Councillor John Filion makes no secret of his opinions about increased development along Sheppard Ave. In his last column for the Bayview Post and the North York Post, the Willowdale councillor wrote that the area was overrun with developers looking to build “larger, taller and stupider than the rules allow.” After mentioning a number of projects being proposed, he vowed to “fight” them and called on his constituents to lend a hand.
But one constituent who will not be helping is Dr. Stan Salsberg, a 70-year-old optometrist whose development proposal was singled out in the councillor’s column.
Looking to expand his practice, Salsberg had submitted an application for a new building — a seven-storey mid-rise with a “state of the art optometry office” on the ground to serve the neighbourhood and residential space above.
“We needed to expand the clinic and thought we could add some housing,” he said. But when he went to the councillor for guidance on the application, Salsberg said that, when Filion heard the proposed height of the building, the councillor “walked out” of the meeting.
“He wanted the development to stay under five or six storeys,” Salsberg said. “But that wouldn’t be enough to recoup our investment in a new building.”
Filion confirmed that he does not want any more tall residential buildings to be built on Sheppard but said that was not the reason he was dismissive of Salsberg’s proposal.
“He’s a nice man,” he said, “but he submitted an obnoxious proposal that follows no rules.” Filion said that his constituents are “solidly behind him,” when he takes on development, and he invites anyone who disagrees with him to “run against him.”
But Salsberg believes that there are many people in the ward who want the area to change and grow for the better. “The older population opposes development, but in 10 years, they’ll be in a retirement home or gone,” he said. “The neighbourhood has changed.”