www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday February 6, 2008 - 3 Developer pitches office tower next to Region building By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF A proposed development is already drawing fire from a Bronte Road resident, who does not want to see a 14storey structure take root in the Bronte Road/QEW area, next door to the Halton Region administration building. QEW-Bronte Developments Inc. is asking the Town of Oakville to redesignate the land for a mixed-use development. This would allow retail and service commercial uses, office uses, institutional and recreational uses, as well as a high-density residential component that would house up to 465 units. The land is currently zoned for open space (O5). The structure would take up a total of 75,500 square metres with building heights of up to 14-storeys. "In Oakville we have these core areas downtown, Kerr Street, midtown core, uptown core, Bronte and Palermo. This area (Bronte Road and QEW) just stands out as a logical completion of that structure," said John Ghent, planner for the developer. "It's close to the Bronte GO station and it's just a really good opportunity for a mixed-use development that compliments the Region. Also there is a whole bunch of land between North Service Road and Upper Middle Road that will probably be urbanized under the Regional plan. This could be the organizing element for that." Not everyone, however, is as enthusiastic. The prospect of this development being built practically across the street from his home did not sit well with local resident Patrick Murphy, who attended a DAVID LEA / OAKVILLE BEAVER PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT: An artist's conception of a proposed mixed-use office complex proposed by QEW-Bronte Developments Inc. on Bronte Road just south of the Halton Region administration building. public information meeting about the proposed development on Wednesday. "My concern is the number of extra cars that are going to be in the vicinity in the morning for the morning rush hour and the afternoon rush hour," he said. "With 465 residential units there's probably going to be 1,000 cars and that doesn't take into account the hotel, the conference centre, the cinema and whatever else they're going to try and put in there. The roads are already jammed." Murphy said he did not want to live next to a 14-storey structure, which is the proposed height of some of the development's components. He called for height restrictions of two storeys. Town of Oakville Planning Services Department's Senior Planner Gabriel Charles noted that both the Region and the Ministry of Transportation will require an updated traffic study to determine the traffic volumes that would be generated by the development. The area currently does not have any specific height restrictions. Charles said QEW-Bronte Developments Inc. is proposing a range of heights from four to 14storey components with extensive underground parking. "It hasn't been specifically ADVERTORIAL stated how much will be for retail purposes and how much will be residential. What has been proposed is a range, so that if you have a low end on the office section you can have a high end on the residential section," he said. Ward 4 Councillors Allan Elgar and Roger Lapworth wondered why the developer could not build this structure closer to the QEW. Ghent responded that the Ministry of Transportation owns all the land between the QEW and the border of the proposed building site. Ghent could not give a specific date for construction to begin, if the rezoning application was approved. "It won't be this spring," said Ghent. "It would be at best a phased development depending largely on market conditions. If there was a market for a major office tenant here, the office component would be set up in one block. The residential component would come later." Ghent also noted that while a hotel is permitted under the current zoning, the development's current plan does not include either this or a cinema. The developer's proposal will be presented to Town Council at a later date. Fresh New Ideas With spring just around the corner a visit to Home Sweet Linens is a must. