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7 · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, June 3, 2009 Letter to the editor Bronte Village residents want development scaled back Continued from page 6 sessions with the Town. We note from the Beaver article, the proposal was put together by six people over a fourmonth period. The BVR outcome is based upon the input of considerably more Bronte residents working with Town Planning staff over a considerably longer period. I would like to think the BVR/Livable Oakville Plan is a much broader representation of Bronte residents' wishes for the direction of development in their community than that which the Bronte Village Mall proposal presented to us How does a 21-storey tower fit with `human', `village' and `manageable'? While the admittedly attractive pictures show lower heights along Lakeshore Road, the additional setback storeys are conveniently hidden by mature trees. This is not a `village.' This is Yonge and Sheppard, Mississauga Town Centre or any of 101 similar urban blights. Yes, they have their place in the right place but is a village -- there's that word again -- the right place? For us, closing in on 30 year of Bronte residency, an emphatic NO! For too long Bronte has suffered from the blight of poor planning and development. Just look at the awful edifices on the southeast and southwest corners of Bronte and Lakeshore roads, particularly on the southwest side where the street is in permanent shadow and the harbour completely cut off from public view and enjoyment. The proposals for the Bill Hill lands and the lands opposite Lakeshore Woods are just more recent examples where the developer and the selected few who can afford the million-dollar views win out over the thousands who live at more ordinary levels. The BVR studies and the new Livable Oakville plan address these shortcomings and, for these two residents at least, we sincerely trust that those views will triumph over developer plans similar to the one put forward for Bronte Village Mall. Before you dismiss these comments as those of the blinkered variety, just let us add this. We are not mouthpieces for the Town of Oakville, simply a couple of concerned residents. We like living in Bronte, use the mall, shop regularly at many local stores, walk the harbour, parks and side streets. For too long Bronte has been the forgotten sister in the fortunate locale that is Oakville and it is great to see people are finally waking up to the fact there are two harbours in this wonderful community, not one. It is great to see redevelopment proposals come forward because they are sorely needed, but the scale has to be right and they have to work for everyone. We are not saying the Bronte Village Mall proposal should be dismissed out of hand. There are some interesting ideas -- the square with shops around, relocated Sobey's for instance -- but, in our considered view you have the scale all wrong. Back to the drawing board lads. Don't necessarily erase it all, but those 21 storeys and the upper levels on other proposed buildings have to go. Instead, bring us something less-developed and grandiose, something more lakeside and village and less urban and downtown. Somewhere there has to be a set of proposals we can all be proud to call home. CHRIS AND JAN LITTLE Butterflies & Brains to hold fundraising barbecue June 13 On June 13, Butterflies and Brains Support Services is inviting residents of Oakville and surrounding areas to come and join the fun and games of their annual barbecue. Butterflies & Brains is dedicated to raising public awareness of the signs and symptoms of Stroke and Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) in children and to provide financial and emotional support to children, and their families, recovering from ABI. Selena Solis, spokesperson for Butterflies & Brains, wants everyone to come and have fun. The nine year old suffered a stroke on Oct. 6, 2007. She had to relearn how to walk and talk as well as all the things most of us take for granted. To get to where she is today, it took her mother's encouragement and continued therapy. Selena goes to physiotherapy five days a week, and twice a week she has a personal trainer. At one point, it was costing Carol, Selena's mother, $3,000 a month for continuing treatment. That cost is down to $1,800 with the help from Butterflies & Brains Support Services. The festivities on June 13 are scheduled from 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at Coronation Park, 1426 Lakeshore Rd. W. Selena and her mother will be giving an awareness speech at 1 p.m. Come see a dune buggy, or learn how to box. There are tons of games for the kids. The public can also order meal tickets. Hot dog tickets cost $5 and hamburgers $6. Cheques to cover ticket prices and/or donations should be made payable to Butterflies & Brains Support Services Org., 466 Speers Rd., third floor, Oakville, ON. L6K 2W9. For more information, call 905-901-7777 or e-mail info@butterflies-brains.org. AFTERNOON TEA AND FASHION SHOW Thursday, June 4 Join us for Afternoon Tea from 1:00pm to 4:00pm with a Fashion Show at 2:00pm. $3.00 per person, with proceeds going to Children of Christmas Past. Entertainment by Shades of Grey, Door Prizes & more. TEA GARDEN FASHION SHOWS, OUTDOOR LIVING & GARDENING Friday, June 5 12 noon and 2:00pm. It's time to Refresh, Restyle and Rejuvenate. Join us and our guest experts and get inspired. HOPEDALE MALL MY COMMUNITY, MY MALL N.E. CORNER OF REBECCA STREET + THIRD LINE P : 9 0 5 . 8 2 7 . 7 1 4 6 W: H O P E D A L E M A L L . O N . C A