York Centre Councillor Maria Augimeri is bracing for a showdown over the Downsview Area Secondary Plan at the Tuesday, March 22 meeting of North York Community Council.
The fight will be over the amount of development that will be allowed in the community, she said.
Augimeri said she agrees with residents who fear proposed densities, which will bring thousands of residents and workers in new homes and employment places, will overwhelm the area.
"The local communities in Wards 8, 9 and 10 are extremely agitated and angry," she said.
"It will be an over-saturation of density and it will create traffic chaos in Downsview. They are virtually planning a new city."
Major landowners in the area include Bombardier Aerospace, the Department of National Defence, the City of Toronto and Downsview Park, which hopes to develop its property into a national park and new residential community.
This is the third time the issue is coming before community council.
While it has been deferred twice, Augimeri said there is now pressure coming from the mayor's office to get the issue resolved.
"The previous two times, I deferred it as per community wishes," she said.
"The mayor's office has made it clear he wants this settled once and for all. I don't believe I have the votes at community council to delay it any more. If I win or lose this vote, it goes to city council. Who knows what will happen there? It is coming to a head at this point. Will councillors from Scarborough and Etobicoke understand the plight of Downsview residents? I hope they will."
The debate over the secondary plan is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. March 22 in the council chambers of the North York Civic Centre at 5100 Yonge St., five blocks north of Sheppard Avenue.
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