve as a natural buffer to the wood lot,” said Whitehead, who added the move would also minimize the number of units that could be built in any development of the brow lands.

Whitehead said city staff is working on the details, including the size of the parcel of land he wants to purchase.

The councillor’s proposal, which he plans to raise at the Aug. 8 meeting of the planning committee, adds another twist to the on-going saga of the west Mountain property.

Residents in the area have been battling a plan by Deanlee Management of Mississauga, owner of the 24 acre brow lands, to develop the site.

While he doubts Deanlee will be open to an offer from the city, Whitehead noted the firm may be feeling some pressure from the community to do a deal.

Whitehead earlier confirmed that another builder is also involved in the development plan.

Deanlee, which had been looking to build as many as 700 units on the property, is slated to make what Whitehead calls a “settlement offer” to the committee at next month’s meeting.

City council has already approved a maximum of 450 units for the brow lands.

While it’s expected Deanlee’s revamped proposal will be put before councillors in private session because legal issues may be involved, Whitehead said he will push to have the matter heard in public.

He will also be asking the committee to put the matter on hold for two weeks to allow area residents a chance to see the new plan and provide input.

Whitehead said a special meeting of the planning committee may be held near the end of August to render a decision on the proposal.

Meanwhile, the Ontario Municipal Board has slated a three-day hearing on the revised development plan starting on Sept. 7, 10:30 a.m. at the McMaster Learning Centre on Main Street East.