This week at Planning and Housing Committee, Committee members carried the staff report that recommended Committee and Council to approve the Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw amendments for 70 and 80 Woodridge Cres to permit a high-rise mixed-use building up to 40 storeys and public realm improvements.
I’d like to thank the delegates who attended the Committee meeting and spoke from Crystal Beach and Bayshore. I appreciated the comments and concerns voiced regarding the stormwater management, as well as the need to ensure the public amenities enhance the area.
The application includes creating a park space larger than the required hectares in existing policies, and this will be very welcome by both the families that live in the area currently and the new neighbours who will move in. While the specifics will be worked out in the Site Plan discussions, as a result of having already been through the Urban Design Review Panel, there is quite an extensive landscaping plan already, which has developed pathway connections to the buildings as well as to Bayshore for access to the future LRT station and the Bayshore mall.
Staff also confirmed the necessary stormwater management requirements will be onsite, and the applicant stated they will also be including over measures, such as bioswales, to enhance drainage.
When asking questions of the applicant, they stated they are committed to including affordable housing units in the project, but at this stage the percentage of units has not been quantified. While currently, the city does not have the authority to mandate affordable housing in developments, but in light of the housing crisis, we consistently advocate for its inclusion.
We’ll hear more with regard to Site Plan discussions, and I will be sure to keep the community up to date on any information as it comes forward.
If you missed the meeting, you can watch the discussion on the City’s YouTube channel, starting at 1hr28mins: Planning and Housing Committee – July 3, 2024 – YouTube