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3 · Friday, November 27, 2009 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com OMB ruling clears hurdle to North Oakville development Plans for north Oakville are back on track. The designs for the 3,100 hectares of land, bounded by Dundas Street, Hwy. 407, Tremaine Road and Ninth Line, were put on hold earlier this year when the Estate of Angus McKellar and Newmark Developments Limited appealed them to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB). This development was largely undone Monday when the OMB issued an oral decision approving all, but some site-specific areas of the North Oakville West Secondary Plan. Lands to the immediate west of Regional Road 25 and a portion of Palermo Village, located north of Dundas Street, are still under dispute with an OMB pre-hearing on this issue scheduled to take place on May 18. With 250 hectares once again marked employment lands, Mayor Rob Burton is celebrating. "This is a significant win for the town," said Burton. "These new employment areas identified in the North Oakville East and West Secondary Plans allow us to add over 35,000 job opportunities for Oakville. Given the current economic situation, that is great news." The OMB decision puts the Town's Official Plan into immediate effect in such areas as the employment lands for the new Oakville hospital and the proposed district energy facility associated with that hospital, the employment lands east of Tremaine Road, the employment lands east of Regional Road 25 along the 407, the community parks within the west plan and all, but a small portion of the 700-750 hectare Natural Heritage System, which remains in the appeal area. "The majority of the North Oakville West Secondary Plan is sited for employment. The OMB decision allows the town to move forward and increase our employment opportunities," said Dorothy St. George, director of Economic Development for the Town. "One focus of the town's Economic Development Strategy is to attract life sciences industries to the area around the new hospital in north Oakville." Monday's Planning and Development Committee meeting took the plan for North Oakville closer to completion with the approval of the zoning by-law for the new residential and employment communities. "This zoning by-law for North Oakville provides the town with the control it needs to ensure the North Oakville Secondary Plans are implemented as envisioned," said Dana Anderson, director of Planning Services for the Town of Oakville. "This by-law along with the urban design guidelines, parking strategy, transit plan and other documents, will all help to map out the town's vision of creating a transitfirst, sustainable, walkable community." The development of North Oakville is expected to take around 25 years to complete at which time an estimated 50,000 to 55,000 people will live there and 30,000 to 35,000 people will be employed there. AUTUMN Made In Canada SALE 14 Styles of Sectionals FROM $ 1798 HEARING AID SPECIAL (Clients portion) *Some Conditions Apply * $ From 295 DINING TV CABINETS From $599 Up to 3 Year Service Warranty 60 DAY GUARANTEE: If after 60 days we have not provided you with the best hearing possible, we will give you your money back... We are an authorized clinic for DVA, WSIB, and Green Shield clients Call OCCASIONAL BAR STOOLS Solid BIRCH Bedroom Suite $ Made In Canada 905-827-7333 For a FREE Hearing Test. Age 18+ 2898 Includes: Queen bed, 2 night tables + Dresser) Hopedale Hearing Clinic In Hopedale Mall, next to the CIBC 1515 Rebecca Street, Unit 38, Oakville · 905-827-7333 1029 Speers Rd.,Oakville 905.842.3739 (showroom at Speers and 4th line) Speers Rd. & 4th Line (Main Location) WWW.JOSHUACREEKFURNITURE.COM