Specific Developments
Below are proposed developments in Ward 5 including a couple which are very near completion. In addition to basic information about the development I have identified my concerns; how these concerns are addressed will influence my level of support for the applications as they move forward. For more information than I am providing below contact the Planning Department.
Mansions of King (MOK)
- general location: north of King Road/east of Jane
- status: public meeting held Nov. 28, 2016; appealed to OMB (since replaced by LPAT); as of February 2019 four pre-hearings held. LPAT hearing scheduled for August 2019.
- proposal: 318 residential units; ~58 as detached and ~260 in a multi storey condominium block
Issues of particular concern to me
The site is a treasure in terms of its natural heritage features: woodlands, watercourses (including East Humber), wetlands. These features merit the protection mandated by the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan and the King City Community Plan i.e. 30 meter buffers. The original application was not respectful of the latter.
The development requires two egress options; one onto Jane and one onto King Road. The original application achieved the one onto Jane by using an easement onto Manitou into Kingscross; concept being that once on Manitou one drives north to Kingscross Drive and then drive west to Jane. This option is unacceptable for variety of reasons. (Structurally Manitou is not constructed for the traffic which would ensue. The impact on the established community would be significant.) Apparently an acceptable alternative has been identified; but until the plan is approved it is necessary to keep an eye on this.
The development concept shows as many as 4-5 new lots butting onto a single established lot. There should be only 1.
Density is far beyond the approved densities for King City. The density for the whole site is proposed to be 17 units per hectare whereas the approved level is 7/hectare.
The site is a landform conservation area category 2 hence there are limitations on how much site alteration is allowed. Original plan is very close to the limit. Need to keep an eye on that.
Adjacent property owners, who are dependent on private wells, are very concerned about impact of the project on acquifers.
Finally, I am extremely disappointed that the portion of the development concept, other than the medium density condo, is exclusively single detached homes which, I understand, will be large homes. King City needs to increase its diversity of residential options. Having said that it is positive that the other portion of the concept is for a medium density condominium “block.” As there is no other information about the latter I cannot express real enthusiasm.
Bushland Heights
- general location: north of King Road/east of Jane
- status: public meeting held February 5,2018; appealed to OMB (since replaced by LPAT); as of Aug. 2018 one pre-hearing held. LPAT is in fall 2019
- proposal: 88 detached residential units.
Issues of particular concern to me
Similar environmental features to be treasured as identified in MOK: rolling landscape with two tributaries of the East Humber traversing it. And similar to MOK disrespect
The site is a treasure in terms of its natural heritage features: woodlands, watercourses (including East Humber), wetlands. These features merit the protection mandated by the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan and the King City Community Plan i.e. 30 meter buffers. The original application was not respectful of the latter.
Density is too high. Review of our Official Plan is underway; it is work in process but I anticipate density for greenfield sites such as this will be 7 unit/hectare. The latter has been approved for the greenfield site at southwest of 15th SDRD/Dufferin. The Bushland application is for 9 unit/hectare.
For egress application identifies accessing the MOK development and then using Manitou etc. As I have reviewed in the MOK summary this is a problem.
Adjacent property owners, who are dependent on private wells, are very concerned about impact of the project on acquifers.
Finally, I am extremely disappointed that the concept is for exclusively single detached homes which, I understand, will be large homes.
Jane/King
- general location: south of Collard/east of Jane
- status: public meeting held July 9,2018
- proposal: various residential units–townhouses, semi detached, detached and seniors housing
I am very enthusiastic about the variety of residential unit format.
For me there are many important unknowns.
- This site has a number of wetlands and other natural features; I am interested to learn more about how they will be protected.
- There are a couple big unknowns/issues which the proponent is working on. i) The plan for the infrastructure (i.e. water and wastewater, roads) needs to be developed in collaboration with the property owner to north i.e. Magna. ii) The relationship, the connections with the adjacent small property owners needs to be determined.
Keele One
- general location: north of Station Road/west of Keele
- status: by-law passed January 14, 2019 for a zoning amendment for 60 stacked townhouse dwelling units and 137 square metres of commercial ground floor space. To be built in 3 “blocks” with green space between.
This application has excited me from the beginning as it is intensification where it should be as the GO train station is a “walk away.” Also, the concept includes a number of one bedroom units. This development will deliver a very diverse housing mix. In addition the architectural drawings are very pleasing.
behind the colourful, painted hoarding
- general location: west of Keele/south of King Road
- waiting for formal application; anticipate mixed use with commercial on street level and residential units on upper levels
Prestige Employment
- general location: south of King Road/east of Jane
- status: Magna sold the lands early 2019; we are waiting for new property owners to identify their plans
Developments Being Executed
Kingview
- general location: north of King Road/east and around Heritage Cultural Centre (HCC)
- status: construction almost complete
- 65 single detached homes
Mary Lake Estates
- general location: south of 15th SDRD and west of Keele
- status: construction almost complete
- 96 single detached homes
6 Responses to “ “Specific Developments”
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READ ON!
