Richmond Hill, Ontario Town Council accepted a settlement proposal for the David Dunlap Observatory lands after negotiations that included Corsica Development Inc., the DDO Defenders, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and the Regional Municipality of York. If approved by the other parties, it will save about 99 acres from development.
The Town of Richmond Hill, Ontario Thursday officially approved a settlement proposal that would save about 99 acres of land at the site of the David Dunlap Observatory north of Toronto from development.
Town Council accepted a settlement proposal after negotiations that included Corsica Development Inc., the DDO Defenders, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and the Regional Municipality of York, which is the upper tier of local government for Richmond Hill and other communities north of Toronto. DDO Defenders is a public advocacy group formed in 2007 to prevent development at or around the observatory.
The observatory is about 35 kilometres north of downtown Toronto at 123 Hillsview Drive, near Yonge Street and Major MacKenzie Drive. It was sold by the University of Toronto, whose astronomy department opened the site in 1935, to Corsica in 2008. The lands comprise a large tract of undeveloped space west of Bayview Avenue and north of 16th Avenue. The developer applied for zoning amendments and proposed to construct a low and medium density residential development comprised of 833 units on a portion of the lands and to retain other existing uses on the lands.
But if the settlement, mediated by the Ontario Municipal board, is endorsed by the other parties, it will save about 99 acres from development on the west side, just east of the Canadian National Railway tracks, creating a historic and natural precinct. It would allow for 78.9 acres on the east side, just west of Bayview Avenue, to be developed.
The town is expecting the proposal to be brought before TRCA and York Region.
“A wetland area, along with significant woodlands and heritage plantations, will be protected and enhanced and will come into public ownership,” if all parties accept the settlement, the town stated. “The developer has committed to continue discussions with the Town on the possible conveyance or acquisition of the Observatory Dome, the Elms Lea house and the Administration building. The open space precinct surrounding these heritage buildings will be given to the Town.”
The Beaux Arts building includes an exterior masonry shell made of broken course ashlar sandstone, a frame of decorative cut limestone quoins and a crown of three copper-clad domes, according to a website operated by Metrus Developments, the parent company of Corsica. The farm house, built about 1864, was on land donated by Jessie Donalda Dunlap to U of T in memory of her husband, David Dunlap.
Its 74-inch telescope is operated by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, Toronto Centre.
DCN DIGITAL MEDIA
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