Whitby Council has officially approved a significant mixed-use development at the busy intersection of Brock Street and Taunton Road following a spirited debate during a recent council meeting. This approval comes with a strict condition regarding vehicle access for the townhouse component, marking the conclusion of a lengthy and often contentious review process for the high-density project located in the southeast corner of the intersection. The site is situated in a key growth area for the town, making the decision a pivotal one for Whitby’s future urban planning.
The proposed development, known as the Biglieri development, comprises a total of 788 dwelling units alongside 1,220 square feet of commercial and retail space. The project is structured to unfold in two distinct phases designed to maximize housing density. The first phase is extensive, featuring two blocks of multi-storey highrise apartment buildings. Specifically, this initial stage includes two 18-storey towers and two 25-storey mixed-use buildings. These towers will provide 664 residential units and will incorporate the designated retail floor space, aiming to create a vibrant live-work environment. In addition to the highrise component, the first phase also encompasses 96 stacked back-to-back townhouse units standing four storeys tall.
The second phase of the project is smaller in scale but adds to the residential density of the site. It will consist of 28 three-storey townhouse units. The layout includes a mix of housing types, integrating the highrise structures with the townhomes to create a cohesive community complex. The mixture of heights and dwelling types was a central feature of the planning discussions, as the town balances the imperative for new housing with maintaining the character of existing community infrastructure.
A major point of contention during the council meeting revolved around traffic management and access to Oglevie Drive. Ultimately, council moved to restrict access to this roadway at the site plan stage specifically for the townhouse portion of the development. This restriction was a key requirement for the developer to proceed with the project as approved. The motion to restrict access was moved by Regional Councillor Chris Leahy, who has been vocal about traffic safety in the area. Following the vote, the motion passed with a count of 7-2, with only Councillors Steve Lee and Niki Lundquist voting against the measure.
The approval process was not without controversy or intense public scrutiny. Early in the discussions, Councillor Leahy had moved an amendment to reject the development plan entirely. He cited feedback from local residents who were firmly opposed to the project. Community concerns had been raised previously at a Committee of the Whole meeting on May 4, where six residents appeared before council. During that session, residents voiced worries regarding several aspects of the proposal, including potential parking shortages, increased traffic congestion, and the strain on local services posed by the overall density of the buildings being proposed.
Despite the vocal opposition from some residents and Councillor Leahy’s initial attempts to halt the project, town planning staff maintained a different perspective. During the May 25 meeting, Planning Commissioner Roger Saunders faced rigorous questioning from multiple members of council. He stated that there were no sound planning grounds to reject the development outright, citing provincial policies that prioritize density. Staff had recommended approval of the plan. Saunders further advised that if the town chose to reject the plan against its own staff’s advice, it would likely face a challenge at the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT). He expressed firm resolve that the municipality would lose such a challenge, given the alignment of the proposal with planning guidelines and provincial mandates.
Leahy’s list of concerns regarding the development included construction impacts, the need for noise mitigation, and potential issues with parking and traffic flow. However, with the council’s vote to approve the project with the specific access condition, the focus now shifts to the site plan stage, where further details regarding traffic signals and landscaping will be finalized. The town will move forward with overseeing the implementation of the restrictions on Oglevie Drive as the developer prepares to break ground on the first phase of this substantial residential expansion.
