[HintonburgCA]

The HCA is formulating its response, but thousands of hours over several years have gone in to developing both a Neighbourhood Planning Initiative and the just-passed Community Design Plan, both with City buy-in. If this were ever approved, the City could probably never in good faith suggest a community consultation again - it would simply be a bald-faced lie that it has any interest in holistic planning. What will probably trip this project up - if it's not financing again like the last overly-ambitious crew who couldn't match their plans with actual lenders - will be the Official Plan. We worked hard several years ago to incorporate a clause in the plan that says height increases in Mixed Use Centres have to be gradual from the edge in. The immediate neighbours across Parkdale are an area of two-story homes. These guys will need an Official Plan amendment, and I don't like their chances. It's an ad hoc proposal out of context with anything either going on in the neighbourhood right now or with long-term planning that has community, developer, and City buy-in.

One of these days, an experienced builder with the resources to match plans for "iconic and brash" development with actual world-leading architects will come along and be able to find financing for their project and political support. Then we'll be f&%ed. This, obviously, is not that builder.