Whitby Shores Community Forums

It is VERY important if you object to Ecoplace to send your comments to:

Nester Chornobay
Director, Strategic Planning
Region of Durham
605 Rossland Rd. E.
Whitby ON  L1N 6A3
Phone: 905-668-7711
Toll Free: 1-800-372-1102
Fax: 905-666-6208
Email: planning@region.durham.on.ca

The meeting for phase one has been rescheduled as follows:

Tuesday September 2, 2008, 8:10pm
Meeting Hall, Whitby Municipal Building
575 Rossland Road East.

IMPORTANT TO SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO THE REGION AS NOTED IN PREVIOUS POST AND PROBABLY A GOOD IDEA TO COPY WHITBY AT: planning@whitby.ca

[quote=Dee]
It is VERY important if you object to Ecoplace to send your comments to:

Not everyone objects to proposed Eco Place development. Why do so many people want Whitby to be left behind the rest of the GTA. If developments such as Eco Place do not get built here, businesses will say "screw ya" and head to Vaughan or Brampton or anywhere else but Durham. Some of the coments that I heard at the last Town meeting were embarassing to listen to; such as measuring (with fingers) of an artists rendering to detemine the exact height of a building. I'm all for the development, tall buildings and all. If that development does not go through, then some lovely industrial park or big box stores will. I'd prefer Eco Place to that ugly mess.

I agree that there should be a balance of both business and residential development in that parcel of land. Part of the LEED designation that the developer is aiming for at Eco Place would necessitate a live/work environment as well a sustainable design elements. I do think the number of condos proposed is a bit much. I will read the suggested info you provided Whitby SHores Homeowner.

[quote=WhitbyShoresHomeowner]
By the way, if you really want to see a good "live/work" concept, Google "Quarry Park" in Calgary....its amazing what you can do with a good plan.

WHS



Quarry Park is indeed a nice looking acheivement. That concept would fit nicely here. Although I feel the taller buildings planned here would finally draw attention to Whitby especially along the 401. Part of the equation is to bring focus on Whitby by passersby. Aside from the boards on the 401 mentioning entering Whitby, there is nothing that punctuates the fact that anything happens here. Not even a welcome sign on the 401. The Brock St exit welcome sign is poorly placed IMHO. But I digress. Basically I am saying that exposed taller buildings will make people think "hey this place seems to be happening" lets check it out. Building something low key and below the radar will get no ones attention. Plus these businesses that lease into a signature site would like their sign exposed to the 401 and GO train traffic. Going low will hide it behind Sobeys.

Unfortunately, Whitby will inevitably be swallowed up into the GTA whether we like it or not. Space in the west end is slowly being gobbled up. Except for perhaps Milton. I think our town can maintain the small town quaintness if the 4 corners area is revitalized and rejuvinated.
We are a bedroom community for Toronto for the most part and due to that, Whitby is so dependent on residential taxes to make ends meet. Hence the higher than average taxes here. With the 401/407 link along Lakeridge, this area will hopefully attract more bigger signature businesses as highway accessibilty is a big factor for many businesses. The GO line close by don't hurt either.
My parents moved to the burbs of Scarborough in the early 60's cuz it was quiet and a good place to raise their kids (at the time) there were apple orchards and farms around us when I was small. I can't think of any apple orhards left in Scarborough these days.  It's just a matter of time for Whitby. All change is not bad - sometimes it is good. Let's embrace it and try to help create it the way we all collectively think is the best compromise.

I agree with Ernie, many of us who live or work in this community do support development and intensification.  Here are some of my thoughts on the discusison in this thread thus far:

- It is a mistake to insist that the lands in question only be developed in accordance with the current Plan.  The current owner is willing to risk millions on their plan. How productive is it for the community to throw up roadblocks (very difficult to do) in the hope that someday, another developer will be willing to risk their capital on a development that is a "better fit"?

- My understanding of how this will play out is that the developer will go to the OMB if they do not get what they want.  What kind of track record do residents associations have with fighting this kind of development at that level? Would Whitby Shores residents be willing to hire a lawyer to represent them? Do you need one?

- I read an interesting article in a recent issue of Toronto Life about the controversy surrounding a development on Lake Simcoe.  One of the things that struck me was the risks involved with standing in the way of development.  In that case, residents have been served with SLAPP suits by the developer, one resident is being sued for libel and the developer is moving ahead with the development, but on a smaller scale.

- I'm sure it has occurred to everyone the possibility that the developer has proposed a large number of towers (40 is a lot), with every intention of "grudgingly" reducing that number to satisfy residents.  I think it very likely that we are all party to a simple theatre - that is the developer gets the mayor and council on board, announces a huge development, holds public meetings, public is outraged, more hearings, developer caves on a few issues, public gets to say they "listened to us", development gets built.  WSH, why do you think this thing will play out any differently?

I am excited about the possibility of a hotel/convention centre...this type of development will bring more people into the area and increase economic development. Waiting for the perfect plan is not in our interest because we may be waiting, and waiting...and waiting.  Whitby needs more development that does not include building more tract homes north.
  

Res/Comm in this proposed form? I think that would do more to ruin the neighbourhood than a business park.

WSH,

I think the best you can hope for is a "pared down version" of what we have before us.  

Did you read the Toronto Life piece about the development on Lake Simcoe? It is eye-epening.

Here's a recent article that serves as a warning about fighting development, then getting something far worse:

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-3rpm...8048.story

Unless the community is prepared to go to the wall to fight this development, which likely means hiring a lawyer, running the risk of SLAPP & libel suits, this development in one shape or form is going to get built.

I doubt we will get a recycling plant, big box stores, massive industrial factories or any other large scale industrial uses.

What is it zoned for now?

"The purpose of the Lynde Shores Business Park is to establish a comprehensively planned, high intensity employment area to meet the demands of business and information services, new advanced industrial and health related technologies in a campus setting.  The permitted uses in the Park may include research, development and information processing establishments, corporate head offices or major regional branch offices, training faclities, communication production uses, phamaceutical, light assembly and manufacturing operations for the production and/or distribution of high value and high technology products."


The current zoning is looking for corporate offices (like the 8 storey regional office of London Life: Freedom 55 in Pickering  - the one that is visible from the 401 by Pickering Town Centre).  Really, anything else will require re-zoning approval.

But as I have said, if the developer gets approved as "mixed use" and not "business park", then all bets are off and we will get just about anything they choose to put there.