TORONTO – RioCan’s plans to open a Wal-Mart near Toronto’s Kensington Market area still has protesters reeling as they fight for support from the Toronto City Planning Department.
A petition on Change.org asks the 78, 819 petitioners who initially signed against the construction to now convince Toronto’s new chief planner Jennifer Keesmat to reject RioCan’s proposal.
Friends of Kensington Market, an online group that started the petition, calls the construction a “planning disaster,” adding that it goes against the Toronto’s Official Plan, which outlines the protection of neighbourhoods from re-zoning.
The city’s official plan currently does not permit malls to be built close to residential areas, and RioCan is pushing an application to re-zone the area.
Excerpts from the Ontario Municipal Board hearing in late 2012 reveal that a city planner under Chief Keesmat testified the Toronto City Planning Department hadn’t openly opposed Riocan’s proposal.
However, this was before Keesmat’s arrival at City Planning, giving protesters a sense of hope.
“We feel she is an ally. We are hoping that under Keesmat’s leadership, the planning department will take a broader look” continues Russell.
Chief Planner Jennifer Keesmat could not be reached for comment.
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