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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, March 21, 2013 | 4 Town unveils plan to redevelop in the southeast by David Lea Oakville Beaver Staff detached homes consistent with the surrounding neighbourhood's R01 zoning. The designated heritage schoolhouse on the site would be maintained. While Oakville Town council has not turned down the idea of a private boys' school at the former Linbrook Public School site at 1079 Linbrook Rd., plan proponents face an uphill battle. Council members and Town staff voiced concerns about traffic and sustainability of such an operation at Monday's Planning and Development council meeting. The future of the Linbrook site was just one item discussed as Town staff listed final recommendations for land use in four areas of Ward 3 -- the Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital (OTMH) and Linbrook, Chisholm and Brantwood school sites. The Town owns all four areas -- or will as of 2016 in the case of OTMH, which the Town will purchase for $1. It bought the trio of school sites for $12.8 million in April 2012 after the Halton District School Board (HDSB) declared them surplus. On Monday, council voted to hear comments about staff recommendations, but a decision won't be made until the Planning and Development Council meets Monday, April 8. Chisholm property On the Chisholm property, at 165 Charnwood Dr., nine detached dwellings consistent with the R02 zoning, predominant in the surrounding area would be built. The woodlot and playground would be slightly enlarged. Brantwood property Meanwhile, on the Brantwood site at 221 Allan St., seven detached homes would be built, the playground moved to the east side of the property and the front portion of the school building -- which falls within the Trafalgar Road Heritage Conservation District -- could be used in the construction of five to nine condominium units. Should its retention not be feasible, the portion of the site adjacent to Allan Street could be used for five detached homes. Hospital and high school property On the OTMH site, Town staff recommend building a new community centre and park, keeping the hospital's parking garage, and integrating the former Oakville Trafalgar High School heritage building in the community centre plan. There would be residential redevelopment at the northern end of the property with R10 zoning along Allan Street and along MacDonald Road, townhouses oriented internally within the site and low-rise apartments with a maximum of four sto- Linbrook property Town staff recommend keeping the woodlot and creating a playground on the Linbrook site. Six lots on the property would be used to build reys high on Reynolds Street. This recommendation also identifies the provision for a medical facility on a block along Reynolds Street adjacent to the community centre. In all, Town staff recommend the maximum number of units developed on the site be 156 with the inclusion of a medical facility (206 units without the medical facility). Town staff said the OTMH and school site projects would cost the Town approximately $34.4 million, but would generate revenue between $37.6 million and $51 million. Not everyone was happy with the plans. Area resident Amber Way called for the Linbrook school building to be used as a private boys' school. Way said "boys learn differently from girls" and deserve the same opportunity female students have at nearby St. Mildred's Lightbourn School. She also pointed out to attend a private boys' school currently, students must leave Oakville. However, in a report to council, Planning Services Director Dana Anderson voiced concerns about the public's ability to access the open space on the property being hindered by such a school. She also raised questions about the school's viability and what would happen if it closed. Ward 3 Town and Regional Councillor Keith Bird said traffic in the area is already heavy with the former public school closed. Way said the boys' school would only house 180 students and noted many of these students would have sisters attending St. Mildred's, so the actual increase to area traffic would not be that great. Oakville Mayor Rob Burton said Way and the other private school proponents have yet to make any kind of financial offer to the Town for the use of the land. He said such an offer needs to be made before any kind of serious discussion about a private school can take place. Area resident Diane Burton expressed her disappointment to council at the level of residential development taking place on former school sites. She called for a reduction in such development to two or three lots each along existing streets. Ward 6 Town and Regional Councillor Tom Adams pointed out the Town had purchased these sites so developers would have the opportunity to develop them to their maximum capacity. The public feedback was not entirely negative though. Representatives from Joshua Creek Residents' Association (JCRA), the Chartwell-Maple Grove Residents' Association, Trafalgar-Chartwell Residents' Association (TCRA), Oakville Lakeside Residents' Association, Clearview Oakville Community Alliance (COCA) and the West River Residents' Association (WRRA) said they supported the staff recommendations in principle, stating they do want the residential development to respect the character of the surrounding neighbourhoods. For more information about the South Central Public Lands Study and the recommendations brought forward by Town staff, visit www. oakville.ca. Call today for your personal tour. 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