I am a member of the…

I am a member of the Edithvale Yonge Community Association (EYCA).

Edithvale Yonge-Community Association (“EYCA” our Association) serves approximately 750 homes in Ward 18 (Willowdale) within the City of Toronto. The catchment area is between Beecroft, Senlac, Finch and Horsham. Our mission is to provide a collective voice to preserve and protect the residential community represented by our Association.

We have reviewed the subject draft regulation and feel that it poses a risk on parkland and community infrastructure in Willowdale which ultimately negatively affects the way members of our association live, work and play.

Most new development in Willowdale would reach the highest threshold (cap) of Community Benefits Charge (CBC) funding formula in this regulation. In developments within the North York Centre Secondary Plan the highest threshold CBCs are much lower than the historical contributions (Section 37 and 42) have yielded under the previous system. High level analysis predicts that the CBC formula would decrease contributions by approximately 20 percentage points. Developments in Willowdale outside the North York Centre Secondary Plan appear to not be currently affected as much by the new CBC funding formula. As Willowdale grows, areas outside of the North York Centre Secondary Plan may yield unfavourable outcomes under the CBC funding formula.

There appears to be an imminent outcome that new development in the North York Centre Secondary Plan would contribute significantly less to parkland and community benefit infrastructure in Willowdale. This regulation needs to contemplate areas in Ontario which have already reached high population densities (North York Centre, Yonge & Eglinton and Downtown Toronto) that need a higher CBC funding contribution. Willowdale has reached its population targets of 2041 and more funding is required for appropriate parkland and community benefit infrastructure. Perhaps the introduction of a higher CBC cap within range comparable to existing Section 37 and 42 contributions be implemented for neighbourhoods with these population densities be introduced. Alternatively, neighbourhoods like ours should be exempt from this funding formula and follow the existing Section 37 and 42 system.

The proposed CBC funding formula poses risk on how our members and residents live, work and play in Willowdale. Specifically, our current parkland and community infrastructure is not sufficient for our current neighbourhood population. Therefore, we ask that the CBC funding formula be revised (increased contributions to meet existing system or better) to reflect growth centres such as Willowdale (North York Centre) to support its high density populations with appropriate parkland and community infrastructure which improves or at least maintain the overall wellness of our neighbourhood.