I maintain this blog to inform my constituents and others of issues being considered by the Council. In addition I make posts about some of the events and happenings in King.
Hello Debbie,
As a resident of King for many years, I have long regretted the lack of a dedicated space for community indoor swimming, visual arts and a large enough public auditorium to accommodate our growing township. At the recent King Council meeting on April 9, 2018, concerns were raised by local homeowners about sanctioning an amendment to permit light warehousing in the Prestige Employment Area at Jane St. and the King Rd.
Would it be possible to consider as a substitute for light warehousing or other industrial uses on that land, a facility dedicated public indoor swimming similar to the one located on Bayview Avenue in Oak Ridges, for example, as well as a large community theatre and visual arts studio where audiences could enjoy plays, art exhibits and classes as well as film and public lecture series? In my view the addition of facilities championing both wellness and the arts would be more in tune with prestige employment than potential industrial uses.
Leslie Jeanneret
Hello Leslie, When we did our outreach to determine what people wanted to see at the recreational facility to be built at north west corner of Dufferin and 15th SDRD, the almost unanimous #1 choice is an indoor pool. The facility’s features is not yet confirmed but your desire has been expressed and heard. (To learn more about this facility put “recreation” in the search block of my blog (at bottom on right of home page). Laskay Hall, which has been moved to the Heritage & Cultural Centre does have a stage; I expect that is one of its features which will be used more frequently now that there is not the constraint of parking. As for film and lecture series I think the partnership between ASK and King Township is well positioned to deliver such things in the future.
Hi Debbie,
I am planning to move to King City. Are we establishing better and more elementary and secondary schools? As well, will there be new community recreational centres and bigger libraries like other places i.e. Richmond Hill? It would be very nice to have all those in place.
As for Prestige Employment – I hope it will be an area that is nice in architecture that can blend in with the area and estate homes and offer businesses that locals would want and can service as a go-to place with special landscape and architecture in-place that reflects the high level of affluent homes in the area.
Thanks,
Sebastian
Hello Sebastian,
I guess its a tad premature to be welcoming you to King City but I am delighted that you are planning to move to King City. I am not aware of more secondary schools being considered; but there are plans for an additional elementary school in the King Station subdivision (west of Keele/south of King Road.) In addition to the current 2 elementary schools and one secondary school there are 2 private schools in King City: Villa Nova and Country Day; both of them start in elementary years and go through to grade 12.
As for new community recreational centres and bigger libraries…..I tell it like it is. So let me first point out that King City is currently a community of 5,000 with plans to grow to 12,500 by 2022. In comparison Richmond Hill is 170,000. Hence it is unlikely that King City will ever compete with Richmond Hill. There is a big gap in our municipal offerings–the only indoor recreational centre is the King City Community Centre & Gord Orr Community Hall with its skating rink; it is inadequate for our growing population. This gap is well understood and we are pursuing a couple different strategies to provide more. As our citizens know we are looking at partnerships with the educational institutions mentioned above and Seneca College. The King City Library is one of four in the township; it is currently updating its strategic plan; I don’t know what will come of that as of yet but the fact that we are renewing it indicates that we know that evolution is necessary.
Finally, I am fully aligned with your hopes for the Prestige Employment area.
Debbie
Very helpful, thankyou.
What I’d LOVE to – sometime! – be able to refer to would be something that clarifies for each planned development above what is ‘baked’ ie: what has been decided and locked down on and is completley beyond anyone’s control at this point. Being on the KVA Board, I’ve come to learn that there are things that were ‘baked’ about our town’s expansion waaay back in the anals of time, yet I and likely others have no way of knowing what was decided when and what we MAY have a chance of influencing moving forward (versus trying to address decisions that have come and gone ages ago). Without making it a full-time job, there’s no easy way to know this whether for my town or for others of these developments.
I realize big ask but anyway, thought I’d mention. Cheers!
Hello Cindy, Good ambition; the KVA is fortunate to have you on board. I understand your point about wanting to know what is “baked” and what can still be influenced.
Here are some suggestions:
i) Read over the planning reports prepared in response to the applications made for the lot severances on south side of Kettleby Road. There is a lot of information in those reports not specific to those applications per se.
ii) Review the Hamlet Secondary Plan. Here is the link.
iii) Ask a Planner to give you 30-60 min. overview of issues which you should be aware of.
iv) Get a copy of the Oak Ridges Conservation Plan and see the restrictions or lack of re: Kettleby.