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Battle against high-density project renewed at Town Council

June 28, 2019   ·   0 Comments

By Mike Baker

The Hansen High Density Awareness Group (HHDAG) is refusing to allow Orangeville Council to forget about concerns the group has with the proposed redevelopment of land directly behind the Orangeville Mall. 

It was first revealed back in May 2018 that the owners of the land, a coalition of Orangeville Highlands Limited and Brucedale Investments, intend to develop a 623-unit subdivision on approximately 30 acres of land at the site. The project, according to a Karen Bennett, a planner who represents the two owner companies, will include apartment buildings, townhouses and some detached homes. 

While the development may go some way to providing some affordable housing opportunities to individuals looking to buy in Orangeville, Dorothy Pedersen is more concerned about the detrimental effects it will have on the environment.

Ms. Pedersen founded the HHDAG shortly after learning of the plans to develop the land behind the mall. She has recently reassumed leadership of the group, after a short sabbatical.

Having pleaded with Orangeville’s previous Council to take a stand against the development, expressing her belief that it would “leave an ugly scar” on the community while affecting natural habitats, the municipality’s water supply, traffic and property values in the area, Ms. Pedersen called on this new team of municipal leaders to “do the right thing” and fight for the future of the community.

“Orangevillians yearn for a high standard of decision-making from their municipal leaders. We want to see more intelligent decisions that those made in recent history,” Ms. Pedersen told Council on Monday evening. “We never used to fear flooding, but we do now. We used to drift off to sleep hearing frogs singing, but we don’t now. Our gardens used to be inundated with bees and butterflies, but not now.”

She added, “These kind of changes made us question the leadership that brought them about. Orangevillians want once again to have confidence in their leaders, to be able to trust their judgement. We want our leaders to have the courage to think ethically, and to take science into consideration. We hope you will truly lead, and not simply do what others are doing or have done, without regard for the long-term outcome.”

“Your decision will affect not only what happens on a parcel of land, but by ripple effect, what will affect the neighbourhood, town, county, province, all the way to global climate change,” Ms. Pedersen concluded.

It has been claimed that dozens of species will be displaced by the development, with HHDAG also calling into question the capabilities of the Town’s infrastructure on the east end of town to deal with such extensive development. 

While Council didn’t address Ms. Pedersen’s submissions at Monday’s meeting, Mayor Sandy Brown stated, at a public meeting held in January, that many of the issues brought forward by HHDAG were outside the Town’s jurisdiction.

“Some of the planned issues are beyond the scope of Town Council. This process is ongoing, we know all know our planning staff is concerned about the issues (that have been discussed). Reports relating to traffic, the environment and water need to be completed, so there is much work to be done,” Mayor Brown said.

“My personal stand on this is that it is good development land. That land, at some point, will eventually be developed. I’m not entirely in favour of increasing density, I’d like to see that scaled back a bit, but this is good land. This comes at a time when we need more affordable housing. I would like to see development of this land move forward.”

Most recently, an LPAT pre-hearing was held on Feb. 26, with representatives from the developer, Town and HHDAG on hand to meet with provincial officials. The application process is still ongoing, with town staff giving no indication on when a final decision will be made on the project. 

Ms. Pedersen asked that the Town take up arms and fight for what she called the last of Orangeville’s open land.

“The Hansen development request is not simply an increase in density on a little pocket of land. It is an upheaval, a transformation that will affect the natural resources of the land, the street, neighbourhood, town and by ripple effect, the province. It will actually affect climate change. This puts you in a position to be leaders, not just in our community, but in our province and nation,” Ms. Pedersen said. 

“You can save Orangeville by asking for more, by asking for better from your advisers, experts and external agencies. I ask you to fight vigorously to save the last of Orangeville’s open land,” she concluded.

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