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4 - The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday January 17, 2009 www.oakvillebeaver.com Development may slow down By Tim Foran METROLAND MEDIA WEST GROUP Residential growth in north Oakville and Milton could slow down in two years as developers have requested less than half the sewer and water pipe allocations forecast by Halton Region, according to Regional Chair Gary Carr. The Region had expected developers to request the release of about 9,500 pipe allocations before 2011. However, developers have only asked for about 4,000 so far. Each allocation is equivalent to about 3.5 people, meaning the reduced allocations represent close to 20,000 fewer residents. Carr said the cause of the reduced interest in building in the two communities was due to the current credit crunch affecting developers' ability to get project financing, and not due to the increased development charges the Region has attached to each pipe allocation. For residential growth in north Oakville and Milton, regional council upped the charge to developers for each allocation to $38,500 from $26,500 last fall. Carr said the hike was necessary to help the Region pay for $2.5 billion in costs for roads, water and wastewater projects to support future growth in the area. "Basically, we're going to proceed with those who are interested," Carr said of the Region's plans. "We're not changing that ($38,500)." Carr said the slowdown might be noticed in two years, as it usually takes that length of time between the release of allocations to when home construction actually starts. The Region has also issued just under 11,000 allocations in previous years that haven't yet been used by developers. Purse snatcher got away in SUV Halton police are searching for two men following a Thursday afternoon purse snatching on Palmer Avenue. Police said the robbery took place at around 4:30 p.m. when a man approached two women walking in the area of Palmer Avenue and Reynolds Street. Striking from behind, the suspect grabbed one woman's purse, knocking the 53-year-old woman to the ground. The two women chased the suspect for a short distance, but lost him when he dove through the open rear window of a waiting red, four-door SUV, which promptly sped away. No injuries were sustained as a result of the robbery. The suspect is described as white, 6 feet tall, between 25 and 35 years of age, clean shaven with a large build. He wore a black toque, a black jacket and black boots. The individual in the car could only be described as male. Halton police are continuing to investigate this incident. Anyone with information related to it is asked to contact the Oakville Criminal Investigations Bureau at 905-825-4777, ext. 2215 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).