I am reading some of the comments made about the post last night about the development that is going to happen along Bathurst street in the years to come. Perhaps I have given the impression that I think that our small number of residents are going to show up at this city hall meeting this week and expect that we are going to stop the project. I just want to clarify that I am fully aware that this project is going to happen whether we like it or not.

As I said in yesterday’s post, the reps from the developer came to the meeting last night. They were a well practiced, well rehearsed machine of individuals ready to say that their “vision” for the community is the greatest thing since construction started and how this is the landscape of what is to come. In fact, there were comments made about the power they hold and the “big corporate machine” and you should have heard how we “offended” them by saying it. It is the truth, and they know it.

They know that they are a key factor in the growth of this community for the last 7 years and the years to come. They have already built 8 buildings and townhomes and now have three more buildings under construction, on less than 20 acres of land! That isn’t even the new development that I am talking about here in my posts.

As the one rep said last night, “do you know how smart our vision was? That we saw Disera Motel here all those years ago and bought it and all the land around it for development? That is the vision for this community.” She isn’t really wrong….if you have lived here that long, you will all remember the Disera motel. You can all remember the big open space of land that used to sit north of Promenade Mall, that is now home to Walmart and Disera Drive…..which is a very alive thriving part of the community now. I get all of that.

If you build it, they will come….wasn’t that the message in Field of Dreams? I am fully aware of that. My community has changed so much in the five years that I have lived here and will change again and again and again.

One more thing….the land that sits behind Constanzia retirement home, is already purchased and zoned for high density residential as well. The same as I said about the land just north of me and south of the high school at Bathurst and Beverley Glen.

In 10 years you will not recognize this area…it will be a new concrete jungle in the city above Toronto. It is not a bad thing necessarily, just something to think about.

Are you one of the thousands of cars that battles the traffic up and down Bathurst street at anytime of the day, not just rush hour times?

If you drive north and south on Bathurst, the Liberty Sales centre office just north of Centre Street has been a permenant fixture since early 2003. It has been the home to the sales of 50-60 Disera, 7-15 North Park Road , 20-30 North Park and the townhomes, and now the Foutains at the southwest corner of North Park Road and New Westminister drive.

There has been tremendous growth in this community since the mid 2000’s. HUGE growth along Disera drive with a Walmart (eyesore) to the numerous restuarants, shops, banks, and other community necessities. There is now a Russian Jewish Centre under construction at North Park Road and Bathurst.

Where that sales centre stands, was originally zoned for a 2 story commercial space to occupy the land. Last September there was a change to the city plan to have that area zoned for a mixed commercial – mid rise residential mix. Liberty developement has made a proposal to the city to change the zoning to a high density condo complex mixed with commercial on that exact site.

They are proposing two high rise towers – 1 32 story and 1 1story buidling on that property, bringing close to 600 more units to our bustling community.

Not to mention, the land just north of there (where the green fence is) is owned by a developer who is just waiting to build what is also zoned for high density condo developement.

I attended a condo board meeting tonight and the head people at Liberty where at the meeting trying to convince us “what a great thing” this is for the community. Sure, from a builder’s perspective, it is a great thing. But from a resident, who already sees the issues of traffic and safety, I am not so sure.

There is a public hearing at Vaughan City hall this coming Tuesday night at city hall. This application to ammend the city’s official plan is being put forth. Our buildings are trying to rally as many people to come to this meeting as possible.

If you live in this area, and have a view or opinion, or know someone who does, I encourage you to pass this information on. Maybe in the grand scheme of things, we cannot fight the big corporate machine, but at least we can try.

Here are the details about the meeting:

Committee of the whole (public hearing)
November 15th, 2011 @ 7pm
Vaughan City Hall, council chambers
2141 Major Mackenzie Drive

Application: to ammend the city’s Official Plan and Zoning by-law 1-88 to redesignate the subject lands from “Town Centre Commercial” to “High Density Residential/Commercial” and rezone the subject lands from C2 General Commercial Zone to RA3 Apartment Residential Zone with specific provisions.

Should be an interesting night next week – I hope there is a good turnout. Anyone want to come with me?

It may seem kind of funny to you that until I turned 40 that I actually started to enjoy coffee. I mean, I have had coffee off and on for years, but never really liked it unless it had a lot of milk in it, more latte style.

Crazy….considering meeting people at Starbucks is a natural meeting place for me, and I meet people there all the time. I usually order a skinny vanilla bean latte, so not really a “coffee” per se, but you know what I mean.

This summer I have to admit to enjoying my iced coffees. Afterall, they were $1 at McD’s and after many many many attempts I was able to enjoy one that didn’t have 1000 calories. It was a crazy process. They have the McCafe machines, that will make drinks using 1% milk….but the Iced Cofees that they make they either use cream or 2%. How hard was it to go to the other machine and pump out the 1% milk? Well, for most staff at McD’s….it was very hard. Once I knew how to order it, I was on my way.

Now, I make it at my house….which is a good thing because I can enjoy a drink on the way to work, but as I found out today, a bad thing for my teeth.

I had to get a filling done today…and when my dentist came into the room to freeze me, he looked at my teeth and said, “why are they so stained?” YIKES! When I told him what I had been drinking this summer and now, he told me to stop. Well….I guess I could…I mean, I don’t HAVE to have iced coffees at home, I haven’t had them for this long, why start now?

I will try not to have coffee starting today. However, I did notice on the way out of his office he had one of those commercial “tassimo” type machines in his office. I went into his private office and suggested that if he is going to recommend to his patience they give up coffee, that he should not have it available in his office. Very good point he replied….

Good thing I didn’t put the Keuring on my list for Hannukah Harry!~