AN APPLICATION TO build a row of townhouses on Bayview Avenue has some residents wondering if the unique character of the neighbourhood is at risk.
Members of the community crowded into a consultation meeting, on June 8, at St. Andrew’s Junior High School, to discuss an application to build eight, three-storey townhouses at the corner of York Road and Bayview Avenue. Reza Akbari, the applicant, would like to see the official plan and zoning bylaw on the site, just south of the York Mills Plaza, amended to permit the development.
But many residents in the area said that if the application were approved the neighbourhood’s character would be dramatically altered.
“It’s just a drastic change in the area there,” said David Bawden, president of the York Mills Ratepayers Association. Bawden said the area, which is made up of single, detached homes, should stay that way.
“We do have a school down the road, and we do have a place of worship across the road, and we do have townhouses going in on the Bridle Path. But in this particular area, it’s well established as single-family homes. And all up and down Bayview are new, single-family homes.”
The site currently contains a two-storey house. It would be demolished and replaced with a row of tall, narrow townhouses that would front onto Bayview Avenue.
Neil Carter, the constituency assistant to Coun. Cliff Jenkins, confirmed that the councillor had to declare a conflict of interest on the matter. The councillor’s own house is too close to the proposed development site, and therefore he is unable to comment.
Willowdale’s Coun. John Filion was assigned the issue. He said the major problem with the application is that if it were approved it could make it easier for more developers to purchase properties designated for single, detached homes and create similar projects.
“It would certainly set a precedent, or could set a precedent, for similar developments on Bayview on that section of Bayview,” Filion said.
Other residents said the development would have a negative impact not just on the neighbourhood as a whole, but also on the people who live adjacent to the property.
“It’s partly the effect that it has on the general appearance on Bayview Avenue, and most directly, it has a serious impact on the people with homes within view of this,” said John Nicholls of the York Mills Gardens Community Association. “You have to think about the people who live near such developments. If your house backs onto this, then it’s a major concern.”
The designs include an outdoor deck in the rear of the building that would rise six to seven feet above ground.
“The people will be in their townhouses taking in their sun, staring into their neighbour’s backyard,” Nicholls said.
The developer has taken the comments from the consultation meeting and is expected to submit an amended application. That will go to to community council in the fall, and a final decision will be made by city council after that.