steveintoronto
Superstar
The ML Ready Mix lands (29 Judson Street, which, as far as I can tell, are not owned by Dunpar nor subject to redevelopment) sit on land where the Grand Trunk Mimico Station used to be, before it was moved across Judson Street and fixed up. The Dunpar lands, immediately to the west, at 49, 53 and 55 Judson, were industrial, and separate from the CN yard.
Dunpar have a proposal that includes building on the present ML Ready Mix property, and an offer to buy it is pending based on getting rezoning to allow it.
[Employment uses only were recommended for the Judson Street frontage, including the
concrete batching plant at 29 Judson Street and the 49-55 Judson Street site which is subject of this application, based on the Provincial Policy framework and the difficulties in achieving separation and mitigation given the proximity to the Willowbrook Rail Yard.]
http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2016/pg/bgrd/backgroundfile-90450.pdf
In all fairness, the *apparent* presentation seems to change depending on whose viewpoint is presented, I'm still digging on it, and was about to resume watching the City Council debates on it, and just about to pick-up where this gentleman appears, and lo and behold, Google shows this:
http://signaltoronto.com/signal-toronto-weekly-news-brief-may-13-2016/1:10 p.m., Wednesday May 11, 2016, outside committee room 1, Toronto City Hall. Sam Piscione after speaking against the Dunpar Homes development planned near Judson St.
Problems playing video? Try Vimeo.
http://signaltoronto.com/signal-toronto-weekly-news-brief-may-13-2016/
At Wednesday’s Planning and Growth meeting, local resident Sam Piscione came to speak about the Mimico-Judson Secondary Plan and an application from Dunpar Homes to rezone and build on his street. He compared his safety concerns with the Lake Megantique disaster, reminding the committee of the nearby Willowbrook GO Train refueling station and asking whether the city and taxpayers would cover the cost in the event of an accident. What ensued was a heated back-and-forth exchange with Cllr. John Campbell, who represents a nearby ward. Cllr. Campbell tries to draw Piscione into choosing between two different development options, neither of them favourable to the resident, but Piscione holds his ground while calling Cllr. Campbell out for the tactic. Below are highlights from the exchange.
The effect of the concrete plant on the neighbourhood
Cllr. Campbell: So you’re fairly close to the batching plant.
Piscione: They’re there illegally, so in a democracy that is stunningly hurtful. Other than that, they’ve ruined our community.
Cllr. Campbell: How long has the batching plant been there?
Piscione: Been there near 10 years now. That was CN vacant land. Surplus land sold by CN railway to ML [Ready Mix]. ML has no building permits. This plant has been there during my children’s most formative years emitting toxic pollutants into the air, onto the roads, breaking bylaws with 400 trucks a day etc… This plant would not be allowed to locate there in a third world country, just so we’re clear.
A park instead of profit
Cllr. Campbell: What would you like to see it replaced with, aside from green grass?
Piscione: Yeah the park that everyone has a hard time situating. Put the park there.
Cllr. Campbell: I think…
Piscione: I’ve given you my answer. I think the park would be perfect there.
Cllr. Campbell: Aside from a park, I mean some sort of development or office?
Piscione: I would definitely hate an intensification of residential units…. The thing that I like is a park.
Cllr. Campbell: Well, everyone likes park.
Piscione: Yeah for sure, but you guys are planning for one, and you can’t find a spot for it, so we’ll take it.
Cllr. Campbell: The land has value…
Piscione: Absolutely.
Cllr. Campbell: …and there’s not a lot of profits in parks.
Piscione: That’s your job, sir.
Cllr. Campbell: Take my word, unless you’re selling a park there’s no profit…
Piscione: Absolutely I’m just here to give you my opinion of living on Judson St. for 58 years, having lived with a neighbour ML Ready Mix who is in blatant breach of law.
No intensification
Cllr. Campbell: So why are you more opposed to the idea of residential development than continuing on with the existing form with the batch plant?
Piscione: Residential intensification will bring all kinds of traffic. We live on the edge of the residential, we’re right at the edge of where the kids come. Everyone knows that the railways been there before certain people were cowboys.
You’re steering me like a card trick
Cllr. Campbell: So if you had to choose between the batching plant for another 10 to 20 years or a residential development?
Piscione: No, you’re steering me like a card trick to get the answer you like. I can do a trick right now that will blow your mind. I’m a magician.
Cllr. Campbell: I’m just trying to understand. I mean, if it was a choice — because right now it’s there.
Piscione: That’s such an insane option of this or this. A or B
Shiner: All right gentlemen can we get a question and an answer. If you want to take it outside. And if you take it outside that’s okay.
Piscione: Are we done sir? Sorry do you have a question?
Edit to Add:
Folks, you have to watch the vid linked above. Dynamite! This is the guy that Rob Ford had dreamed about being. *By far* the most effective orator through this whole sordid mess. And he nailed the smarmy, scheming, manipulative Cnclr Campbell.
Now THIS guy should run for the local councillor instead of the sorry one they have and adjacent scheming councillors too.
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