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Town sides with residents against Robinson Street condo plan By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF 23 · Thursday, January 28, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com Town Council has put the brakes on a 13unit condominium proposed for the southwest corner of the Robinson/Navy Street intersection after the builder and area residents could not reach a compromise. Situated near the Granary (built 1855), First Mayor of Oakville George Chisholm's house (built 1848) and the Murray House Hotel (built 1857), the condominium's proposed location upset many area residents who felt the building offended the area's historical nature. In an effort to ease the concerns of residents and council, the developer, 445312 Ontario Limited, did alter the original design of the building presented to council in 2008. This new design featured a 1.2 metre height reduction along the Water Street frontage with an overall proposed height sitting at three-storeys for the Navy Street frontage and five-storeys for the Water Street frontage. The terracing along Water Street and the overall exterior design of the building was also changed in an effort to make it more in keeping with the area. The changes were seen as significant enough for Town staff to recommend the building's approval, however, numerous public delegations, who spoke at the Planning and Development Council meeting of Jan. 11, still found it unsatisfactory. "I think there has been progress. I think the fact that planning staff have created a much more effective terracing on the Water Street side is great, the alignment of the windows on the portion of the building that is along Robinson and Navy is complimentary to the Murray House, so there has been progress there. There has been a reduction in the different types of materials that were on one of the earlier proposals, so again we are starting to see better symmetry between the east blocks and the west blocks," said Joe Sarnecki, president of the Oakville Lakeside Residents' Association at the previous meeting. "There are some further improvements that we feel could be made with a bit more dialogue." On that night, council voted to defer a decision on the condominium issue until the Planning and Development Council Meeting of Monday, Jan. 25, in an effort to give the developer and residents a further opportunity to reach a compromise on the design of the building. On Monday, Town of Oakville Senior Planner Leigh Musson noted a meeting between residents and the developer did take place on Thursday, Jan. 14, however, no compromise was reached on the design and as such no revisions were made. "A second meeting was scheduled, however, we were advised by the applicant that they did not wish to pursue any further discussions and that meeting was cancelled," said Musson. With no consensus reached, Ward 3 Town and Regional Councillor Keith Bird brought forward a motion calling for the developer's application to be refused. "The proposed zoning bylaw amendment application for a 13-unit apartment building does not reflect the three-storey height limit that was passed by council as part of Official Plan Amendment 248 in 2005," said Bird. "The setbacks, height and massing of the proposed building are not compatible with the surrounding area, nor is it compatible with the streetscape along Navy and Robinson. The site directly abuts the old Oakville conservation district, however, the proposal does not properly preserve, maintain or enhance the character of the heritage conservation district as contemplated by the Official Plan. The proposed setbacks and heights create an undesirable precedent that are not in keeping with the surrounding area." Several residents, who had been scheduled to address council on the condominium issue, chose not to speak during the meeting and, instead, expressed support for Bird's motion, which was passed by council moments later. at. Mon. - S m am-6p 10 Sunday 12-5pm. Most Seasonal And Dated Items Now 50% MAXWELL WILLIAMS - ROYAL SELANGOR - PADERNO LANG STATIONERY - SWISSMAR - SPIEGELAU - LUG & LOTS MORE! 20-60% OFF EVERYTHING MUST GO NEW ITEMS ARRIVIN G DAILY OFF MORRISON HOUSE OAKVILLE 283 Lakeshore Rd., West, Oakville (N.E corner Trafalgar & Lakeshore) Mon. - Sat. 10am-6pm - Sun. 12pm - 5pm. 905-849-1822 Wine and chocolate at Cucci Today is the deadline to register for the Ontario Wine Society (OWS), Oakville chapter's wine and chocolate event at Cucci Ristorante in Bronte on Feb. 2. The wine-and-chocolate-tasting event will be hosted by Sue-Ann Staff, proprietor of SueAnn Staff Estate Winery, her family's 200-yearold estate in Jordan, Ontario and winemaster for John Howard Cellars of Distinction, which produces the Megalomaniac brand in Vineland, Ontario. Staff is one of Canada's top winemakers having won more than 450 national and international wine awards. She was acclaimed by the OWS as 2002 Winemaker of the Year and was twice named one of the top four Women in Wine in the World, according to the International Wine and Spirits Awards of London, England. Everyone is welcome, however, all attendees must be 19 years of age or older. Cost is $35 for members and $45 for nonmembers. Reception starts at 6:30 p.m., with wine tasting to begin at 7 p.m. Cucci Ristorante is located at 119 Jones St. (Event Room). To register, visit OntarioWineSociety.com; owsoakville@yahoo.ca, or 416-996-6700. 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