For more than a year, North York residents have known of outdoor retailer Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC)’s plans to redevelop the site of the former Sheridan Nurseries at 784 Sheppard Ave. E. to make room for a new 44,000-square-foot retail store and residential development. Now, in a first step, North York Community Council (NYCC) has approved the zoning bylaw amendment to permit the construction.

The 50 stacked townhouse units will be constructed in the space behind the store, and 125 parking spaces will be provided for the retail component. There will be 93 parking spaces at the residential portion.

But residents have concerns about the development’s effect on the area. The segment of Sheppard between Yonge Street and Leslie Street is frequently named as one of the most congested in the city.

Tim Southam, public affairs manager for MEC, said that the development’s close proximity to a subway station is a plus. “It’s in very close proximity to the Bessarion subway station.”

Bayview Village Association (BVA) president Jan Siegel thinks the store will still mostly attract car traffic. “I don’t think that those stores particularly are drawing subway-goers,” said Siegel. “More of the people that would go there use their cars.”

“Traffic is always so horrible along Sheppard,” said fellow BVA member David Magil. “They’re going to add 50 new residences. Plus you’ve got the cars coming in and out of MEC. It’s just going to add to the already ridiculous traffic on Sheppard.”

Magil said that traffic is not the only concern — privacy is another. “Some of the units have rooftop terraces,” Magil pointed out. “There’s impact on the privacy of the homes adjacent to the townhomes.”

Southam, however, is confident that the groups can work together. “We wish to be a good community partner,” he said. “We know that, as the buildings take shape, there may be some issues. If they have concerns in the future, [they should] let us know.”