Update for petition: Hello, everyone & thank you once more for all of your support regarding our petition. We are so happy to see that we are a hairline from 6,000 signatures! Please keep sharing so that we can make it to 6,000 & beyond. The more signatures we get, the more that change.org pushes our petition out there and our cause is that much more visible.
Speaking of visible, we have been contacted by CBC News and they want to run a story on our petition and the reasons behind our petition. This is excellent news & we could not be more thrilled. We will keep you posted on how our interview goes with CBC News & when the story will air.
Also, we had our meeting with Councillor Morley's office this past Monday. Our meeting went very well and we gained important information from them. Below, you will find the key notes from our meeting with Councillor Morley's office and suggested steps for the community.
Thank you for all of your support,
Rob & Ann Botelho
** Please help us by emailing out MPP, Christine Hogarth / she needs to hear from more of us to make an impact given the role of the Ontario Land Tribunal, a Provincial body with significant power to override local/municipal decisions:
christine.hogarth@pc.ola.org
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Here are the key notes from the meeting and relevant development process summarized by Morley's Office:
"Hello Ann and Robert,
I hope you are both doing well. Following our recent meeting, we wanted to provide you with the information and resources we discussed:
Site and Area Specific Policy (SASP) 432 for 1025 The Queensway:
The approved Site and Area Specific Policy (SASP) 432 outlines the development requirements for the 1025 The Queensway site, including provisions for employment space, residential development, and affordable housing. I’ve attached a copy of the SASP for your review.
Link to the Toronto Design Review Panel Video:
The Toronto Design Review Panel reviewed the proposal for 1025 The Queensway during its pre-application phase. You can view the panel’s feedback through this video link. Some of the feedback from the various panel members reflects concerns we have since heard from members of the community on issues like scale, design, and public space.
Statement from Councillor Amber Morley:
Please see the following link of the public statement we released regarding the development proposal at 1025 The Queensway. This statement outlines our position and the specific concerns raised, including issues of density, transportation, and the preservation of cultural spaces like Cineplex.
Information on Public Deputation:
Assuming the development review proceeds through the standard process, the next opportunity to provide public input will be at the Etobicoke York Community Council meeting. Once the City Planning Department submits its report, we will inform you of the meeting date. You can participate in person or virtually. Each participant will have five minutes to speak, and written deputations can also be submitted. Feedback on the application can also be submitted directly to the planner on this file, throughout the review process. If other opportunities to participate in the process arise, or there are other important updates, we will do our best to keep you informed; you may also wish to subscribe to our newsletter as we would share relevant updates there, as well.
Provincial Advocacy:
We encourage continuing your advocacy efforts at the provincial level, particularly with MPP Christine Hogarth. The province's legislation plays a significant role in how municipalities manage growth, and expressing the community's concerns about density, livability, and the preservation of cultural spaces could be key in influencing future legislative decisions that influence the planning process. Sharing your petition and discussing the broader impacts on community infrastructure might help amplify your concerns at the provincial level."