Thanks! This is very helpful. I will be registering my objection you can be certain.
This project is not "Smart Growth" this is a freight train about to hit Whitby Shores and all of Whitby just for good measure. Be careful what you wish for.
A Reader's Digest version of problems to come:
Unimaginable congestion, noise, wind tunnel effect from multi-highrises, light pollution, loss of community, increased crime, 10 to 15 years of living in a construction hell zone, detrimental effect on neighbouring conservation area, increased foot traffic through Whitby Shores to access the water front, project does not match the existing community, etc, etc... All for what...a possible tax decrease (or is that an "increase" to pay for the inadequate infrastructure).
The project proposes to add the equivalent population of Brooklin in a field the size of Cullen Gardens. How could the area be safely evacuated in an emergency with so few interchanges onto the 401? This is a poorly conceived idea that will fill the developers pockets...but we must live with the aftermath once the developers have returned to their high quality homes in their high quality communities.
And lets not forget all the other proposed construction projects! Brookfield wants to put in 5 high rises across the Yacht Club, Senator Homes wants to pack in the homes on the Psych Lands, and good old Liza Homes is lurking behind the A & P. It goes on, and on...
GET INVOLVED WHILE THERE IS TIME TO IMPRESS UPON YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS WHAT A MISGUIDED PROJECT THIS IS!
[Re: And lets not forget all the other proposed construction projects! Brookfield wants to put in 5 high rises across the Yacht Club, Senator Homes wants to pack in the homes on the Psych Lands, and good old Liza Homes is lurking behind the A & P. It goes on, and on...]
While I am against the current proposal from the developer, some form of their plan will ondoubtably go through. Believing otherwise I think would be naive. We should also be very careful about being against all other development in the area as it comes off a bit hypocritical considering we're all living in a neighbourhood that the surrounding community put up a big fight against. We can't have a "I can live here but you can't" attitude and if we naysay all development or aren't realistic about it then nobody will take us seriously.
Just a few of my thoughts.
It's also important to note that this development will take place in several stages spanning 20-30 years. Also, if the first phase (office towers )does not work out - there probably won't be any future development either.
17 000 people over 30 years is not very much - I'm not a math major - but that is a very small growth rate.
I totally agree that the plan is not perfect, but if Eco place doesn't go in there, something industrial will and I'd much rather have a commercial/residential mix than another distribution plant or a factory, or an industrial mall. The land is designated for development - period. It's just a matter of what goes in there and you can bet if it's not eco place, that it's not going to be residential or just stay an empty field.
We're not going to get anywhere if we just oppose the entire project. But, if you have constructive ideas for how the development can be changed for the better - that's where you have the chance to make a difference and gurantee you'll be heard and taken seriously. This is the approach we took with our school campaign.
BTW, for Whitby, Eco place is the equivalent of getting something like a GM. Do you know what GM does for Oshawa? It has helped stabilize taxes and improved community programs and infrastructure.
I grew up in Whitby, my family moved here in the mid 70's when the population was still around 40,000 and I was one of those who opposed the Whitby Shores development because I didn't want this beautiful area that I used to hike around as a child turn into another subdivision - but now I happily live here. Over the last 30 some years, I've seen businesses and companies that used to help out our tax base and employment leave town one after the other (Cadburys, Steel mills, Whitby Hospital, Sklar, Durham's Court house, BMW... to name a few). I am looking forward to businesses coming back to the Town and giving residents an opportunity to live and work here again. I dream of having our own hospital again, improved transit, and jobs for our kids.
I hope that eco-place does what it claims it will and that it encourages other businesses to come to Whitby too. Working in your own backyard is the environmentally friendly thing to do and the more business we bring to Whitby the less we'll have to rely on our cars and paying the ever increasing gas prices.
I agree with both Mamala and Nan. I want to see the land developed and I am not opposed to a business/residential/retail mix but the scope of the current plan is far too ambitious and the scale far too mammoth for such a small plot of land. A scaled down version is what we should be trying to impress on city council. Completely trying to shut out the developer is a nonstarter and will just make us look like naive fools. Working towards a good mix at a proper scale is the way to go.
