Functional servicing study in King City is progressing
By Bill Rea

King Township staffers recently receive the approval of council to carry on with the King City East Functional Servicing/Development Area Study.

The study, which was provided for in the King City Community Plan, is looking into lands to the east of the existing community. Its aim, according to Township planners, is to detail the environmental, servicing and drainage requirements necessary to identify various needs on these lands, including needs relating such things as stormwater management, sewers, water supply and transportation. As well, the study is intended to help set out components of future development among the various land owners in the study area.

Planning Director Stephen Kitchen said a proposed development scheme has been laid out for these lands, which he said complies with York Region's Official Plan, as well as the Oak Ridges Moraine plan. He added the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) has indicated it's okay with it too.

He also said that scheme is subject to revisions as more issues in the study are addressed.

This study has already been subject to a number of public sessions and discussions, and planners reported many of the issues have been discussed in detail.

Councillor Cleve Mortelliti said he had concerns the approvals being sought were premature, but Kitchen said staff was satisfied the issues are known, and efforts are being made to work through them. He added these matters will be coming back to council, but in a different format. At this early stage of the process, he said they are looking at a bigger, broader picture.

He also said the owners of the lands and the Region have differing opinions on where a proposed water tower should go.

Members of the public raised a couple of more concerns at the most recent meeting.

Tanya Nesterenko expressed traffic concerns, especially involving Warren Road and King Road. There are desires to have more business assessment in the village, but she didn't see how that would be possible with al the traffic on the road.

"This is ridiculous," she declared. "This is not an inviting place."

Mayor Margaret Black pointed out the current council has voted to push the Region to move on finding a bypass for the village, although she added there are some who are not in favour of that. She told Nesterenko she could write a letter to the Regional chair, outlining her concerns. She added a petition was sent to the region in the late '90s, and another one would be helpful.

Operations Director Jody LaPlante added the Region has not yet acted on council's resolution. He expects something will happen sometime over the winter.

Councillor Jane Underhill commented the Region dropped previous studies on the bypass because there was so much opposition to it going on the 15th Sideroad. She added the proposed improvements to Teston Road in Vaughan should make it a good bypass.

Another local resident, Rob Madronick, wondered about what steps were being taken to make sure King City doesn't become another Maple. He observed it's a small community that's in the path of many commuters, and with a lot of growth planned for surrounding areas. He added the Township takes on a lot of the costs of conveying this traffic, with few benefits.

Black told him that's what council has been working on for years. King is surrounded by eight growing municipalities. "That is our challenge," she added.

Kitchen also pointed out the community plan addresses such issues. He added the growth rate in King City is nothing like that in Maple, pointing out a lot of restrictions are imposed by the moraine plan.