A Letter from the Office of Councillor Neethan Shan To the Members of the Ontario Land Tribunal
We, the undersigned residents, property owners, business owners, and supporters of the Highland Creek community, respectfully urge the Ontario Land Tribunal to dismiss the appeal and deny approval of the proposed condominium development at 363 Old Kingston Road.
Old Kingston Road Village is a unique historic main street and community that has been shaped over generations by its heritage buildings, small-scale development, local businesses, walkable streetscape, and strong sense of place. The proposed 8-storey condominium building is fundamentally incompatible with the established character of the area and threatens the qualities that make this community unique.
Reasons for Opposition
- The proposal is out of scale with the surrounding neighbourhood.
The proposed building height, massing, and density are significantly larger than the existing built form within Highland Creek Village. Such a dramatic departure from the area’s established character would permanently alter the appearance and feel of this historic community.
- The development threatens the heritage character of Highland Creek Village.
The Village has long been valued for its historic streetscape, human-scale design, and distinctive identity. Introducing a large condominium building into the heart of the community would undermine these defining characteristics and diminish the heritage value that residents have worked hard to preserve.
- Approval would set a harmful precedent for future development.
Allowing an 8-storey condominium in this location could encourage similar developments in the future, further eroding the historic village character and opening the door to incremental overdevelopment inconsistent with the community’s vision.
- The proposal does not represent responsible community-sensitive growth.
Residents are not opposed to development or revitalization. We support thoughtful growth that respects the area’s scale, history, and identity. However, this proposal fails to achieve that balance and instead imposes a form of development that is incompatible with its surroundings.
- The long-term impacts are irreversible.
Once the historic character of a community is lost, it cannot easily be restored. The Tribunal’s decision will have lasting consequences not only for current residents but for future generations who deserve to inherit and enjoy the unique character of Old Kingston Road Village.
Our Request
We respectfully ask the Ontario Land Tribunal to:
- Dismiss the appeal related to the proposed development at 363 Old Kingston Road;
- Uphold the principles of the secondary plan and community planning;
- Protect the historic character, heritage value, and unique identity of Highland Creek Village; and
- Encourage any future redevelopment proposals to be designed in a manner that respects the existing scale and character of the community.