A May 18 Toronto City Council meeting reviewed several amendments to the controversial Downsview Area Secondary Plan but ended with the plan being referred back to North York Community Council for consideration in September.
It’s the latest in a long-standing saga between the community and park officials.
The development calls for more than 600 housing units on the former Canadian Forces base, in addition to features such as a man-made lake, retail shops, restaurants and a running track. The site has been largely park space since 1994.
In April, Coun. Maria Augimeri, who has concerns about the development, said she feared the issue would be given final approval at May’s city council meeting. She has managed to have the plan deferred twice in the past at North York Community Council meetings.
But David Soknacki, chair of the board for Parc Downsview Park Inc., was sure the proposal would be passed this time around.
He was surprised when it was not.
“We on the side of the park listened to the debate with disbelief,” he said.
“Our plan … sits with the rules that city council put in place, sits with the vision that city staff has reported. I myself have been at over 50 community meetings. There has been an enormous amount of discussion.”
He said he expected some concerns from councillors in the immediate area but still expected it to pass, considering, “Downsview Park, Build Toronto, city planning and the North York Community Council were in agreement,” he said.
Augimeri said she is relieved.
“This is the most important development to come to Toronto since the Harbourfront,” she said. “We’re talking 600 acres. They want to put townhouses on 300 of those acres. That’s like getting rid of High Park. Would any downtown councillors support getting rid of High Park?”
She said she plans to work with Mark Adler, the new MP for York Centre, to try and preserve the park.
“He was elected on a mandate to protect the park,”she said.
Soknacki said Parc Downsivew Park will have a preliminary meeting with the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) on June 29, which may or may not result in a hearing.
“I would regret the creating of the park moving from the public realm to one of the individual,” he said. “It’s uncomfortable. But at this point we really do have to consider the creation of the park.”