An information meeting Monday about a proposed 8-storey mixed-use building at 1410 Bayview Ave south of Balliol St. has heard concerns about the building’s height, traffic, parking, schools and unrented retail space Like most such meetings, residents struggled with contrary concepts of residential bylaws limiting height and density next to official plans promoting growth, tower living and fewer cars. For many, it’s double talk. Brian Athey, former president of the Leaside Property Owners Association, asked if mid-rise heights of seven and eight storeys specified in the official planning act (OPA 405) exist “as a right” or are they subject to the many provisions in the plan intended to mitigate height. A sneaky question to expose OPA 405 as a sham on the public? The reply from City planner Alex Teixeira was that OPA 405 is intended “to be read as a whole, so I think everything does apply.” Make of it what you will. But those present were particularly offended by the idea that the garage at 1410 would have 44 parking spaces for 65 units. The residential bylaw would require 77 spaces for that density. The meeting heard the developer’s planner, Louis Tinker, say that increasing density and better transit has reduced car ownership downtown. City hopes seem to be high for the same thing in Midtown but those present openly scoffed at this idea.
