Hmm, I think the driving part is a selling point not a hindrance. This is in Vaughan and right next to a major highway interchange after all, people buying into these condos will drive, as they will at VMC and along the Sheppard corridor and elsewhere. The important thing is that there is a BRT stop next door, so the mode share can in theory (and by intent) be split fairly between transit and driving depending on travel patterns of residents who choose to relocate here.
I understand that the VIVA bus routes are not super frequent yet, but I thought the whole point of building them as BRT rather than as regular bus routes was to induce development and increase frequency overtime as demand warrants it. In other words, there is excess capacity on this transit route to support a development like this. Residents at Centro Square opting to walk rather than take the BRT could be a function of (a) the VIVA route through this stretch only opening in the past year or so; (b) the lack of fare integration; and (c) lack of frequency on the route. All three concerns seem like they are solvable long-term.
I find it strange to hold this development site to different standards than elsewhere in the region. Elsewhere, we would applaud redevelopment proposals two bus stops (7 minutes according to Google Maps) away from a subway station. I mean, this development has a striking similarity to QuadReal's
Cloverdale Mall redevelopment, which is a similar distance away from the subway station, and similar located next to a highway interchange and adjacent to some of the worst air quality in the entire region, and yet that development is moving forward without much criticism and significantly higher densities than this proposal.
I agree on both points that this is probably a long-term development scheme, and that this development as proposed is probably too dense. Still, I want to see new residential clusters pop up in the 905, and subsequent development at the Home Depot site and surrounding area might make this a viable future neighbourhood district independent of VMC. A lot can change in 20 years.