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Palermo church on the move for retirement homeBy David LeaTown staff said issues regarding tree pres-proposal was a six-storey building; theyve One of the concerns a lot of peopleOAKVILLE BEAVER STAFFervation would be dealt with during site-plan now turned it into a seven-storey building and have with seniors these days is the committee and did not rule out the possibility theyve increased the number of units. This Palermos St. Lukes Anglican Church has risk of isolation. Being able to have of relocating the trees to a different portion of wasnt mentioned during this meeting. Im a been cleared for take off.the property, such as buffer zone between the little emotional about all this because a friend a retirement residence so close to Town council voted last week to approve an property and the nearby neighbourhoods.of mine who lives next to all this put their the community, the school, the application from Fram Building group that will Springforest Drive resident Brian Barrett house up for sale and guess what? Now all of a community centre and the churchsee the historically valuable church moved to also voiced concerns about the development sudden, they cant sell their property for what would reduce that risk.the eastern side of the same property, which is during the meeting.they bought it for because of this monster bounded by Dundas Street West, Valleyridge Weve got red-headed falcons. Weve got development.Drive and Springforest Drive, to make way for a Gemma Young, St. Luke's parishdeer. Weve got coyotes. Weve got all sorts of During their discussions, Town staff seven-storey retirement facility and new parish wildlife living there. You start building this, do pointed out much of the zoning and the offi-hall and community centre.you think the animals are going to stick cial plan, which permits this development, The proposed development will be accessed around, asked Barrett.was in place well before the nearby residen-with the retirement residence, said Young.via Dundas Street and Valleyridge Drive. My other point of contention is their first tial area was built.Not everyone, however, was as enthusiastic Parking for each facility will also be estab-about the proposed plan.lished.DurinCome celebrate our 1 year Anniversaryg a public information meeting on The cemetery on the site will be maintained, Sept. 21, residents expressed various concerns while the existing parish hall and rectory will including the need for a large buffer between be removed.the existing residential area and the proposed Why consider this plan? One of the con-retirement facility, the appropriateness of the cerns a lot of people have with seniors these land use and the retirement facilitys height, days is the risk of isolation. Being able to have sufficient parking allocation, traffic on a retirement residence so close to the commu-Valleyridge Drive and more. nity, the school, the community centre and the During Tuesdays council meeting church would reduce that risk, said Gemma Oakvillegreens Karen Brock expressed con-Young, of St. Lukes parish.cerns about the number of trees that would be The idea of a community centre within cut down to accommodate the project.such a new community appeals to me as a I do understand that originally half of the healthy way to keep us all connected. It would Join us on Friday June 3rd trees, 17 out of 30 were going to be removed. 99$look to host events for all ages such as farmers Only four were going to removed due to ill at our Oakville Location markets, plant sales, bake sales, community 9health so that would mean 13 trees would be ze Meat Lasagnafor the Celebration.Family Sibarbecues and so on. It will generally provide a il June 5th, 2011Valid untremoved due to the construction and reloca-mbined with any Not to be coplace for activities, families and youths..other offersA tion, said Brock.Young said the project would also give the Ricotta DRAWfor aI understand the plan has changed and two community the opportunity to be involved Cheesemore trees (are beingchance to WIN preserved), but I see two tsenwith a piece of their heritage as St. Lukes mhsfreeR sugar mapa Saeco Viennales are still being removed.syaAnglican Church dates back to 1845.waeiv GeBrock showed pictures of rejust how large $75t)Plus EspressoF lasDue to the location of the land and its pres-le quantities (whisome of these trees are, estimating one to be Machineent designation, Young said something was thUntil June 5,20113three-storeys high and perhaps 100 years old.eventually going to be built there.She said the Town has the authority to pre-As a resident of Oakville, Im happy to see Canned serve these trees under the Ontario Heritage some community space and the integration TomatoesAct.Province will make ultimate decisionth99Until June 5,2011sprawl I see in Mississauga. Now that the con-Continued from page 6struction has started north of Dundas Street, governments are not co-ordinated. We need to its surprising to see the speed at which develop-3-Pack Tartufoconsider the economic value provided by the Olive Oilment can proceed.assorted varieties1Lnatural systems we will lose. And on and on.This building bonanza just shows me how The MTOs environmental assessment (EA) quickly we will lose the agricultural land and process for the NGTA Highway were hearing $992/$00recreational spaces on our doorstep, if we dont about now is wrapping up with input from all thoppose highway development in our last remain-3Until June 5, 2011thstakeholders due by June 6. However, the sad Until June 5, 20115ing natural settings. reality is that EAs have rarely stopped infra-Please help oppose the construction of the structure projects. Escarpment highway.Faced with a wall of opposition to an escarp-MozzarellaYou can learn more about the issue at www.ment crossing, the MTO has declared the Ballstophighway.com , or register your opposition Burlington escarpment crossing an area for at http://nohighway.blog.com/ or become a future study. A cynic would say theyre trying $25friend on Facebook at http://www.facebook.to defer the discussion until after this fall's pro-thcom/nohighwayUntil June 5,2011vincial election.3Geoff Brock The ultimate decision makers to build this Chair, Stop the Escarpment Highway Coalition highway will be our provincial politicians. So 2501 Prince Michael DrStop the Escarpment Highway Coalition Dunfar, only the provincial PCs have taken a clear das St E(at Dundas St.)(SEHC) is a non partisan, non profit coalition of position that they are proceeding with the high-rD leah12 community, environmental and agricultural c(905) 257-9200 iway no matter what if they are elected this fall. 40M3 ecnirgroups opposed to the new NGTA transporta-PUWere waitingp to hear from the other parties. per Middle wwwR.palmapasta.com d Etion corridor. Organizations interested in join-To me, a big part of the livability of Oakville ing should contact Sue McMaster at COPE. New Hours: Monday to Friday 9 am - 7 pm,and Burlington is being close to the green space members are welcome.Saturday 9 am - 6 pm , Sunday 10 am - 4 pmjust north of town. I dont want to live with the Trafalgar Rd7 Wednesday, June 1, 2011 OAKVILLE BEAVER www.insideHALTON.com