8- The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday September 12, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com Oakville prepares for a walkable future By Kim Arnott SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER "The idea is that these are all walkable neighbourhoods." Peter Cheatley, Oakville Planning Director You stroll out of your house, and walk your child five minutes to his school, where he runs to join his friends on the playground until the bell rings. Crossing the street, you pick up a coffee from your favourite shop, maybe even lingering on the patio with the newspaper for a few minutes, before hopping onto a bus to take you to your job just a few miles away. It's not a scenario that can be played out in many Oakville neighbourhoods nowadays, but it could be the reality for thousands of future residents who buy into the development concept being planned for north of Dundas Street. "The idea is that these are all walkable neighbourhoods," explained Peter Cheatley, the Town's planning director, in a presentation to Oakville councillors on Monday night. Streets will be laid out in a grid pattern, with short blocks, and neighbourhood centres at key crossroads. Most homes will be within a five-minute walk of a neighbourhood centre a mixed-use crossroads that will house the local school and adjoining park, as well as retail services, high-density residential, and transit stops. Transit will crisscross the community, with dedicated bus lanes running along the high-density Trafalgar Road and Dundas Street corridors. All roads will be capable of accommodating transit vehicles, to allow the town the flexibility to alter bus routes as the community develops over its 20year timeframe. A dedicated transitway possibly to accommodate a rail line is planned for the south side of the Hwy. 407 corridor, while a bike strategy is being designed to allow people to safely and easily commute to jobs in the area. While the streetscape in the newest area of town will certainly look different than the rest of Oakville, it's likely the homes will, as well. See Development page 9 OAKVILLE - Celebrating 150 years! protection. Participants will: · learn about the Town's ongoing tree management Meeting Date: September 27, 2007 efforts Central Library, 120 Navy Street 6:30 p.m. to · hear the results of the on-line Tree Protection Survey 9:00p.m. · participate in facilitated groups to discuss the Oakville residents are invited to participate in a public results of the on-line Tree Protection Survey consultation to provide input to Town staff on tree · discuss further ideas for tree protection in Oakville Tree Protection in the Town of Oakville Your participation is important and this process provides you with the opportunity to get your opinions heard. Seating is limited. To reserve a seat, please contact Nicole Wedgerfield at 905-845-6601 ext. 3163 or email nwedgerfield@oakville.ca prior to the meeting. Experience an exciting night of jazz with Oakville's own Dine under the stars at Erchless Estate, 8 Navy Street and listen to the flamenco-infused sound of award-winning guitarist Johannes Linstead on September 15th. Tickets are $125 each or $950 for a table of 8. This is a fundraiser for Oakville Museum at Erchless Estate Garden Restoration. Call the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts for tickets at 905-815-2021 or order online at oc4pa.com. No tickets at the door. Thank you to our sponsors Thank you to our partners Johannes Linstead at presented by Coffee with the Ward 6 Councillors Saturday, September 15, 2007 10 a.m. 11 a.m. Iroquois Ridge Community Centre, North Ridge Room Special Guest: Mayor Rob Burton Regional and Town Councillor Tom Adams and Town Councillor Max Khan invite you to join them to chat over coffee about any issues that concern you. Tom and Max will be hosting regular constituency meetings at the Iroquois Ridge Community Centre to hear from residents. Please feel free to drop by. The next regularly scheduled constituency meeting will be Saturday, November 3, 2007. Tom Adams Regional and Town Councillor 905-849-7915 tadams@oakville.ca Max Khan Town Councillor 905-599-0119 mkhan@oakville.ca Thank You! The Bronte Fishermen's Memorial became a reality through the many generous donations. To everyone who contributed a sincere Thank You! Alton Financial Services Limited | Arthur and Margaret Mason | Lloyd Carpenter and Gwen Jones | RRL Burloak Inc. | Cheap Convenience | Dr. Raymond Liu | Vac Aero International | Michael Milligan | Virginia Hunter | Frank Jelinek | Signs Alive | Patricia Dwyer-Smith | David & Kelly Dafoe | Maureen Dobson | Ellen and Richard Russell | Ian Craigie | Bronte Fish&Chips | James R.& Gayle M. Etherington | Mary L Lascelles | History Hill Group | Jelinek Cork Limited | Precision Automotive Services | Bronte Creek Candles | Rev. James C. Gill | Walton Memorial United Church | Mr. James Scarrow | Mr. James W & Anna M Joyce | International Union of Operating Eng. Local 793 | Alan&Connie Sargant | Harris and Ellis Yachts Ltd. | Molly Maid | Royal Canadian Legion Bronte Branch #486 | Oxville Homes(Fernbrook Homes, Birchgrove Estates Inc.) | Bronte Court Limited (c/o Mayrose-Tycon Ltd) | Metro Marine Limited | D'Orazio Infrastructure Group | Le Dome Banquet Hall Inc | First Gulf Development Corporation | Lakeshore Village Bronte Inc. | William and Gillian Smillie | Thomas and Christina Ferguson | Thornwood Development Group Inc. | Stockhill Developments Inc. | Townport Developments Inc. | Nathan & Lily Silver Family Foundation | "Metrus Development Inc-2 | Nancy and Ronald Schaubel | Judith Smillie | National Homes, Rosehaven Homes, Aspen Ridge Homes | Marie Sutcliffe | Port Dover Maple Leaf Limited | John Hassall | | William B. Cudmore | Murray & Ruth Law | P P Ponedel | Mail & Delivery Consultants Ltd | Donald & Marianne Hallford | John Bobyk | John and Moira Fogarty | 576066 Ontario Ltd O/A Athena Gallery | Hopedale Mall | Bernie O'Connor | Robert and Shelly | arquharson | Mrs. Heather L Aris | James Zitmanis | Kevin and Jennifer Chapman | Lynn Downey | E-Trade Canada Securities Corp | Innvest Hotels GP X Ltd O/A | Fred Oliver | Terence P Regan | Tanya Elliott | Suzy Pallo | Palomar Properties Ltd (Martyn | Lanaway, General Manager) | Mantis Automotive, Sport & Marine | Petro Canada | Molly Lombard | Donald G Goodale | R.D. McKay | Paul & Ladora Gilliam | Resultant Research Ltd | Harold & Eleanor Joyce | Ray & Michael Patterson | Eleanor M. Joyce | Doug Greco | Gary Reed | REQUEST FOR PUBLIC INPUT Oakville Transit is seeking public input on a recommended five-year transit plan designed to address growth, improve customer service and increase ridership. Members of the public are invited to provide input at a public information meeting to be held on: Thursday, September 20th, 7:00 p.m. Oakville Town Hall, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Acorn Grill An initial public consultation phase in March of 2007 helped shape the start of this consultant-led study. All residents are invited to attend and to share their ideas on the recommended plan for the future of Oakville Transit. Residents unable to attend can obtain information by contacting: Barry Cole, Director of Transit Services at 905-845-6601 ext. 3507, bcole@oakville.ca or Joanne Phoenix, Manager of Planning and Accessible Services at 905-845-6601 ext. 3504, jphoenix@oakville.ca.