The City of Vaughan has approved two towers at Bathurst Street and Beverley Glen Boulevard, despite opposition from the local councillor and residents with concerns for intensification.

The developer proposed 25- and 12-storey condominium-style towers connected by a podium of five storeys. An application to increase the associated site’s density to high-density residential raised the number of permitted apartment units from 114 to 438.

A few weeks after the approval, York Region Viva announced that construction of its controversial bus rapidway, a project that would build dedicated bus lanes and stations, would begin in earnest. A portion runs along Highway 7 and will eventually diverge through Bathurst Street and Centre Street, with a monitored arrivals stop expected to be built in the towers.

Gila Martow, president of the Beverley Glen Ratepayers Association, claimed the rapidway only serves to encourage density, adding to the deterioration of her nearby residential community.

“I would like to see an effort to build higher density only if it is part of a self-sustaining community, including job growth,” wrote Martow in an e-mail. “Unfortunately, all we seem to get is higher condo towers with ever-shrinking units.”

Councillor Alan Shefman, who voted against the proposal, called the structure an “infringement” on the community.

“I strongly believe the area has absorbed as much density as it should,” he said. However, he disagreed that transit was a driving factor.

City of Vaughan’s planning commissioner, Jack Mackenzie, said that although the rapidway did not lead him to recommend approval it would benefit the area as it reaches densities that have already been planned there for years.

“I think it’s an important thing to have transit here as an option,” he said. “I think density, carefully done, makes sense in the area because it’s one of those areas you don’t really need a car to live in.”