A proposal calling for an 833-unit development on the David Dunlap Observatory site submitted to the Town of Richmond Hill has incensed councillors and residents alike. Submitted by property owner Corsica less than 24 hours after town council adapted 25 guiding principals for the site — focusing on conservation, planning and design principles — the proposal raised concerns from one town official.
“They didn’t draft it overnight,” said Brenda Hogg, deputy mayor of Richmond Hill, regarding the proposal. “I looked it over, and I didn’t see an awful lot of natural heritage protection. I didn’t see anything that gave me the comfort that these 25 principles were even read.” Hogg is not the only member of council with concerns.
“I don’t believe anyone is really prepared to look at that kind of magnitude,” said Coun. Godwin Chan of the development proposal. Council recently passed a resolution asking the provincial and federal governments to declare the property a national landmark. Hogg said that the federal government had repeatedly stated that they would not get involved in the matter before action came at the provincial level. “The province is not responding with any real hope because the people aren’t attacking them,” Hogg said. “They’re still attacking us.”
Karen Cilevitz, of the David Dunlap Observatory Defenders, said that such an accusation from Hogg is “inaccurate” and “unbelievably insulting.” “We are working every day in the back rooms and the background of all levels of government,” she said. While she had yet to see the proposal, her group’s position remains the same. “Our mandate is no development,” Cilevitz said.
