Consider the environment
Re: [url=/?p=40891]Scale of project scares locals[/url], Bayview-Mills Town Crier, October
North York is a part of Toronto that has experienced one of the largest amounts of growth. Many condos have been erected in the Yonge/Finch area, where I live, in the past eight years with little hint of slowing down. I can understand the concerns of residents in the area, especially as I am a planning student at the University of Waterloo. I found it a bit odd that there were concerns over a potentially negative impact on the environment, but no money was secured to ensure its conservation. It’s important that if the city is to allow taller buildings in the area, there should be a price to pay because of their environmental impact and the potential for being an eyesore. A cap of 24 storeys would be appropriate for all buildings located near ravines or natural areas. I can also understand the limited land availability in a city like Toronto, but the city should not allow green spaces to be taken over by buildings. Intensifying cities by building up is a viable option in reducing the amount of urban sprawl, but buildings should be built in areas that have already been developed. Though $2.25 million was secured in community benefits, it is not a large enough price to pay. There will always be developers looking to build buildings, but it will be much harder to reclaim land that has become so limited.
Lindsay Wong
Lorraine Drive
“I can also understand the limited land availability in a city like Toronto”
Yes, Toronto needs to intensify for better use of existing infrastructure but what has been happening is a land grab in the sky for only the most marketable space not the space that needs to be built-up. The Toronto Official Plan directs intensification but some councillors are ignoring that. Before Toronto needs to encroach on ravines, or destabilize Yonge & Eglinton, the Danforth subway corridor (and the likes) should be intensified first. Stop the farce, elect councillors who know their place and stay out of developer-aid and assistance. I hope Lindsay becomes a PROFESSIONAL PLANNER and joins the North York Planning Department. Somehow though, I suspect she won’t.