‘There’s no democracy in Markham,’ says Kimberly Seymour after Markham council votes 9-3 to approve the Baha’i Temple project in the German Mills Settlers Park area
“There’s no democracy in Markham.”
That was Kimberly Seymour’s initial reaction after Markham council voted 9-3 to greenlight the Baha’i Temple project on Feb. 25.
A proposal for a national Baha’i Temple complex in Markham’s German Mills Settlers Park area was put forward in December 2022. Over the last two years, many local residents, including Seymour, have strongly opposed the development.
The approved plan features a 25-metre temple, a 5,163-m² notational centre building and 110 parking spaces.
Opponents argue that this project will cause irreversible damage to the delicate German Mills Wildlife Corridor.
“The proposed development is far too large and completely incompatible with the surrounding area,” said Valerie Burke, a former city councillor. “This development will fragment the wildlife corridor, create excessive light pollution and destroy healthy mature trees.”
However, during their final presentation, the Baha’i group claimed that the project would enhance the ecological system and increase land designated for preservation and natural cover, with plans for 4.7 hectares of restoration – exceeding the required 3.04 hectares.
Many residents are still not convinced.
“Rezoning land as if it were merely moving chess pieces is irresponsible,” said Edith Kangas, president of the Settlers Park Residents Association. “Destroying mature woodlands and meadows in one area and replacing them with saplings half a mile away does not help our environment.”
Traffic congestion is another significant concern, especially given that the temple is located on a dead-end street.
“This is a national attraction that will draw visitors from across Canada and beyond,” said Kangas. “Emergency vehicles could struggle to access the site quickly, and that could have severe consequences.”
Despite opposition from some residents, Mayor Frank Scarpitti and city staff backed the project based on expert reviews regarding traffic and environmental impact.
“The concerns raised by residents are not new,” Scarpitti said. “The applicant has already made significant compromises, including reducing the height from 30 metres to 25 metres and agreeing to replant over 2,000 trees.”
The city’s recommendation report indicates that the Baha’i group has also agreed to cut overall gross floor area from 1,000 m² to 600 m²; shift the building westward to minimize construction impacts; and increase south side yard setback by 0.5 metres (from four metres to 4.5 metres) for additional tree plantings.
Resident Sue Mason expressed her belief that public input didn’t seem valued.
“Only five residents registered for deputation at the Feb. 25 council meeting,” noted Seymour. “It’s sad because it reflects how disengaged people feel about our community now. Many don’t show up anymore because they think their voices don’t matter.”
Councillor Keith Irish attempted to delay voting for another month for further review but his motion did not pass.
The Baha’i public affairs office did not respond immediately when asked for comment. However, their official website mentions a multi-year feasibility study starting back in 2017.
From 2019 through 2021, city staff along with Toronto Region Conservation Authority assessed site ecology and natural hazards which helped pinpoint an appropriate location for the temple.
This designated site was agricultural land until it transitioned in 1954 adjacent to what was once a landfill site (closed in 1978), which is now known as German Mills Settlers Park.
The Baha’i website states that construction of the temple will occur on previously agricultural lands later utilized for red pine lumber stock planting.
“The location of the Temple has significant invasive and non-native species present. As part of constructing this Temple, those invasive species will be removed while conducting restoration efforts aimed at returning surrounding areas back into healthy natural landscapes,” according to their website.
Eagerly awaiting future developments remains frustrating for opponents due to lack of community discussion throughout this process.
“This has been such a frustrating experience,” said Seymour. “Unfortunately, there wasn’t any real dialogue with residents involved here. The meetings didn’t lead anywhere because they weren’t structured properly for meaningful discussions. We wanted something beneficial for everyone involved but everything seemed tipped toward benefiting just one party-the developer.”
Stan Lapidus echoed similar sentiments shared among concerned residents.
“The council members are supposed to act in favor of what benefits our community best. This approval contradicts what most locals want,” he stated.
“No one sees any real advantage coming from this project so obviously something feels very wrong with this picture.”
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“The council members are supposed to act in favor of what benefits our community best. This approval contradicts what most locals want,” he stated.
“No one sees any real advantage coming from this project so obviously something feels very wrong with this picture.”
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