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New Basic .3 Entertainment Unit : Special Price: $775 . TV Section Only: (holds 30" wide TV) $395 OPEN SUNDAY The Barn: â€" Markham Rd. Steeles Ave. ’,'3({@':)’ LA Y sull es ,{ h 1 : Shese are a just a few of the many good reasons to spend January with us. 30% Off Single and Double Pedestal Dining Tables 20% Off Harvest Dining Tables Selected Floor Models Table Specials! Up To OPEN SUNDAY Workshop Showroom: Whitby: 370 Denison St. E., Markham. 111 Dunlop St. W. at Brock St. 475â€"2488 â€" 668â€"2770 Iroquois Ridge residents applaud council‘s stand to reduce density By HOWARD MOZEL Oakville Beaver Staff Ten years of animosity was reduced to 10 minutes of accelerated discussion Tuesday night as Town Council scramâ€" bled to resolve the Grand Boulevard Plaza debacle before time expired. The matter â€" which had already been carried over from a previous meeting â€" generated hours of questions and debate as residents and councillors argued the pros and cons of building 34 townhousâ€" es on the derelict retail site. With only minutes remaining in the meeting, Council quickly rejected a staff recomâ€" mendation to go ahead with the project and sent the issue back with hopes of further compromise. The decision was met with a round of applause from area homeowners and representatives from the Iroquois Ridge Residents Association (IRRA) who proved they were unwilling to jump at Townhouse proposal for Grand Boulevard Plaza yA the first chance to clean up the site and were prepared to hold out for what they really wanted. On the table was an Official Plan Amendment submitted by Wing Hang Corporation to amend the Official Plan for the Iroquois Ridge South District from "Neighborhood Commercial" to "Medium Density Residential." This would permit a maximum of 39 units per site hectare. The existing neighborâ€" hood includes single family homes as well as freehold and condominium townhouses ranging from 25 to 35 units per site hectare. j The original Official Plan and zoning amendments were first filed by Wing Hang in May 1993 in an effort to pave the way 41 townhouses on the southeast corner of Grand Boulevard and Hampton Street. After input received at two public information meetings and substantial design work by the Planning Department, the revised proposal â€" 11 OPEN SUNDAY Mississauga: 2185 Dundas St. W. (at Dunwin) 607â€"2247 freehold and 23 condominium townâ€" houses â€" was submitted on Oct. 28. Originally called the Sheridan Hills Plaza, the site has been fenced off and â€" except for a day care centre â€" completely abandoned. According to Wing Hang spokesman Celeste Iacobelli, attempts to "rejuvenate" the plaza into a seniors home and other uses failed. Iacobelli explained that the site‘s viability "disapâ€" peared" for several reasons including the recession, the opening of the Upper Oakville Shopping Centre and changes in consumer habits. All that remains is what residents refer to as an "eyesore" and what they consider a focal point for crime. They agreed in principle the site was in major need of improvement, but if Wing Hang expected them to cave in and accept the first improvements proposed, the develâ€" oper grossly underestimated their resolve. Yet while most were against the proâ€" posed density, opposition was not unaniâ€" mous. Spearheading the con side was IRRA while staff‘s main proponent on Council was Ward 6‘s Bill: Logan who was scolded several times for his stand. Fellow Ward 6 councillor Jim Smith, however, made his contempt clear in no uncertain terms. "We all want to get rid of this place but not at the expense of the neighborâ€" hood," said Smith, adding the original request for 41 units was way out of line. To push the density up is to be be held up to ransom. We have been held up for ransom for 10 years. If (Wing Hang) wants to walk away, let him. It can‘t get any worse." 'Logan, Council‘s lightningâ€"rod for residents‘ ridicule, stuck to his guns and pressed for approval of the plan. "I‘m not prepared to see the plaza continue as a center for crime," he said. Residents are concerned that the proâ€" posed density would not be in keeping with the existing neighborhood and are worried that overflow parking would exacerbate problems that already exist on the street. IRRA president Kurt Franklin also reiterated other concerns such as privacy, the proximity of the project to existing homes and the numâ€" ber of new driveways which would be created along Grand Boulevard. He admitted compromises had been made but remained far from pleased. 3 “Unfortunately density is still the major issue," said Franklin, who accused Wing Hang of dellberately allowing the site to decay in order to coerce Council and the residents. Tacobelli argued that development similar to that in Wing Hang‘s proposal already exists in the neighborhood an would therefore not be the blight it‘ being made out to be. He said Win Hang â€" which has owned the propert for more than 10 years â€" modified its plans to accommodate residents‘ con« cerns and has agreed to several provi sions the Town has insisted on. o plaza‘s two westerly buildings demolished and that Wing Hang prov a letter of credit equal to the cost of th@ removal. If not, then the Town can in and have the work done using the le ter of credit. 1 These include a requirement that fi 1 Asked by Logan what the residens would do if Wing Hang says less un‘ are not financially viable and simpl leaves the land as it is. Franklin sai they would not be pushed around.: "‘People’s attitude is that we can‘t, held to that kind of blackmail. We wo be forced to accept that kind of densit