A development Proposal to transform a Thornhill shopping centre will be heard at the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) beginning next March unless a compromise can be reached.
The revised plan, first submitted by Bayview Summit Development Ltd. in October 2007, seeks to transform the 17-acre Shops on Steeles and 404 site into a mixed-use community with retail, office and other uses as well as 1,787 residential units. The plan includes five residential point towers, ranging between 18 and 32 storeys, near Highway 404 on the eastern portion of the site.
Erin Shapero, outgoing councillor for Ward 2, said she is not surprised that the development has become a hot campaign topic for many candidates in the coming municipal election.
“It’s a huge issue,” Shapero said. “And not just for Thornhill, for the rest of the town of Markham because it’s a site that was never identified by the town as a site for major intensification.”
Fred Webber, president of the German Mills Ratepayers Association, agreed on the significance.
“It’s clearly the most important issue in this ward,” he said. “There’s nothing near it.”
Webber said his group has concerns about traffic, density and enhancement of the commercial mall. He said his group would continue to push for a six-storey height limit and one time coverage limit for the site should it ultimately go before the OMB.
Both Webber and Shapero said they were hopeful a compromise could be reached with the developer prior to the scheduled hearings.
“With the pending election, it’s been a little difficult,” said Maria Gatzios, planning consultant for Bayview Summit, regarding efforts to reach a compromise, but said that discussions would be ongoing.
Hearings are scheduled to begin on March 2 at Markham Municipal Offices. A total of 32 days over eight weeks has been set aside.