For the record, I agree that development of the lands off of Victoria and Gordon is desirable. But I believe that the municipal planners had it right the first time: develop the land into a prestige business park with good high paying jobs for local residents (not to mention the requirement for a well landscaped barrier between the buildings and the street).
Think Patheon, think of the Whitby campus of Durham College, think of the new Durham Childrens Aid Society complex by the Oshawa Airport. This is what the planners saw for us.
This land is not zoned for factories or assembly plants. Leaving it alone will not mean a steel plant moves in. This land is not zoned for more retail/service commercial uses (dry cleaners, hair salons, etc). It is zoned for good knowledge economy jobs.
This developer owns the land but can make more if it is re-zoned for commercial/residential. And on the plans, what I see are 43 buildings: two office buildings, one hotel and 40 condos. It is clear what his intention is: a high density concrete maze of condos with little or no green space. Think of looking across Victoria to see 20 story condos. The poles along the street now are only about 5 stories. Think 4x that height. All along the street.
The economic future of the town depends on good jobs. A high value business park will attract those jobs.
Remember: changing this land from business park to residential is the developers vision, not the Town's. They did not seek the change, they are simple required to respond to it because the applications arrived.
Its like running a business: You don't have to hire everyone that gives you a resume. Just the ones that fit with your company and have something to offer.
WhitbyShoresHomeowner's comments are right on the money!
The current proposal represents a very poor development mix and will stretch the area beyond its capacity...and then some! If the artist rendering of the project at its completion doesn't put the fear of god in you...nothing will. I submitted my comments to the Planning Dept by the deadline...hope you did as well.
Where are the pro comments to this site being built? I wouldn't mind reading some of those,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Infrastructure includes basic services for a community. Your point of widening roads and highway access are good of course although I have seen no evidence that these things are in the works. What about a hospital? Whitby is very underserviced as it is and adding the amount of people planned is not acceptable.
The Don Mills area that you are talking about in no way compares to the current Ecoplace plan. Have you seen the drawing?
I think this developement will help improve roads, hospital needs, and access to the 401, as it probably aided in getting us the school,,,,,
Maddog and WSH - you make some good points about the the piecemeal approach to development.
Wow...never thought I'd see myself agreeing with Maddog.
It takes years for road improvements and hospitals to be funded, planned and built. A well planned community has these things in place before massive development takes place or at least includes the plans as part of the development. The whole of Durham Region has exploded in population in the last 20 years. Where are the new hospitals? Of course Ecoplan played a part in finally getting a school in the area but the new project planned for Gordon/Whitby Shores Greenway would have accomplished the same thing. Assuming the projected numbers of 14,000 to 16,000 new residents are accurate, how long will it take to get another school. Details of projected development of basic needs for the community must really be addressed.
Just so that we're clear the underlined statement is simply WRONG. Ecoplace is merely a developer's PROPOSAL... While the developer would be delighted to take credit for the approval of a school for Whitby Shores that's not the case. Don't take my word for it, contact the Planning Dept and they'll tell you the same thing.
And another thing, please study the ECOPLACE proposal with a critical eye...it purports to be a place to "Live Work and Play" when in reality its a veiled MEGA condo complex with a dash of commercial space. This area needs knowledge economy industries...not office space and dry cleaners.
Folks if you want Whitby Shores to be congested like the City of Markham to the power of 10, then Ecoplace is for you!
For an example of well executed business park buildings take a drive to Vaughan at Interchange Way. (Hwy 407 and Jane....by the Wendel Clark's restaurant)
Speaking from the school campaign side - Eco Place did not get us the school - it didn't hurt - but its numbers weren't taken into account on the planning side.
Our area now currently (and finally) has the numbers to support a school. Our numbers are derived from current residents and officially approved development plans for the area off Gordon. Our numbers are in no way dependent on Eco Place.