A Subdivision draft for the David Dunlap site, rumoured to have been submitted months ago, was made public recently by the Town of Richmond Hill.

“I was absolutely appalled,” said Karen Cilevitz, of the David Dunlap Observatory Defenders, regarding the development proposal. “I actually felt physically ill. I had to seriously control myself."

Submitted by property owner Metrus Developments, the draft plan proposes a total of 833 residential units, including detached houses and townhomes, as well as number of streets and laneways covering roughly 70 per cent of the 190-acre site.

The plan leaves the observatory and administration building untouched on a nine-acre plot called the Observatory Heritage Precinct. Cilevitz described the proposal as a slap in the face.

“It’s not possible to say that one respects the cultural heritage aspect of this property and then slap down a plan of subdivision, which basically rapes the entire property,” she said. “In my view, it does not take into account the heritage or culture of this property,” echoed Brenda Hogg, deputy mayor of Richmond Hill. “When you look at the plan, the message to me is ‘We are house builders. That’s the extent of our interest here.’”

Michael Pozzebon, project manager at Metrus Developments, was unavailable for comment. Ana Bassios, commissioner of planning and development for the Town of Richmond Hill, described the plan as very complex. She added that a proper examination would be a time-intensive process. Under the Planning Act, council has 180 days to make a decision on the proposal, after which Metrus may appeal for a hearing at the Ontario Municipal Board, Bassios said.

At least one statutory public hearing on the proposal would also be required, she added. The application may be viewed at the town’s planning department, 225 East Beaver Creek Dr.