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2- The Oakville Beaver, Friday April 25, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Waterfront dedication could be thorny issue Continued from page 1 Located on Lakeshore Road East, between Morrison Road and Maple Grove Drive, the sprawling property recalls the days of grand estates from 100 years ago. With the 12.5-acre property now up for redevelopment, Clewes says Oakville has a chance to do something different this time. Although the Town's planning rules would allow the development company, Edgemere Estate Limited, to build as many as 17 single-family homes in a traditional subdivision design, Clewes says the company is hoping to see the historic estate maintained as a single property. "We want to do something that maintains the visual aspect of the estate from the public street," Clewes told a group of about 25 residents, who attended a public information meeting on Tuesday night. The company has applied for permission to build a condominium development featuring 10 two-and-ahalf storey buildings, each of which would contain three units. "These will look and feel like houses," said Clewes, who added that the "We want to do something that maintains the visual aspect of the estate from the public street." Toronto architect Peter Clewes Amber Door Spa Our award winning spa is the best kept secret in Oakville! Come in and relax your mind, body and soul * Facials * Lifting Treatments * Microdermabrasion * Chemical Peels * Organic Treatments * Body Treatments * Manicures/Pedicures * Relaxation Massages * Hot Stone Massages * Reiki/Chakra Cleansing oyster perpetual datejust turn-o-graph in steel and 18kt white gold Mother's Day Gift Certificates Available "One is not born a woman, one becomes one." - Simone de Beauvoir W! NESUGARLIME JEWELRY Exclusive in Oakville Upper Middle Road Trafalgar Road Reeves Gate 3rd Line 1500 Heritage Way, Unit 6 Heritage Way N 905.469.4825 www.amberdoorspa.com QEW upscale development will be offering units ranging in size from 3,500 to 5,000 square feet and selling for about $3 million each. Although the development is within the Town's planning guidelines for density and lot coverage, it does require special permission because it would introduce a multi-residential development into an area zoned for detached dwellings. Keeping the property together will maintain the architectural and landscape heritage of the days of the grand estates, said Clewes. Although the main residence on the property, a 35,000 square foot house built in 1995, would be torn down, the developers plan to restore and preserve the historic buildings on the site, including a stable, Keeper's Lodge, teahouse and boathouse. The stone wall fronting Lakeshore Road, along with almost all of the 450 mature trees on the site would also be maintained. In contrast, Clewes noted, a traditional subdivision development on the property would threaten most of the historic buildings and many of the trees. While local residents had questions about details of the plan, there was little outright opposition to the plan, and at least one nearby resident said he strongly supports it. "I'm very impressed," said the Maple Grove Drive homeowner. "I think it's the most positive project that's come up in many years." Ward 3 Town Councillor Mary Chapin also admits that she likes the idea of preserving the green space, trees and historic structures that make up the estate, although she notes that the development process is still in a very preliminary stage. Among the issues still to be thrashed out is the question of waterfront dedication. Oakville's Official Plan requires developers to turn over a 15 metre strip of lakefront land for public access during any redevelopment of a waterfront property. This policy has allowed the town to acquire a public access pathway along about one-third of the lakefront over the last several decades. "I `m not convinced the single detached sudivision isn't the right thing for this property." Ward 3 Councillor Keith Bird It isn't clear whether the Edgemere proposal would require that land to be ceded, given that no new lots are being created on the property. In 1995, the Town didn't demand dedication of the waterfront strip when the previous owner tore down the estate's original residence to build a larger home. While the town and the developer are still discussing the waterfront requirement, Councillor Keith Bird says the condominium-style development, with private roads, would make it difficult to provide public access to the land. He is also unsure that the idea is the right one for the area. "I'm not convinced the single detached subdivision isn't the right thing for this property," said Bird. "In my opinion, the unique character of the area is that it's a single-family home area." Detailed information about the Edgemere Estate proposal can be found by visiting the Town of Oakville's website at www.oakville.ca/14652.htm.