City of Toronto finds way around environmental laws for mega condo developments affecting parks

It seems the City of Toronto Planning department has found a way around environmental assessment laws.

In the monster condo development now in its latest form at 378 units including 2 properties on Pacific Avenue, along Bloor Street West for the whole block and another 5 properties on Oakmount Road, right across from High Park. The city's planning department has deemed the property "is considered to NOT be adjacent to High Park", (in spite of being a whole block directly across the street), and so not needing an environmental assessment.

If they get away without doing an environmental assessment and cutting down so many trees many clearly 50 or 60 years or older, this will be open season for developers to buy up land around all city parks so they can profit off of selling the view of these parks from their towering buildings they will want to surround them with. And they will be able to do this without having to worry about the environment or the effects on birds.

If you live in Toronto, please sign the petition at http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/the-intensification-of-high-park.html

The city wants to ram through these major changes to the Offical Plan to allow this glass monstrosity to exceed their own guideline of 8 stories at the city's Etobicoke York Community Council meeting on the evening of Tuesday, January 10, 2012. This date is right after the holiday season in the dead of winter when it is clear residents are least likely to show up to speak their mind.

Stop this attack by the City of Toronto on our parks, our environment and our communities!

You can find more information at http;//www.highparkra.org