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Introducing Ask Torontoist
like a city council scorned? North York Community Council, fed up with the Ontario Municipal Board in general and piqued at their recent approval of a new condo development in particular, has taken a novel approach to expressing its discontent. The name that's been assigned to the road leading into the complex? OMB Folly. The motion was introduced by Councillor John Filion and passed in a 7-2 vote. Hallstone Homes is developing the 36-unit complex of townhouses and is so far failing to see the humour in this turn of events. The OMB, set up by the province to administer municipal planning, has been frequently criticized by City Council and local community groups for favouring developers over neighbourhood well-being. North York Community Council's pith has apparently rendered them speechless: as of yet, the OMB has made no comment on their Folly.
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We have those townhouses in Richmond Hill too on Yonge just north of Hwy 7, it looks like these jokers are trying to convince people that they can live in their very own section of Versailles with the ridiculous setup. I see this whole concept has a pile of shit whipped cream topping.
I'm not familiar with the details of this case, but I don't see how approving a small townhouse infill 2 blocks from Yonge St. is one of the OMB's bigger follies. Filion describes it (in the Star article) as "as the most ludicrous decision that I know of"... Really? Why was the city so dead-set against this?
This is hilarious for sure..
But I agree with Loozrboy. What is the big deal here? Seems like pretty reasonable use of the space in that area to me. You have to love when newspaper articles don't answer obvious questions (or maybe I'm just blind).
From the OMB order:
In particular, the Board notes that the Ellerslie townhouses abut the subject lands to the rear, and this fact alone is of great significance.
The significance is that the OMB approved the developer's appeal to overstep the North York official zoning plan and overturn City Council's rejection to the development; thus setting a PRECEDENT for further encroachment into ANY single-family designated residential neighbourhood. The whole process is undemocratic: patronage-appointed OMB members are accountable to no body and deep-pocketed developers turn to them whenever they need approval solely for their own profit. Our taxes are paying for this Board. OMB Folly was an innovative retaliation -- since the City can not reverse OMB decisions, they can at least highlight their follies! Kudos to the 7 NY councillors!
Ok: So it's about protecting a "single-family designated residential neighbourhood" not good planning? Singles, semi's, duplexes, three-plexes, four-plexes and townhouses should be permitted as-of-right in any city.
If Torontonians want better public transit they must except higher density.