To: Town of Whitby Planning and Development Department and Whitby Town Council

Regarding: Rezoning Application DEV-33-25 (Z-18-25) for 3775 Brock Street North (former Woodycrest Motel site) 

We, the undersigned residents of Whitby, oppose the proposed development and rezoning of 3775 Brock Street North. We urge the Town to reject the application to amend Zoning By-law 1784 for this property. Our opposition is based on the following community concerns:

• Loss of Green Space and Wildlife Habitat: The site at 3775 Brock St. N. has been vacant for years since the old Woodycrest Motel closed, and in that time it has transformed into a valuable natural green space. It is now home to trees, vegetation, and local wildlife (birds, rabbits, squirrels, pollinators and more) that thrive in this pocket of nature. Developing 123 townhouses here would eliminate this habitat entirely, removing a small but important ecological refuge in our neighbourhood. Green space is already scarce in this part of Whitby, and its loss would be felt by both wildlife and residents.
• High-Density Overdevelopment in a Small Area: The proposal to build 123 back-to-back stacked townhouses on this relatively small lot represents an extremely high density for our community. Such intensification is out of scale with the surrounding area and amounts to overdevelopment. We are concerned that squeezing so many units into this space will lead to overcrowding, insufficient on-site amenities, and a development that does not fit the character of the neighbourhood. The adjacent homes and retirement residence are low-rise and spaced with green areas; a dense block of 123 units would loom over nearby properties and fundamentally change the area’s character.
• Traffic and Safety Impacts: The intersection of Brock Street North and Taunton Road is already a busy, high-traffic area. Residents experience significant congestion on Taunton Road today. Adding the vehicles and traffic from 123 new households will worsen traffic jams and increase safety risks. More cars entering and exiting near a major intersection raises the likelihood of accidents and will make it harder for pedestrians (including many seniors from the nearby retirement home) to cross safely. We fear that this development would exacerbate an already congested traffic situation, especially during rush hours, making daily travel more difficult for everyone in the vicinity.
• Strain on Local Infrastructure and Services: A sudden influx of so many new residents in one spot will put pressure on local infrastructure. This includes potential overcrowding of schools, additional strain on our limited public transit options, and more demand on water, sewage, and other municipal services. Parking overflow is another worry – if the development cannot accommodate sufficient parking for residents and visitors, nearby streets may become clogged. Overall, the proposal raises questions about whether our community’s infrastructure can handle such a dense addition without reducing the quality of life for existing residents (e.g., more traffic, less parking, busier schools and parks).
• Community Character and Quality of Life: Whitby is cherished for its suburban character – a balance of residential development with open spaces and a quieter pace of life. Allowing a high-density project like this at 3775 Brock St. N. would set a harmful precedent and undermine the character of our neighbourhood. We believe this excessive intensification risks eroding the unique character of our community, replacing it with overcrowding and concrete. The proposed townhouses, likely rising 3-4 storeys, would tower over nearby one- and two-storey homes. The resulting noise, traffic, and loss of greenspace would diminish the quality of life that Whitby residents currently enjoy. This is especially concerning for the seniors living next door, who chose this area for a peaceful retirement environment.
• Preferable Use as a Public Nature Park: Instead of development, we see a better future for this land as a public park or natural area. Our community (especially residents of the adjacent retirement home and families in the area) would greatly benefit from a small park on this site – with walking paths, benches, gardens, or a community greenspace. This would preserve the trees and habitat for wildlife while providing a safe, accessible place for people to enjoy nature. Converting 3775 Brock into a park would address the deficit of parks in this neighbourhood and align with Whitby’s commitment to sustainable, livable communities. Once developed, the green space is gone forever; but a park would keep this space green and open for everyone to appreciate.

Therefore, we, the undersigned, petition the Town of Whitby as follows: Reject the proposed Zoning By-law Amendment (File DEV-33-25 (Z-18-25)) for 3775 Brock Street North. We ask that the Town deny approval for the 123-unit townhouse development, and instead work with the community to preserve this property as a green space or park for public use. This action will protect local wildlife, maintain the character of our community, and uphold the quality of life for current and future residents of Whitby.

By signing this petition, we voice our firm opposition to the rezoning and development of 3775 Brock Street North. We urge our local officials to put the interests of the community and environment first and keep this treasured space green.