Mod Aire pulls subdivision plan, wants to only build apartments

Mod Aire pulls subdivision plan, wants to only build apartments

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By: Sandra Bolan

Mod Aire Homes has withdrawn its subdivision application for Northgate Greens just one day before Bradford West Gwillimbury council was to give the massive development final approval.

In a letter sent to council on Monday, Mod Aire President Michael Orsi said “the endless studies, coupled with infinite delays is simply too much to bear.”

The planned development has drawn criticism from nearby residents.

“If a long, arduous process of endless procrastination is required to come down one notch in density, which favours the area neighbourhood’s existing residences, then it must be virtually impossible to go up one notch in density,” Mr. Orsi said.

He mentioned, however, that he plans to go ahead with high-rise multi-family apartments, in keeping with the property’s existing zoning.

On Aug. 12, council endorsed Mod Aire’s subdivision plan that consisted of 175 townhomes and 300 apartment units.

Final approval by council was expected at its Aug. 19 meeting. However, during open forum that day, residents living around Professor Day Drive and Line 8 expressed concerns about the planned subdivision.

As a result, council deferred its approval pending staff’s response to the public’s concerns.

“In deferring it, we lost it,” Councillor John McCallum said.

“Two steps forward, three steps backwards. I’m disappointed.”

Mod Air Homes first submitted its subdivision application for the land, at the northeast corner of Professor Day Drive and Line 8, in 2000.

The plan was revised several times, but then it lay dormant until last year when Mod Aire submitted its latest application.

The nine hectares of land in question has been designated R4 since the 1980s, which means anything from apartment buildings to townhomes, clinics, churches, day nurseries, nursing homes and private clubs can be built on that property.

While it now appears the developer will build apartments, town planning and development director Geoff McKnight said there is more demand for townhomes.

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