Here are my concerns of the…

Here are my concerns of the amendments:

1) Cumulative Environmental Burden
- Addition of the 2 residential buildings will increase significantly the environmental load beyond what the site was initially planned for.
- Intensification on this scale can exceed local capacity for air quality, waste management, stormwater handling, and energy infrastructure.

2) Urban Heat Island Effect Amplified
- Concentrating multiple high-rises in one location amplifies UHI, reducing thermal comfort and increasing cooling demands—especially dangerous for seniors, who are more vulnerable to heat stress.

3) Reduce Opportunity for Sustainable Land Use
- Building more vertical structures eliminates environmentally responsible alternatives.

4) Air Quality Degradation
- Senior citizens and long-term care residents are highly vulnerable and sensitive to poor air quality.
- Additional high-rise construction, traffic, and mechanical systems (e.g., HVAC, diesel backup generators) increase localized air pollution.

5) Stormwater Overload and Groundwater Risk
- The more impervious surfaces (rooftops, driveways, pavement), the more stormwater runoff is created.
- The site risks:
- Flooding
- Water table imbalance
- Contaminant run-off into local drainage systems or nearby green spaces

6) Impact on Local Biodiversity and Natural Light
- Tower clustering creates wind tunnels, massive shade zones, and noise disturbances.
- Shadowing affects:
- Nearby urban vegetation and tree cover
- Adjacent habitats or parkland, reducing biodiversity and natural photosynthesis
- Quality of life for surrounding communities
- Birds are also at higher risk of fatal building collisions due to reflective glass surfaces.

7) Noise and Vibration from Ongoing & Future Construction
- Adding two more towers will extend disruptive construction noise, dust, and vibration for many more years.
- These are significant health and psychological stressors for elderly residents, who will start to occupy the units starting next year.

8) Increased Traffic, Pollution, and Carbon Emissions
- Even with limited senior vehicle use, service vehicles, medical transport, deliveries, and staff will generate more vehicular traffic.
- This contributes to:
- Air and noise pollution
- Greenhouse gas emissions
- Safety risks for elderly pedestrians in a now-denser site

9) Overdevelopment Contrary to Climate Adaptation Goals
- Adding two high-density buildings conflicts with many municipalities' goals to:
- Promote sustainable intensification
- Preserve livability and open space
- Build climate-resilient communities

- Concentrating high-density senior housing in one tight space undermines urban planning best practices.