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

www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday February 11, 2009 - 3 Lots of interest in QEP Community Centre By Tina Depko OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Close to 100 residents attended a public information meeting about the proposed Queen Elizabeth Park Community Centre at Town Hall on Thursday night. The evening gave the public a chance to comment and ask questions about the facility. Seniors, arts people, youths and residents living near the site of the former Queen Elizabeth Park (QEP) School were among those who took the opportunity to speak following a presentation by architect Phil Fenech, of Shore Tilbe Irwin and Partners. Fenech outlined the three options being considered for the site. Option 1 would see the demolition of a portion of the school and renovation of the remaining site. The end result would be a 68,000-sq.-ft. facility. The cost is $33.5 million. Option 2 includes the demolition of the entire existing building and construction of a new 64,150-sq.-ft. facility. The price tag on this option is $32.3 million. The third option, which has been openly supported by Oakville Mayor Rob Burton and Ward 1 Councillor Ralph Robinson, is renovating the existing 144,000-sq.-ft. facility. This would cost $23.3 million. Residents living in the QEP area raised several concerns with the project. One was the increase in parking spaces and subsequent loss of green space. Currently, there are 100 parking spaces on site. The parking spaces required under the three plans are 332 for the first option, 351 for option 2 and 476 for option 3. "My concern from a residents' point of view is the loss of green space and what I see out of my backyard," said a Yale Crescent resident. "I know there is a lot of support here of option 3, which unfortunately has the largest parking lot and the largest loss of green space.... Basically, I would like to see the buffer zone expanded as much as possible." The resident also asked that a portion of the proposed parking lot, which would be placed on the green space on the northeast corner of the property, be relocated directly north of the building. Requests were also made by local residents to increase the distance of the buffer between the parking lot and their properties. Options 1 and 2 would feature a 20-metre buffer, while the distance for option 3 is 14 m. A landscape architect presented various alternatives for the buffer, such as planting more coniferous trees, banking the buffer and increasing the depth of the parking lot. Neighbours also expressed concerns about the appearance of the building, with one referring to it as an "eyesore". Fenech said that money has been NEW LIFE: The Town of Oakville is exploring three options for turning the former Queen Elizabeth Park School into a community centre for seniors, youths and the arts community. budgeted in options 1 and 3 to redo the exterior of the building. This includes a new roof, doors and windows and brickwork. The building in option 2 would be completely new, so this would not be an issue, he said. Besides plans for the interior, architects have also proposed suggestions for the exterior, such as a basketball court that could double as an ice rink in the winter, outdoor performing arts spaces, a children's playground and a skateboard park. Some local residents voiced their disapproval of creating a skateboard park on the site. "My opinion is that a skateboard park can actually draw drugs," said one mother, who lives in the QEP neighbourhood with her two young daughters. However, Brandon McGuire, youth community program coordinator at the YMCA of Oakville, supported the idea of the skateboard park, saying youths need somewhere to spend their time. "Oakville has a big problem with drug use, but that's because Oakville has nothing for our youths to do," said McGuire. "This large facility can help provide opportunities for youths to get engaged in many, many different ways. Skateboarding does not draw drugs... but the absence of things to do, does." Mayor Burton also threw his support behind the skateboard park. "There's a lot of kids who contact me as mayor and say, `We live here, too,'" he said. "We believe keeping children in sight is better than drawing them somewhere where they are out of sight, out of mind. We want to bring them to a place where we can keep an eye on them.... I urge you not to dismiss too quickly the value of keeping kids where we know where they are and who they are with." There was discussion over how the space would be dis- tributed and who would get to use it. One senior citizen expressed disappointment that option 3 only provided a 1,500-sq.-ft. lounge for seniors. Nina de Vaal, director of recreation and culture, said that the Town of Oakville would be renting space in the community centre to various groups, with an emphasis on giving all members of the community equal access. She expects youths and seniors will use the arts and recreational spaces. "We see this as an integrated community centre, where anybody could use the space," de Vaal said. Various members of Oakville's arts community also made their opinions known on Thursday night. Common themes among those presenters were the need for space and their support of option 3, which designates about 54,000 sq. ft. for arts and culture. Alternately, the other two options each provide 3,000 sq. ft. for arts groups. "I believe I'm speaking on behalf of our membership of over 300 individual artists, non-profits groups and businesses that definitely are supporting option 3," said Megan Whittington, executive director of the Oakville Arts Council. Conran Cosgrove, a Grade 10 student at T.A. Blakelock High School and member of the Oakville Suzuki Association, said there were enough sports facilities in Oakville. "There are a lot of hockey rinks, gyms and libraries, but not a lot of arts spaces," he said. "Right now, the people who need space to use is the arts." Comments on the QEP Community Centre can be e-mailed to the Town at qepark@oakville.ca. The project is expected to go before council this A Classic Love Story Discover the convenience. Experience the trust. Glen Oaks provides everything you need for final arrangements... with a Chapel, Reception Rooms, Crematorium and mature Cemetery - all at one location! At your time of need, or when planning ahead, rely on our trusted specialists. Call now for a FREE Information Kit: (905) 257-1100 GLEN OAKS MEMORIAL GARDENS Cemetery, Crematorium, Mausoleum, Memorial Chapel & Reception Centre 3164 Ninth Line (Hwy. 403 & Dundas St.), Mississauga/Oakville www.glenoaks.ca Join us between Feb. 9-14th for a Special Valentines Day Promotion! Upon purchase we invite you to unwrap a valentines chocolate to reveal between 15-40% off your entire order! SANTOS FC ONTARIO Learn to play like the Brazilians! International Soccer Academy! Professional Coaching! Year round training! International Tournaments! And much more!! Make a date with our design team this Valentines! Tile selection made enjoyable! FACTORY TILE DEPOT 1360 Speers Road, Oakville (East of third line) 905.465.1650 Mon.-Wed., 9:30-6,Thurs. 9:30-8, Fri. 9:30-5, Sat., 10-5, Sun. 11-4 505 Queensway East Mississauga 905.277.1760 Factory Tile Depot For additional information contact: 905 828-8366 or email info@santosfcontario.ca WWW.SANTOSFCONTARIO.CA www.factorytiledepot.ca