New Weston GO station: residents offer input

It was the second public workshop hosted by Metrolinx to seek public input on several initial design concepts for the Weston Station Master Plan.

"It's part of an ongoing conversation," said Leslie Woo, Metrolinx vice-president of policy, planning and innovation. "We're sort of midway through."

She noted the input received from the meeting would be incorporated into the draft station master plan and presented again to the community at a third workshop scheduled for April.

While the first meeting back in October focused on the actual station design, the second meeting focused on the medium- and long-term development of the station site.

"Simply building a station isn't going to unlock the key for community development," said Joe Berridge of Urban Strategies, an urban design firm working with Metrolinx. "What we've got to do is put in the station, then start to think about other community improvements. We can really give the station a really good setting."

Some of the ideas included bringing in high density residential development, attracting more retail stores, and establishing a post-secondary institution.

Other suggestions discussed by the residents were promoting activity in the station plaza and creating defined pedestrian and cycling connections.

York South-Weston Councillor Frances Nunziata said most of the ideas to improve the area around the station came from the Weston 2021 design charette held early last year.

"The charette is the long-term vision (for Weston)," said Nunziata, noting the City of Toronto has been working with Metrolinx to set the framework for developers on what the community wants in their neighbourhood.

"You need a framework to attract good development," said Nunziata, noting a report from the charette findings will be presented for approval at the Etobicoke-York community council on Feb. 14. "The whole report was community driven. It would be good if the community came out in support."