The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

The Oakville Beaver W eekend, Saturday March 25, 2006 - 9 So-called deal dubbed silly Continued from page 4 shouldn't see it as a sign of no interest, but "in the absence of owning it, the planning process is going have to play out." Claiming "an abuse of process," Pepino said the town couldn't have brought a motion to dismiss the appeal before the board because it isn't allowed to. "Not yet," said Jackson. OMB reform is underway and Oakville has been leading the way to achieve it. "It's been very unfair to everybody including the board," said Pepino. "Palm Place made a habit of providing as little information as it could to move its appeal forward. It's an abuse of process and has brought the OMB appeal system to disre pute." "It' s easier to say it then to do some thing about it," noted Jackson, pressing Pepino for a suggestion: "The board should not consider approving these applications because of the way they got here," said Pepino. The lawyer argued the public had no opportunity to be involved unless it went to the OMB. The Bronte Village Residents Association (BVRA) did. "People have to come to court," said Pepino, charging the most recent applica tion for the 370 units and east side as park was information "produced on the court house doorsteps." "It' s unfair. It cuts out the public, puts the municipality in an unfair position and forces them to pay huge amounts of money on the likes of me," said Pepino. While the OMB makes its calls based on good planning, Pepino said, "appropri- "There is no shame in being Oakville and not wanting to be Burlington." Jane Pepino, lawyer for the Town of Oakville ate process is a matter of public interest." Pepino said Palm Place's ownership of the land is conditional so an OMB loss would mean the developer would "write off the cost of the hearing and walk." Pepino asked the OMB to ignore the "so-called deal" town council struck with New Province Homes. It credited New Province with parkland dedication (not development approval) for up to 300 units on the lakefront land in return for the early inclusion of a lakefront walkway along the former Shell House property and woodlots that addgd to the required five per cent parkland dedication. Palm Place lawyers argued the "deal" "invited" future high-density proposals, but Pepino said it was tied to any proposal going through the planning process. "It was a risk accepted by the develop er,"* said Pepino. "It was a silly deal," said Pepino, noting Lewinberg said the "Town got taken" and Cheatley called it "a landmine." Pepino' s many-faceted argument stat ed Bronte has capacity for high density development without touching the for mer Shell House site, high rises are out of character with the surrounding area, the property should be kept to as close to what it is today given its shoreline location. She argued intensification must be viewed in balance with other factors. "There is no shame in being Oakville and not wanting to be Burlington," said Pepino. In response to Palm Place' s use of the 1978 OMB hearing decision that forced Oakville to grow north of the QEW when council refused, Pepino said "Things have changed since 1978." She provided a 2003 OMB decision by B. W. Krushelnicki that read, "Oakville is a prosperous and a very pleasant community. It is hard to argue with success, a success that has perhaps proven the importance of good planning to the public interest." ry b a llo t bonuspak Instant rebates, up to total furniture purchase with special manufacturer's rebates. $ 2 5 0 off your N O INTEREST O R PAYMENTS O.A.C. Made in Canada 6 months Umited time offer. if 7 DUNDAS ST. I § · t f z o Home & Design Centre 2575 Dundas Street West Mississauga, ON 905-828-6725 MON.-WED.& SAT. 10-6 THURS. & FRI. 10-8 SUN. NOON-5 sklar P 6 P P L 6 R FURNISHINGS 03 £ p r life · style · solutions · Exceptional Prices · Superior Construction · Outstanding Warranty · Fast Delivery The above offer is onty applicable on all new Sklar Peppier orders p lac ed during the promotional period a nd cannot b e com bined with any previous orders. SKLAR PEPPLER FURNISHINGS '