CHALLENGE THE MASS, BULK AND HEIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS IN THE WYNFORD / CONCORDE COMMUNITY

TAKE ACTION TO CHALLENGE THE MASS, BULK AND HEIGHT OF DEVELOPMENTS IN THE WYNFORD / CONCORDE COMMUNITY

1-3 CONCORDE GATE, 10-12 CONCORDE PLACE AND 175 WYNFORD DRIVE

It’s your community, have your say! Please join us in challenging the applications as proposed.

The proposed developments are inappropriate for this location and will negatively impact the infrastructure, integrity and character of our established neighborhood! We support the need for development of more housing in the city and simply believe the proposed oversized developments to this neighborhood are not the answer.

Fengate Asset Management has submitted proposals for two major developments in our community.

 1)      1-3 Concorde Gate (Home Depot)  and 10-12 Concorde Place (ESRI)

This Rezoning Application and associated Draft Plan of Subdivision application proposes to demolish the existing office buildings on the lands at 1-3 Concorde Gate, and 10-12 Concorde Place and redevelop in three phases. City Planners at North York Council are currently reviewing this proposal.

·         5 new mixed use buildings,

·         9 new residential towers ranging in height from 40-52 storeys

For a total of:

·         4,086 dwelling units, studio, 1, 2 and 3 bedroom

·         2,143 vehicular and 4,093 bicycle parking spaces

·         Estimated number of residents 9,700

·         Create a new public street between towers and parks at street front

·         Construction time frame 2031

 2)      175 Wynford Drive (Toronto Don Valley Hotel)

This is a redesigned proposal of the original proposal after the March 4, 2021 virtual community consultation. It does not represent the concerns the community expressed, but increases the number of towers, height and density.

·         4 new buildings

·         4 new towers 10 to 65 storeys

For a total of:

·         2,500 units, studio, 1, 2 and 3 bedroom and hotel suites

·         250 square meters Day care, 1791 square meters Retail

·         1,003 vehicle parking spaces

·         Estimated number of residents 4,000

·         Outdoor and indoor amenity space for residents, public park

·         New proposed road and traffic signals

 Below are some of our concerns with the proposed developments:

 1.       MASS, BULK AND HEIGHT - Current proposals include 4 towers at 175 Wynford up to 65 storeys and 9 towers at 1-3/10-12Concorde Gate/Place up to 52 storeys. The proposals must comply with the Tall Building design guidelines and other City Official Planning guidelines.

2.       BUILT FORM – The built form of the neighborhood must be considered. The height, form and massing of the proposed developments under no circumstances fits harmoniously into the existing context or preserve the local character of our neighborhood. Visual impact is detrimental of skyline, sunlight and views. The proposed blocks will dominate nearby residences.

3.       DENSITY - Unacceptable high density for the area. Population will increase from approximately 8,000 to 22,000 in the Wynford-Concorde area.

4.       TRAFFIC - Concorde Place is a cul-de-sac area with one street leading through the neighborhood serving approximately the existing 8,000 residents. Concorde Place/Gate streets have become an on ramp for commuters to access the DVP North. An additional 3,200 cars as proposed by the developments will cause more congestion and will be unsafe for everyone. This does not include delivery trucks, school buses, transit vehicles and other business traffic to the area.

5.       COMMUNITY SCHOOLS AND AMENITIES - Local schools are currently over capacity and children are bussed as far as Leslie and York Mills area. There are no additional schools or community facilities being planned and only minimal retail proposed.

6.       NATURAL HERITAGE PROTECTION – The subject lands are near a Natural Heritage Area and trails and must be protected. 

7.       DESTRUCTION OF MATURE TREES – Both sites contain many mature trees. Destruction of trees to make way for construction will significantly change the street scape and the area is also home to a variety of birds, who stay the winter or return each year.

8.       ZONING BY-LAWS – The applications propose to amend two existing North York Zoning by-laws. Both proposals have significant variances with existing zoning by-laws for the subject lands and are seeking variances to overbuild beyond what is allowed.

9.       A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT - would be set for all in the Don Mills and North York communities. Changing current zoning by-laws will have a permanent and devastating negative impact on the infrastructure, integrity, safety and economic character of our established community.

The local residents group have requested the city councilors complete a Focused Area Study to set the framework for a more popular option and we look forward to a virtual public community meeting expected mid fall where you can provide more direct input.

Help! Take Action and strongly express your opinions in a factual way!

PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION TO HELP GET THE ATTENTION OF CITY COUNCILLORS AND PLANNING OFFICIALS.

Thank You

Details of the application for Zoning By-law Amendments by Fengate Asset Management are available at:

http://app.toronto.ca/AIC/index.do (cut and paste to browser)

Type in address "1 Concorde Gate".  Once the pop up window comes up, click on “Application Details” at the bottom and there you can also find “Supporting Documentation”.                                     

Westerly View from 7 Concorde Place

Proposal for 1-3 Concorde Gate/10-12 Concorde Place

175 Wynford Drive - Tall Towers proposed

Iris Singh, 7 Concorde Place    Contact the author of the petition