Peeking into meeting room from hallway. Others stood behind photographer
A meeting scheduled for Wedneday evening to discuss plans for the proposed Brown Group development on Bayview Ave. seems to have planned for a few less members of the public than actually wanted to get in. The meeting was set to begin at 7 p.m. in a small room on the second floor at the rear of the Mt. Pleasant Public Library. The room was full to standing and members of the public spilled down a narrow hallway to the stairs.
In its early going the meeting heard from the Chief City Planner and the planner for the developer, Brown Group. Both stressed their professional duty to make recommendations which they believed would be best for the community. The plan, as stated by the City, stands where it was last year: that is, a mixed use building (including retail on Bayview) of nine storeys in height. The space to be used is nearly an acre in size and runs from Soudan Ave to Hillsdale Ave on the west side (Ward 22) of Bayview. What has changed, it was announced, is the developers desire to legalize the plan by obtaining a rezoning of the land from neighborhood (limited height) to mixed use. The latter would permit much higher heights, it was said. It was also stressed that this meeting will not be the only one at which the public may be heard. That would be good because people were leaving because they were essentially excluded from participating from the narrow hall outside the door to the room.
This meeting is said to have been organized by City staff although this is sidewalk talk. In fact, there are many very large spaces in Ward 22 much closer to Bayview Ave. Meetings may be held at Manor Road United and Hodgson Senior Public School on Davisville Ave. A Previous meeting in December was a tip off to the interest. People filled a room at Leaside Public Library which was twice the size of that used tonight. Councillor Josh Matlow (Ward 22) said he made it clear to the developer that if they come back with a more reasonable proposal, residents would work with them. Otherwise, he said they will the development. Meeting of December 3, 2014
