Controversial Wonderland Road tower approved by London, Ont. city council

A fiery debate did not dissuade council from approving the controversial 25-storey, 219-unit development at 735 Wonderland Rd N with a vote of 12-2.

A fiery debate and warnings about increased traffic did not dissuade London, Ont., city council from approving a controversial 25-storey tower in a northwest commercial plaza.

Councillors voted 12-2 Tuesday afternoon to approve the 219-unit development at 735 Wonderland Rd. N. proposed by York Developments.

Ward 6 Coun. Sam Trosow and Ward 13 Coun. David Ferreira opposed the vote. Ward 1 Coun. Hadleigh McAlister was absent.

During the debate, councillors raised concerns about increased traffic and the nearby Middlesex-London Paramedic depot on Horizon Drive.

The area is designated as a “transit village,” a remnant of the original bus rapid transit plan shelved by council in 2019. The designation lifts some restrictions on height and density to help support alternative modes of transportation.

Trosow put motions forward to consult with the Middlesex-London Paramedic Service about traffic mitigation and for staff to study how an extension of Beaverbrook Avenue and Westfield Drive would affect cut-through traffic in the area.

“We can’t make these cumulative traffic, transit issues go away,” Trosow said. “The fact that we do not have an area plan to guide us in an overall matter, makes it all the more imperative that we look at these questions in each individual application.”

While the motion to consult the MLPS was passed through without any trouble, Trosow’s other motion was struck down.