The Town of Aurora has received a development plan for the Aurora Highland Gate community. You can read more about it here: http://www.yorkregion.com/news-story/5455600-aurora-highland-gate-development-application-recieved-by-town/
The contrasts between the Glenway development in Newmarket and the Highland Gate development is a study in two different governments.
Newmarket took a no-truck-nor-trade negotiations approach with the Glenway developer signalling from early on that the matter would be settled at the OMB. The resolution, as a result of a disastrous and ill conceived strategy promoted by the Mayor and Regional Councillor, is hundreds of new homes approved by the OMB to be shoehorned in place at the expense of the existing neighbourhoods.
On the other hand, the Town of Aurora did not repeat Newmarket Council's mistakes. Aurora wasn't adversarial with the developer. And the developer proposes a thoughtful plan that includes walking trails, protection of environmentally sensitive lands, and fewer homes than what was previously expected.
The Aurora Highland Gate plan still needs to be approved by the Town of Aurora, York Region, and the Lake Simcoe Regional Conservation Authority, but there appears to be a lot to be positive about the plan being proposed.
If only Newmarket had leaders at Council who could achieve such results.
What are the benefits of not challenging developers ambitions? It certainly didn't benefit Nmkt when you look at Slessor Square.
ReplyDeleteYou note that the developer is not building on "environmentally sensitive lands" when this is the minimum cost of doing business.