633 Greenhill Ave

(from my face book) Another Eye Sore planned in North Oshawa!

Without any consultation on design, safety concerns, or privacy issues affecting neighbouring residents, a new plaza and apartments had been approved by the Developmental Services Committee

(Chair: Vice Chair: Rosemary McConkey)

What is in dispute now is the VARIANCE, which is before the Committee of Adjustment, to bring the building 5' closer to the streets.
We were not asked to have any input in the "design" or the placement of the building on the property. We were not asked about our thoughts on the scale of the development on the property. We were not asked about any concerns we may have.
An afterthought only brought to the attention of our councillors by some eagle eye residents.
The design does not fit the style & spirit of our neighbourhood.
The building has an enclosed area overlooking residents' backyards, bright lights shining in their yards & homes, & a parking lot & stores hidden from the street.
The safety monitoring of the development, according to the developer, is to be left up to the residents.

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Decision by Committee of Adjustment: Approved the increase in variance in favour of the developer on Sept 8, 2021

Letter to Development Services Committee

September 10, 2021

Mayor Dan Carter

Chair Marimpietri

Development Service Committee City of Oshawa

Dear Mayor Carter, Chair Marimpietri and honoured members of the Development Service Committee

Re: Motion (Item: DS-21-151)

That the Development Services Committee recommend to City Council: That, pursuant to Report DS-21-151 dated September 8, 2021, the Ontario Land Tribunal be advised that City Council supports the decision of the Committee of Adjustment to approve application A-2021-46 to permit reduced front and exterior side yard depths for a proposed two-storey mixed-use building at 633 Greenhill Avenue but that the City will not seek party or participant status at the Ontario Land Tribunal hearing

My name is Theresa Corless. I live at 735 Eagle Ridge Drive. I am a community advocate and the lead in the appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal regarding the June 23rd decision made by the Committee of Adjustment; Reference Number: Application (File A-2020-46), 633 Greenhill Project, North Oshawa, Ontario (Plan 40M-2264 Blk87).

The 200 plus residents that have signed the petition, and with whom I have discussed this issue at length, do not object to the existing zoning of the property. We are strongly objecting to the decision of the September 23rd Committee of Adjustment decision to grant approval of the variance adjustment (A-2021-46), which will affect and result if adverse potential issues for the neighbourhood.

I am respectfully requesting that the Development Services Committee vote against the motion as reflected in the agenda September 13 regarding Report DS-21-151 dated September 8, 2021; and to not support the decision of the Committee of Adjustment made on June 23, 2021 regarding application A-2021-46 (to permit reduced front and exterior yard depths for the proposed two-storey mixed-use building at 633 Greenhill Avenue), on the grounds that the hearing was unfair and bias in favour of the developer, and to instead support Staff recommendation to reserve a decision until the residents and developer had an opportunity to meet and find a resolution.

A just and fair hearing was not possible when a committee member asked the developer his thoughts on whether or not a decision made at the committee meeting would affect the developer’s plans to move forward with the development with the proposed variance adjustment. The city business practice was not followed in this situation. The integrity of the process was also not followed and was bias in favour of the developer. The opportunity to meet and discuss prior to the Committee of Adjustment hearing was not provided although requested by residents and agreed upon by the developer.

Staff has maintained and was consistent in their professional opinion and recommendations to the Committee of Adjustment to reserve a decision until after a meeting between the developer and residents could be arranged. On June 18, staff stated in a staff report that the 2-week deadline was not enough time for staff to arrange for a meeting between the developer and residents before the next hearing and recommended that the decision be deferred.

For the reasons I have stated above, I am asking that the Development Services Committee to vote against the motion (Item: DS-21-151) to support the Committee of Adjustment decision to approve Application A-2021-46 and to recommend to City Council to support the decision of the Development Services Committee to not support the Committee of Adjustment’s decision to approve Application A-2021-46 and to recommend that City Council support the appeal to the OLT.

Respectfully yours,

Theresa Corless

Decision at City Council meeting

Good News for Greenhill/Wilson Rd Residents in North Oshawa! It is possible for a community to come together as a team to achieve the impossible!

Great time and effort was given by the residents to do what was right for our neighbourhood. We knocked on doors, asked our neighbours to sign petitions, attend hearings, as well as speak to Regional and City councilors, staff and Mayor. Our Ward 1 Regional and City Councilors stood by us and helped with our initiatives.

On September 13 at the Development Services Committee Meeting, Mayor Carter made an unprecedented motion in favour of the Residents in their appeal of the decision of the Committee of Adjustment to grant a developer the increase variance adjustment requested and overturning the decision by the Committee of Adjustment.

The Motion was made by Mayor Carter and unanimously approved by the Development Services Committee to be approved at the next Council meeting on September 23.

The important take away here is that we know our own neighbourhood and we need the city planners City Council and developers to listen to us and open up a fair and inclusive communication process. Because at the end of the day this would benefit everyone. It’s a difficult time but persistently working together within the parameters of the laws and by-laws pays off. We hope to now get a development that does not overwhelm the neighbourhood.

For now we are basking in this small victory and hope that this brings some hope to other Oshawa neighbourhoods who feel that they have no say in the process. After all we are promised a fair and open process when it comes to our neighbourhoods and city. (Theresa Corless)

September 23 The council motion: DS-21-151

Direction on City Staff Involvement Respecting an Appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal of a Committee of Adjustment Decision Concerning 633 Greenhill Avenue

Recommendation (Carried – See Page 198)

Whereas, on June 23, 2021 the Committee of Adjustment (“C. of A.”)

approved Application File A-2021-46 to permit a two-storey mixed-use

building at 633 Greenhill Avenue with a minimum front yard depth and minimum exterior side yard depth of 4.5m instead of 6.0m; and,

Whereas, there was considerable opposition to the Committee of Adjustment application

from a number of residents in the general vicinity of the subject site; and,

Whereas, on July 13, 2021, Theresa Corless appealed the Committee of Adjustment decision to the Ontario Land Tribunal (“O.L.T.”);

Therefore be it resolved that Oshawa City Council:

1. Does not support the decision of the C. of A. with respect to Application File A-2021-46;

2. Supports the residents in the general vicinity of the subject site; and,

3. That the City does not seek party or participant status at the O.L.T. hearing. D

633 Greenhill ave

633 Greenhill Ave

Letter to Development Services Committee

Decision at City Council meeting