Keep Vaughan Green July 7, 2020 Friendly Protest

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Keep Vaughan Green News Release:

Woodbridge residents organized under the group ‘Keep Vaughan Green’ (KVG) organized a community friendly protest on July 7, 2020 to voice their concerns over a proposed large infill development of 1200 units over the former Board of Trade Golf Course. Over 200 residents attended in order to voice their concerns en masse given that they are not allowed under current COVID-19 guidelines to give deputations in person at the Special Committee of the Whole meeting discussing this development on July 8, 2020.

The Golf Course, first developed in 1965, houses thousands of mature trees and the Humber River winds around its tees. The Board of Trade has become an icon of the community who enjoy her natural beauty (the hilly landscape, mature trees and many animals that call her home) and the small single lane curving roads that bisect its greens.  The course sits next to Woodbridge’s historic core of Woodbridge Avenue.

Residents are angered that the city and the developers (Clubhouse Developments Inc.) have been in discussions about the development for YEARS without any input from the community.

The residents are concerned about loss of its natural heritage, cultural heritage, impacts on traffic on the surrounding already strained single lane roads (Clarence, Woodbridge Avenue, Rutherford Road, Wycliffe Avenue) as well as health impacts from the loss of green space. They are calling for an Interim Control Bylaw (ICBL) in GOOD FAITH and are requesting that the city hire consultants to perform independent reviews of the studies commissioned by the applicant as part of the application process.

The city staff state that such studies will be too costly – estimating 1.5 million – a HUGE over estimation (as for most of the studies only independent reviews will be required and not de novo studies). KVG has requested quotes for these studies which will cost 10 fold less than what the city over-estimates.

The request for funding for independent studies is not uncommon. In fact, just 1 week ago Vaughan Council approved a $1.2 million dollar budget amendment to cover another developer’s cost to do a Class Environmental Assessment study which was originally contracted for $325,000.

The only difference in this case is that the studies are requested by residents of Vaughan rather than by developers.

The ICBL is a measure that would halt all development for 1 year so that appropriate studies can be undertaken before a decision is made regarding the development. This is needed at this time given that the application for this new development was submitted in February 2020, just prior to the emergency lock downs due to COVID-19. 

Contact us if you have any further questions.

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Keep Vaughan Green