Dupont plan off to OMB

A Dupont Street developer says he intends to file an objection to Ontario Municipal Board unless the city overturns its decision to block the construction of a three tower, mixed-use condo centre.

Jeffrey Wynn, trustee of the Wynn Group of Companies, filed an application to the city in late May to ask that the site located at 328, 330, 344, 358 and 374 Dupont St. be re-designated from an employment area to a mixed use area, with store fronts on street level and residences on top to accommodate a residential intensification of the property.

The project would be divided into three phases: the first building would have four floors of commercial and retail space and 25 floors of residential units. The second tower would have eight floors of live and work units and the third building would have four floors of offices and 12 floors of residential units.

The plan was rejected by the city’s planning division which recommended council refuse the application as it violates the city’s official plan. That plan outlines Toronto’s long-term growth management strategies and provides a policy framework that intends to manage intensification.

Company trustee Paul Wynn said he doesn’t understand the city’s decision.

“It’s near an underused subway station (Dupont), it’s near a very nice residential area, there would be no loss of commercial space and no visual obstruction of Casa Loma,” he said.

According to Wynn, the company was in talks with Artscape to create an artist space and that they would make sure to include a publicly accessible green space.

Councillor for Ward 20 Adam Vaughan said that the company’s proposal was thrown out because it was too short on details.

“It would be foolhardy to pass a proposal without knowing what their vision is.”

City council debated and rejected the Wynn Group’s proposal for a second time on June 14. The company has yet to file an appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board as of press time.