A PROPOSAL TO develop a golf driving range on provincial land has some Thornhill residents fuming.
Scott Rudiak, the owner of Within Range Golf Centres, applied to lease the land at 8111 Leslie St. from the province two years ago. His dream was to build a driving range, which would also include a miniature golf course, a chipping area, matted tees and a small clubhouse. The land, located just south of Highway 407, backs onto a residential area on Summerdale Drive.
Local resident Atilla Yeter has started a petition against the development, which he says will decrease the value of his property, disturb him and his neighbours and displace a variety of wildlife that resides in the green space.
“The people are commenting on the disappearance of wildlife,” Yeter said. “We’ll lose the ability to walk around with our children and dogs.” Deer, a variety of birds, coyotes, red foxes and rabbits are some of the animals Yeter said live behind his house.
Yeter said neighbours are also concerned about the driving range encroaching on his backyard.
Rudiak, the applicant, said he is committed to working with residents. He’s proposed to build a berm, about three metres high, that will separate the range from its neighbours.
“If we can avoid annoying the residents, then that’s what we’re going to do,” he said. “We wanted a visual buffer for someone standing in their backyard.”
But Yeter said that the berm will only ruin his view.
“It’s not different from a green version of the Berlin Wall,” Yeter said. “No one will be able to see beyond that one when it’s 25 metres from our property line.”
Markham council will not be involved in any final decisions on the matter since the property is owned by the Ontario Realty Corporation. Coun. Erin Shapero organized a community meeting on the matter and argued that, although it is provincially owned land, local residents should have some say.
“I, for one, am going to stand up for residents, that’s my job, to do whatever I can to ensure that they’re informed,” she said.
