WITHOUT A STAFF report ready, the Town of Richmond Hill has been unable to respond to the planning application for the David Dunlap Observatory (DDO) lands. Now that 180 days have passed since it was deemed complete on Apr. 7, 2010, the developer is within its rights to appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board.
Ana Bassios, a spokesperson for the Town of Richmond Hill, said that staff are still doing their assessments. She pointed out that it’s not unusual for this process to take more than 180 days, particularly when it’s such a complex application with important natural and historical cultural considerations.
“A lot of the work that we’re doing now would need to be done before a hearing in any event,” said Bassios. “We need to do the analysis and make sure that we have the right position.”
Karen Cilevitz, Ward 5 candidate and DDO Defender, said the fact that the process is taking so long isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
“I would sincerely hope that the town does an absolute, thorough job,” said Cilevitz.
She noted that it was the public that asked for a peer review that is currently under way. “Whether or not this landowner will exercise some patience … that remains to be seen,” she said.
Coun. Godwin Chan acknowledged that the developer has the right to go to the province, but he said he preferred not to speculate. He said that no decisions have been made and that the site’s zoning is still restricted to institutional uses.
“It hasn’t been brought to council at this point in time,” said Chan.
The application calls for official plan and zoning amendments, as well as a plan of subdivision to permit some low and medium density residential development. Calls to Metrus Development’s project manager, Michael Pozzebon, went unreturned at press time.