Councillor Sarah Doucette was final speaker, prior to Nov. 14, 2017 Etobicoke York Community Council vote, regarding Long Branch Character Guidelines

The following transcript is part of a package of links appearing at a previous post regarding the Nov. 14, 2017 meeting at which the Etobicoke York Community Council unanimously adopted the Long Branch Character Guidelines.

Long Branch is a neighbourhood in south Etobicoke on the Lake Ontario waterfront: West beach at Marie Curtis Park, April 4, 2018. Jaan Pill photo. Click on image to enlarge it; click again to enlarge it further.

Before the vote, on a motion regarding the Guidelines, two Councillors –  Mark Grimes (Ward 6) and Sarah Doucette (Ward 13) spoke. A previous post shares a transcript of remarks by Councillor Grimes. The current post is devoted to Councillor Doucette’s remarks.

Remarks by Councillor Sarah Doucette

Councillor Doucette:  So, as you heard, my residents, Bloor West Residents Association, who were here today, actually, speaking on another item: they have had some university students do something very similar to this, and it’s actually connected to their university course.

So, we are hoping that the information they’ve gathered, we can fit into this template, and I think it’s going to be very successful.

But, it’s good to have a template, which allows Councillors to bring in university students, to allow them to explore what it’s actually like to work with Planning, work with Councillors, work with the public – great experience for them.

Monstrosity mansions with no soft landscaping, which means basement flooding

And, we’re also hoping to give some guidance to people who are coming into our area wanting to build monstrosity mansions, which don’t fit on the property, because then you have no soft landscaping at all – which means you get basement flooding.

So, looking at a community. Not stifling it. Not stopping it. But building, which fits with the community.

So, I think this is a great start. I hope that my area will be using this template very, very soon, and, as I say, just guiding people coming into the community on what they should or should not build. Thank you.

Councillor Crisanti: So, this item as amended by Councillor Grimes.

[The unanimous vote, in favour of adoption of the Long Branch Neighbourhood Character Guidelines, followed.]