Wenda Abel, Resident, appeared before the Committee and stated that she was speaking on behalf of the residents of Port Whitby who signed the petition submitted to the Town in April 2024 and the individuals who have worked over the last month to prevent the approval of the proposed development. She provided details about the information learned about legislation and policy that was driving decision-making in Ontario municipalities, specifically with respect to Major Transit Station Areas (MTSAs). Ms. Abel noted that limited recent provincial legislation and planning policy has been passed, and that draft policy was dictating municipal decision making out of fear that refusal to approve a project would result in a successful appeal by developers at the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT). She noted that the draft policy sets minimum densities in MTSAs but not maximum densities, and that developments from 30 to 60-storey towers in MTSAs have been approved all over the Region of Durham. Ms. Abel inquired about when such high density would be considered too much. Ms. Abel cited a portion of the Envision Durham Regional Official Plan that sets policy and instructs municipalities about how appropriate density may be determined with respect to MTSAs. Ms. Abel stated that it did not appear that policy was taken into consideration with respect to the height and density of the proposed development and Staff recommendation for approval. She inquired about why Durham Region policies and guidelines were not applied to the proposal while the Whitby Official Plan and Port Whitby Secondary Official Plans were under review. She raised concerns that most of the proposed units were under 700 square feet, noting they would likely be sold in mass to investors for future rentals. Ms. Abel advised that Port Whitby residents were not opposed to development, but they were opposed to poor planning and bad design. She requested that Council defer approval of the proposed development and have the developer work with all stakeholders to design a project that balances people with profit, enhances Port Whitby, and brings pleasure and pride to all of Whitby.
A question and answer period ensued between Members of Committee and Ms. Abel regarding:
- whether information provided at the Public Meeting contradicted information provided at the recent meeting with Staff; and,
- clarification about the meeting with Staff with respect to potential policy direction from the Region.