Despite passionate arguments on both sides of the issue, hundreds of people both for and against a massive residential development proposed by a Thornhill Mosque, deputants kept their cool while making their final pleas to Vaughan city council.
“This is democracy at play,” quipped Shafiq Ebrahim outside a jam-packed council chambers as councillors prepare to make a final decision on the proposal next Wednesday.
The plan for the area near Bathurst Street and Rutherford Road includes an eight-storey tower and a six-storey tower, along with a school, 60-townhouse complex and parking structure.
Because the land has belonged to the ISIJ since 1994 and the fact that city staff has already issued a report supporting their application, Ebrahim says the council should greenlight it on April 11.
Ebrahim admitted in the early years the community was intended to be open exclusively to the muslim community.
The proposal for this latest development including the apartments and townhomes is open to everyone he said.
The focal point of the neighbourhood will be the Jaffari Centre mosque he said.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/vaughan-thornhill-muslim-community-jaffari-1.4604577