Victories and questions about projects in Westboro
A big thank you to the community for rallying around neighbours on Roosevelt and Cole who were concerned about the latest applications for long semis, these large, overwhelming projects that continue to proliferate in our Ward. At the Committee of Adjustment (CoA) meetings on March 6 and March 20, over a hundred people turned out between the two meetings to express their misgivings about long semis proposed at 508,514 Roosevelt and 582 Churchill. The meeting on March 20 for 694 Roosevelt was for a pair of triplexes to replace a single family home. Also, we need to mention all those who wrote and emailed the City expressing their concern. The result was the CoA accepted the Churchill project but rejected the Roosevelt ones.
It just goes to show that working together has an effect! We want to thank everyone who made their views known, especially the immediate neighbours who went to great efforts, and Eric Milligan for rallying the troops through his savewestboro@icloud.com email. Of course, the developers Falsetto Homes and Kenwood Homes are filing appeals for the decisions for 508 and 514 Roosevelt with the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT), so it is likely we will to fight this battle over again. And again and again . . . there is no sign of this type of application stopping anytime soon. Stay tuned!
Next: triplexes up for rezoning so they can add a fourth dwelling in the basement. Unlike previous projects (Byron/Ravenshill) that were requesting a change from R3 to R4 to allow the fourth unit (making it a low rise apartment building) , these properties already have an R4 designation, meaning a low rise apartment building is permitted. The developer has been upfront about adding the fourth dwelling from the start. But he/she still needs zoning changes to accommodate reduced interior side yard, lot area, lot width and amenity areas. In other words – it will be built out to the very limits of the lot. But the question in our minds is: why do this in a two-step process? Why not just present a low-rise apartment concept to the City and go forward from there?
Let’s attend the meeting hosted by Councillor Leiper and find out:
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 27, 6-8 p.m.
CHURCHILL SENIORS CENTRE
345 RICHMOND ROAD
