Richmond Hill Council Meeting: Child Safety, Hospital Capacity, Traffic Bylaws, and Development Approvals

Richmond Hill council heard delegations on child safety near schools, received a presentation from Mackenzie Health on hospital capacity and service expansion, debated traffic and parking bylaw changes including Bayard's Lane and Blackmore Avenue, considered a wireless tower application at 1124 Elgin Mills Road, and unanimously approved a revised development settlement tied to an Ontario Land Tribunal matter.

Topics Discussed

1. CHILD SAFETY IN SCHOOL ZONES

Parent and community advocate Ryan Wong Jeffers told council current school-area safety measures no longer match present-day conditions. He said, "What worked for children in the 1970s, 80s, and even the '90s cannot and will not adequately protect our children today." Another speaker, a developmental services support worker and parent, argued that "If we can modernize technology, architecture, transportation systems, and communication infrastructure, then we surely can modernize the systems designed to keep children alive and safe. This conversation is not about resisting progress. It is about demanding responsible progress." Councillors responded by acknowledging the concerns and indicating they would continue the discussion with residents.

2. MACKENZIE HEALTH CAPACITY AND SERVICES

New Mackenzie Health president and CEO Carmine Stumpo made his first presentation to council and outlined hospital pressures and expansion plans. The hospital system reported 247,000 emergency visits last fiscal year across its hospitals and urgent care clinics, up 6 per cent year over year. Leadership said shell space on the 9th and 10th floors could accommodate about 149 additional beds if provincial capital and operating funding is approved. Council also heard updates on mental health beds, a cardiac partnership with Southlake, a pacemaker clinic, kidney care expansion, and nearly 42,000 mental health outpatient visits. On emergency access, Mayor David West said, "If you have an emergency, go to the nearest hospital. That is our job to sort out what the right level of care is and what we're capable of and we will direct from there."

3. TRAFFIC AND PARKING BYLAW DEBATE

Council spent significant time on proposed parking and stopping restrictions in Bylaw 2726. Bayard's Lane drew objections from resident Mike Lasan, who questioned why the street was being singled out. Councillor Scott Thompson echoed that uncertainty, saying, "I know Bayards. I know it well, but I'm surprised… why is there such a big issue with parking on that street?" Councillor Carol Davidson cautioned against removing locations from staff recommendations without a fuller review, saying staff "doesn't come with these recommendations lightly." Staff explained that parking changes are reviewed twice a year and often reflect competing requests within the same neighbourhood. Director Suba said, "We have one parts of communities that say this is something that we want… however, understandably, in a lot of scenarios, there's another part of the community that may not be in favor." Blackmore Avenue near Doncrest Public School was also debated after Councillor Michael Shiu moved an amendment to remove a section from the report.

4. WIRELESS TOWER APPLICATION

Council heard delegations for and against a proposed wireless tower at 1124 Elgin Mills Road. A representative for Shared Tower argued the proposal addressed a coverage gap and said, "This is not merely a convenience issue about dropped calls or slower data speeds. This is fundamentally a public safety issue." Opponents raised concerns about consultation, visual impacts, property values, public health, structural safety, and insurance. Councillors noted the municipality's limited authority because tower approvals ultimately fall under federal jurisdiction. Councillor Karen Cilevitz said wireless infrastructure is "comparable to roads to stop signs to pipes," while acknowledging neighbourhood opposition to infrastructure in residential areas.

5. REVISED DEVELOPMENT SETTLEMENT APPROVED

Council unanimously approved a revised development application settlement tied to an Ontario Land Tribunal matter, identified in the notes as File SRPBS 2630. Staff and council said the settlement reduced density from 5.2 to 3.82, increased park space, reduced tower floor plates, increased setbacks, and maintained angular plane requirements. The project also includes 37 three-bedroom units through Community Living Central York. Councillor Godwin Chan warned that if council rejected the revised application, "it is entirely probable that the applicant would be able to receive greater building parameters through the province's final decision." Council members said approval avoided a 10-day hearing and the risk of a less favourable outcome.

Motions

• Consent agenda items 15.1.1 to 15.2.3 — Passed on consent
• Revised development application settlement (File SRPBS 2630) — Passed unanimously
• Supporting bylaws for the revised development application — Passed
• Councillor Michael Shiu amendment related to bylaw changes — Failed
• Main motion on street and parking bylaw changes following that amendment — Passed unanimously
• Bylaw 2726 contested locations, including Bayard's Lane and Blackmore Avenue — Debate held; transcript notes indicate Bayard's Lane was to be removed for further review and returned in a future traffic regulations report, though the final recorded vote is unclear in the provided notes
• Wireless tower item (File 15.3 / STC 0773) — Council voted to receive the presentation/report
• Items 15.2.4 and 15.3 — Held for delegations

Attendees

• Mayor David West
• Deputy Mayor Godwin Chan
• Councillor Carol Davidson
• Councillor Castro Liu
• Councillor Scott Thompson
• Councillor Joe DiPaola
• Councillor Michael Shiu
• Councillor Karen Cilevitz
• Councillor Simon Cui