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Town can't find site to please everyone Continued from page 1 3 · Thursday, July 26, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com been made so far in finding a suitable location for one. "We've looked at many, many sites," said Robinson. "I've been on this for 10 years. I guess I should be starting to get embarrassed, but we just can't get any place. We get something going and it just becomes too much of a conflict with residential communities and other situations. We just can't find a site that is compatible to everybody." Robinson said Harvest Bible Chapel was approached about using a piece of its land for the BMX facility, but the answer was no because of its own planned expansion at the time. Other proposals that didn't work out included locations on Rebecca Street, Great Lakes Boulevard, Hixon Street, within Shell Park and at Bronte Athletic Field. In all of these locations, the landowners either decided sufficient land was not available or nearby residents raised concerns about the BMX facility, particularly about the noise it would make. The Town also abandoned some site locations because it was believed the facility would do too much damage to the natural environment. Robinson said the Town currently is examining the possibility of locating the BMX facility within Petro Canada Park, which is located northwest of the intersection of Bronte Road and Rebecca Street. There too, however, Robinson has experienced frustration as any work in the park requires the approval of Conservation Halton since the park is located within the flood plain and valley associated with Bronte Creek. In an e-mail sent to Robinson and the Town's Director of Parks and Open Space, Chris Mark, Conservation Halton Watershed Permit Analyst Charles Priddle expressed concern about the development of the BMX facility. "We do regulate for the conservation of land," he said. "With regards to that, this park is located within the Bronte Creek environmentallysensitive area and adjacent to significant woodland and provincially significant woodlands. As well, it is a relatively natural section of valley, appreciating that this park is mowed." Inside Opinion.............................................6 Travel..............................................17 Health.............................................54 Sports..............................................55 Classified........................................58 Full Delivery: Ashley Furniture, Freshco, Food Basics, Metro, Longo's Fruit Market, Pharmassist, Alexanian Carpet, M&M Meats, Hardwood Giant Centre, Pizza Hut, Drug trading, Loblaws, Lynncorp Inc., No Frills, JYSK, 2001 Audio, The Bay, Sobeys, Fortinos Partial Delivery: Pharma Save, Zellers, Best Buy, Shoppers Drug Mart, The Brick, Centennial Windows, Walmart, Canadian Tire, Sears Canada, Pharmaplus, Future Shop For home delivery & customer service call 905-631-6095, 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington New subscriptions call 905-631-6095 or subscribe online @ www.oakvillebeaver.com "We've looked at many, many sites. I've been on this for 10 years. I guess I should be starting to get embarrassed, but we just can't get any place." Ralph Robinson, Oakville Ward 1 councillor Robinson said the Town is attempting to arrange meetings with Conservation Halton to discuss the matter further, but said the red tape he is running into is typical of the delays and problems encountered at the other sites. "This is the longest drawn out project I have ever been involved in and we haven't had much success," said Robinson. "This is a good location. It is far away from residents. There shouldn't be any problem there at all with that." If the Town ever does manage to find a site, Community Services Commissioner Domenic Lunardo said creating the smaller type of BMX facility Robinson is suggesting will cost $15,000-$20,000 provided certain materials are donated. If the Town builds a larger complex from scratch, Lunardo said the cost could run as high as $400,000-$500,000. A BMX track is planned as one of the features of North Park. 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