‘It’s shocking’: Wasaga residents raise concerns with level of development on Beachwood

A group of west-end residents opposed to a 214-unit development in their Wasaga Beach neighbourhood say there’s more than that project to be concerned about.

“We need to open a broader discussion,” said Gerard Dusastre, a Shore Lane resident who launched a petition asking council to turn down Beachwood Developments’ proposal for a 5.8-acre property between Beachwood Road and Shore Lane.

It’s not the only project, Dusastre points out.

According to the town’s planning department, there are four proposals representing a combined 915 units in the Beachwood Road area in various stages of the application process.

The applications would see what is currently zoned as low-density residential switched into a high-density category — along with buildings, such as in the Beachwood Developments proposal — as tall as six storeys.

Led by Dusastre, a website (savebeachwood.ca) has been launched. It includes a link to the petition against the Beachwood Developments project.

The developments, he said, could dramatically change the nature of the area, which is currently made up of single-detached dwellings on large lots.

“I didn’t move from Paris (France) to Toronto to Wasaga Beach to live near six-storey buildings,” Dusastre said.

The principal behind Beachwood Developments, Tony Romanin, has not responded to a request for comment.

Dusastre added the infrastructure in the area, particularly when it comes to stormwater, is also deficient.

A virtual open house on the Beachwood Developments project was held on June 23.

A formal public meeting by the municipality, as required under the Planning Act, is anticipated to be held in August.

The project, as proposed, includes two six-storey apartments with a combined 134 condominium units. The remainder of the units would be single-detached homes, and 48 townhouses.

Potentially, said Dusastre, the four developments could put another 1,000 cars on Beachwood.

He questions the point of an official plan when a developer can make an application to significantly increase a land’s density from its original designation.

“It’s shocking,” he said.

Sign the petition to save Brocks Beach

Visit the Save Beachwood Website

See the original article here.

See the first article for this story: ‘The development will destroy everything’: Wasaga residents fear impact of high-density housing project