The area along Cross Avenue and the South Service Road from 16 Mile Creek to Chartwell is scheduled for redevelopment over the next twenty years. Midtown is a 100 hectare site. This is part of the Provinces mandate to municipalities called “Places to Grow” . Midtown, Downtown, Kerr, North Oakville and Bronte were designated as growth areas.
Midtown will include high-density apartments for at least 12,000 people on and near the existing north Go Train parking area and by Lyons Lane, and employment development for 8000 people on the lands between Trafalgar and Chartwell, north of the railway tracks.
We wanted to advise you to several concerns the Resident Associations have been following:
First of all, the Town’s Official Plan, “Liveable Oakville”, limits development in this area to 20 storeys. However, through a policy called “bonusing” developers could be permitted to build up to 35 storeys. This could nearly double the population projection of 12,000?
Secondly, it has been assumed that none of these people will have children. There is no provision for parkland, or public open space or playgrounds. The lack of defined green space could result in a cement “ jungle” similar to Liberty Village. Policy and Planning initiatives need to ensure that this new community is truly Livable for new and current residents. There has been no consideration of the effect of school buses on these very busy roads. It has also been assumed that many of these new residents will not have cars because of the proximity of public transit.
Thirdly, the much needed improvements to roads and infrastructure will not happen for several years, and yet the applications for development of the new high rises have already started to come in.The Town’s document does not set a maximum limit on units being built which is concerning considering the direct impact on utility capacity –roads ( transportation system ) , sewer capacity , water supply capacity , infrastructure to support the population.
Traffic congestion in this area is already a problem. The new highway accesses and other infrastructure changes need to be in place before the new residents arrive. Who will speak for those residents who may not have arrived to ensure their ‘neighbourhood” is being built with community spaces and needs?
What are some positives:
– Access from Royal Windsor to Iroquois Shore will be part of the development
– Direct access to the QEW off Royal Windsor may re- route some of the trucks off Cornwall.
– Increased population should help support the economic viability of Downtown if it is not over developed with excessive retail.