The draft Official Plan Amendment (OPA) for Midtown Oakville has been released.
This plan is one of the most crucial planning decisions that Council will make in this generation. We would appreciate your feedback.
Here is why you need to get involved.
Perhaps you have questioned what our Official Plan or Zoning By-Laws allow due to an application in your neighourhood or have wondered why Council cannot “just say no” to development. Our Official Plans and Zoning bylaw are legally binding documents that define our land use and give permissions which are often defined 'as of right'.
Building community is both a social and planning process that has long term implications for our current residents, as well as those that will call Oakville home in the future. Growth is often a contentious topic, but the facts are there is a housing crisis, and far too many people are not able to own a home. We are required to grow, and achieve Provincially mandated growth, including new provisions that will allow three units on a single-family dwelling lot. Our challenge is to ensure our land use policies and permissions will the truly achieve the vision of Oakville for years to come which must include livability.
So how much do we have to grow?
The Region projected the Town’s population by 2051 will be approximately 375,000 people. That is 150,000 more people than today, or using the average occupancy of 2.2, approximately 68,183 more new homes. We all know that the mix of housing types must include - rental, affordable and attainable homes with diverse unit sizes for singles, couples, and families. We have 6 Strategic Growth Nodes and Midtown is a Major Transit Station where higher density is mandated.
Midtown is intended to be an urban neighbourhood with a focus on people walking to the train or services or cycling. Midtown is an addition to our community which will be home to our friends, children, grandchildren, and grandparents. It is to be mixed use; meaning it is to have both employment and homes within the neighbourhood.
The proposed Official Plan states it is to be a complete community built out over the coming decades. The Official Plan has schedules defining Density, the Public Realm, the Transportation Network, and Land use. These are a key part of the Official Plan permissions and direction. The level of intensification is far greater than contemplated.
In the Town’s press release, “6 must knows” have been highlighted. We add these significant must knows in the form of questions:
If this OPA is approved: What is the approximate build out population in terms of people and jobs for Midtown?
What are examples of best practices in urban planning that this OPA is based on?
What is the approximate amount of parkland for Midtown?
What is the appropriate level of intensification to build a healthy, vibrant, livable community?
We are committed to keeping you informed, and have taken the extra step of creating a Midtownoakville.ca website. It connects you with facts about Midtown, the proposed OP amendment and links to the Town Midtown page, including current development proposals. It shares questions we have gathered from residents as the OPA is being reviewed and we will continue to update it over the coming weeks with more facts and answers received from Town Planning staff. There is a sign-up page for Midtown specific updates on the website.
Please attend the Public Information Session on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at Town Hall to view policies, speak with town planners and have questions answered.
Speak at a Special Planning & Development Council meeting on Tuesday, May 23, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. To register as a speaker, email TownClerk@oakville.ca by noon the same day. This meeting will be livestreamed on the town’s YouTube channel.
Finally, our next Let's Talk will be at the Oakville Trafalgar Community Centre on May 18 at 6:30 pm and will focus on Midtown.
We know you care about Oakville, and its future. Help us get it right! We look forward to your participation and feedback.
The Town of Oakville has released the latest draft of the town-initiated Official Plan Amendment (OPA) for Midtown Oakville. The town invites residents and businesses to provide their input through an online survey and in-person engagement opportunities before the OPA is finalized for Council’s approval.
The purpose of the proposed OPA is to update the land use policies for Midtown Oakville in the Livable Oakville Plan (Official Plan) to the year 2051, to create a framework that will guide the creation of a transit-supportive and complete community for people to live, work and play.
Midtown Oakville will be the town’s newest urban centre, envisioned as a vibrant urban destination and a people-oriented community. Midtown Oakville will have a mix of housing, community services, and business opportunities close to the Oakville GO station. Midtown Oakville covers approximately 103 hectares bounded by the QEW/Highway 403 to the north, Chartwell Road to the east, Cornwall Road to the south and the Sixteen Mile Creek valley to the west.
Midtown Oakville is also anticipated to accommodate about a third of the town’s housing pledge target of 33,000 homes by 2031/32.
Engagement opportunities
Attend a Public Information Session on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at Town Hall to view policies, speak with town planners and have questions answered.
Speak at a Special Planning & Development Council meeting on Tuesday, May 23, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. To register as a speaker, email TownClerk@oakville.ca by noon the same day. This meeting will be livestreamed on the town’s YouTube channel.
Complete the online survey by Wednesday, May 31, 2023.
Public input received will be shared as part of the final OPA recommended for Town Council’s approval by early summer 2023.
Six “must-knows” about Midtown Oakville
Phased development: Development of Midtown Oakville will happen over the next 30 years and beyond. By 2031, Midtown Oakville could accommodate a minimum of 20,600 people and jobs combined.
Transit connections within and beyond: Midtown Oakville is strategically located near Highway 403/QEW and surrounds the Oakville GO station, which is the second busiest station on the GO network, and is served by Oakville Transit, GO Transit, and VIA rail. Future bus rapid transit is planned for Trafalgar Road. The higher density housing, jobs, and recreational amenities coming to Midtown Oakville will be well connected by transit for easier travel within Midtown Oakville, and to other destinations in Oakville and the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.
Distinctive skyline: Midtown Oakville will contain a mix of tall and mid-rise buildings. The tallest buildings will be located north of the railway, within walking distance of the Oakville GO Station, and are intended to provide variation in height and architectural character in order to create a distinctive skyline for Midtown Oakville.
Street-level public spaces: To make Midtown Oakville an attractive urban destination, high-quality streetscapes are planned to create a network of open spaces that are walkable, bicycle-friendly, family-friendly, and provide opportunities to socialize.
A complete community: Midtown Oakville will provide a self-sufficient urban living experience for people of all ages where most daily living needs are located within a short walk, bicycle, or transit ride from home. Midtown Oakville will be interwoven by tall and mid-rise buildings, parks and open spaces, multi-use trails, schools, recreational and retail amenities.
Ongoing engagement: The purpose of the current draft OPA is to set the policy framework for Midtown Oakville. There will be future opportunities for the public to provide input on Midtown-specific strategies that will include streetscape, parkland, sustainability and more. Together, the framework and strategies will also help inform future town-wide master plans and developments.
