Leaside is growing up. The Eglinton Crosstown LRT is coming, and as proposals for Eglinton Avenue East reach new heights, so do those for Bayview Avenue. Most recently, a developer has appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) to build an eight-storey condo on southwest corner of Bayview Avenue and Soudan Avenue.

Initially in 2014, the proposal called for a nine storey condo at 701–713 Soudan Ave., 1674–1684 Bayview Ave. and 720 Hillsdale Ave. E. But it was later reduced to 8 storeys. The city’s official plan allows up to four storeys, and councillor Josh Matlow said residents were concerned about encroachment in the low-rise neighbourhood. An assembly of detached dwellings, townhouses and a four-storey apartment building currently sit on the site. 

Adam Brown, lawyer for developer the Brown Group, revealed a “without prejudice” proposal at a public meeting on May 16 that reduced the height of the condo to seven storeys.

However, City of Toronto planner Guilio Cescato informed the developer the city would not process the proposal until early 2017 in an effort to await the findings from the Yonge-Eglinton Secondary Plan. The plan is focused on residential and commercial areas on Yonge Street, Eglinton Avenue, Mount Pleasant Road and Bayview Avenue, and is currently under review.

Although some controversial applications have come in for the corners of Bayview and Eglinton, Cescato said this is the first development of its kind for Bayview Avenue as it goes south.

“It seemed to make sense to us to wait for the study to reach its conclusions, and then we would have an idea of what an appropriate built form would be … along Bayview,” he said.

Adam Brown said his client will not wait any longer. “We will appeal the eight-storey proposal because that’s what is formally on file, and our hope is that there could potentially be a settlement at seven-storeys,” he told Post City. 

Coun. Matlow said seven-storeys would be acceptable to residents if it can be reached through a mediated settlement at the OMB.