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12 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday October 10, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Kerr and Speers apartment plan too high for council's liking By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Town Council has shot down a developer's bid to build three highrise apartment complexes at the northeast corner of the Speers Road/Kerr Street intersection. The developer, Empire Communities (Water Garden Communities) had been calling on the Town to rezone the area to permit the building of 536 apartment units in three high rise complexes that would be 15, 18 and 21 storeys in height. On Monday, Town staff recommended council reject this application on the grounds that the proposed development did not fit with the character of the area and because the infrastructure was not present to accommodate the number of people and vehicles the development would bring. The staff report noted that the Speers Road/Kerr Street intersection is already operating at critical levels during the weekday rush hours, which the developer's proposal would only make worse despite planned improvements to the intersection. Staff also noted the scale and density of the proposed project is significantly higher than surrounding apartment buildings with greatest height in the area currently sitting at 18 storeys while the greatest Oakville's "strategic vote" is the Green Vote Progressive social justice Fiscal prudence Environmental responsibility Green Party hit 17% in Ontario - Harris/Decima; every vote pushes action. On October 7, more than 230 of Canada's leading economists issued a statement that agrees with the Green Party tax-shift plan to combat climate change and create an innovative sustainable economy. In Oakville, we have a chance to write a new page in the history books. Electing one of the first Green Party members to the Parliament will be the pride of this Town for many years to come. We are the most educated municipality in Canada. Providing the Green voice to the House of Commons will be the best gift our enlightened town can give to the Nation. What future do you want for your children? Vote Green. Send Blake Poland to Ottawa to work for you www. oakvillegreenparty.ca 289-838-8967 Authorized by the Official Agent for Dr. Blake Poland density is recorded at 140 apartment units. Parking was another issue raised in the report with staff pointing out that 1,072 parking spaces would be required to accommodate the 536 apartment units. As the developer planned to build only 804 parking spaces on site, staff found the developer deficient in its proposed parking supply giving rise to concerns about where those other vehicles will go and if they will take up parking in commercial lots or nearby side streets. The developer disagreed with all of this, calling the location ideal for what was intended. "This site is a 10-minute walk to the GO Station and this site has excellent bus service by a number of different bus lines that go right by this site," said Ira Kagan, spokesperson for Empire Communities. "It's walking distance from a real jewel in the community, which is the Sixteen Mile Valley and the creek." Kagan disputed the staff claim that only a four-storey building could be built on the site noting that such a building, and not a high rise, would be out of character with the area. "When I look at this corner I can't help but realize that this is an area that is already dominated by high density development," said Kagan. "If you didn't know any better and you asked yourself the question, `What would be the appropriate height for a building at the corner of this area,' I'm not sure very many of you would say four storeys was appropriate. It just looks wrong and yet the net effect of this application is to ask you to support the four storey height. I think that's just wrong." Kagan also noted that two heritage buildings located on the site would be maintained and used by the development with one serving as a meeting place for the apartment owners while the other would be used for various commercial/office purposes, possibly a restaurant. "We're asking that you simply not turn this down and let the OMB (Ontario Municipal Board) make the decision for you," said Kagan. Despite his efforts Kagan's words failed to move council, with Ward 2 Councillors Cathy Duddeck and Fred Oliver immediately bringing forward a motion to reject the developer's application, which was passed. Empire Communities has appealed the matter to the OMB with an eight-week hearing currently scheduled for Nov. 18. 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