After six years of controversy surrounding the lands at the David Dunlap Observatory (DDO) lands in Richmond Hill, a divisional court hearing is scheduled for Dec. 9. Following the hearing, it may finally be determined how much of the observatory’s green space will be preserved.
The Richmond Hill Naturalists (RHN), a local advocacy group devoted to the preservation of natural spaces, has challenged a recent decision by the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) to transfer ownership of more than one half of the 189-acre green space to the Town of Richmond Hill. They feel that this is not enough and the observatory needs more space in order for its telescope to function as it should.
“By putting housing so close to the telescope, there’s going to be an adverse effect on it,” said Marianne Yake, former president of RHN. “By allowing for housing so close and at a similar height of land to a telescope, any scientific observations will no longer be allowed to happen.”
More important, said Yake, is the heritage of the observatory and its significance to the town. “The heritage building and the cultural heritage landscape are the raison d’etre for the property.”
The year 2007 marked the start of the saga when the University of Toronto sold the DDO and its expansive grounds located near Bayview Avenue and Weldrick Road East.
In 2009, the site was granted heritage designation under the Ontario Heritage Act. Over the years that followed, through much mediation, a final decision was reached — or so it seemed.
Karen Cilevitz, chair of the David Dunlap Observatory Defenders, said that the community group was very happy when the OMB upheld the decision to transfer the portion of the land to the town this past spring but said that RHN members were not present at mediations to represent their cause.
“The public voice, which was represented by the defenders [in the past], was very important,” said Cilevitz. “We actually got a landmark settlement.”
The other parties in the mediation included the Town of Richmond Hill, the Region of York, Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and land-owners Corsica Developments.
Though Cilevitz feels optimistic about the hearing, she is disappointed that this has been another delay. “I am confident, along with the other parties, that the divisional court will find that the OMB decision stands,” said Cilevitz. “[But] we’ve been at this for so long, and there’s still so much to do.”
