'Extremely concerned': Stouffville residents form ratepayers group to tackle proposed 106-townhouse development

Stouffville resident Dave Nicoll is considered one of a number of involved with a proposed 106-unit townhouse improvement on Important Avenue.

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When Dave Nicoll came upon there was a proposal for 106 stacked townhouses on the 2 acres of land behind his Thicketwood Boulevard home, he was shocked.

“My response was to do some homework and a few digging. I wish to perceive how this improvement suits with the city plan. The way it suits with the heritage motion and the site visitors up and down predominant road.”

And get to all the way down to work Nicoll did. In little greater than a month, he has helped type the Stouffville Village Ratepayers (SVR) group.

“We thought one of the best factor to do was type a ratepayers society,” he stated. He stated it’s simpler to be acknowledged at council proceedings as a ratepayers group.

The event proposed for 6461-6487 Important St., east of Park Drive, requires 106 stacked townhouses in six blocks. Nicoll stated this an enormous variety of properties for an space that's .66 hectares, or simply lower than two acres.

“I’m extraordinarily involved concerning the precedent of such density,” Nicoll stated.

He stated the proposal consists of an underground parking storage that can occupy the vast majority of the constructing website, and a stacked townhouse design that features a raised basement degree, three above floor flooring, plus a roof high utility room and roof high patio.

Nicoll isn’t the one one involved a concerning the proposal. Fellow Thicketwood resident Brian Phillips was stunned that such a venture was even being thought of for the location. Phillips stated the world is moist and might flood. “How can they put that huge a improvement in such a small area?” he stated. Phillips stated residents have had little discover concerning the venture and are involved the venture is shifting forward too quick.

Ward 6 Coun. Sue Sherban stated residents have been reaching out to her with issues concerning the proposal ever since indicators went up for it final month. A public assembly has but to be scheduled to debate the proposal. Till city workers has accomplished research on the matter, Sherban stated it’s exhausting to offer concrete solutions to what the developer is proposing. That being stated, she doesn’t love what's being proposed.

“Do I feel that is overkill? 100 per cent. Do I feel it's ugly? 100 per cent,” she stated. “No one needs something towering over their backyards.”

Nicoll stated stacked townhouses is a elaborate method of claiming low-rise residences.

The current improvement software for the redevelopment of 4 present residential properties locally core included the previous website of the Lemonville lodge.

In 2018, Stouffville council ignored suggestions by the city’s heritage advisory committee to designate the previous Lemonville Resort at 6481 Important St. and the Flint Home 6465 Important St. below the heritage act. The buildings had been as a substitute slated for demolition. The choice was irritating on the time for heritage committee member and native historian Fred Robbins.

“Employees has ignored our work,” he stated. “Different communities have saved these uncommon forms of housing.” He labelled the transfer to demolish the properties as “blatant disregard” for heritage.

Each Nicoll and Phillips stated they're aren’t in opposition to improvement on the property however are in search of one thing with a extra cheap density.

“I’m all for constructing new housing however not 106 models proper out my again door,” Phillips stated. “I’m only one little man in a single little home and now they dumped all of this on me.”

A public assembly for the proposal is anticipated to happen someday within the subsequent few months.

The SVR will serve and space bounded by Tenth Line to the East With Line to the west Nineteenth Avenue to the South and Millard Avenue to the North.

For extra details about the group go to stouffvillevillageratepayers.ca.

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STORY BEHIND THE STORY: Reporter Simon Martin went to seek out out why some involved native residents have began a ratepayers affiliation after a proposal for 106-unit townhouse improvement was submitted for Important Avenue.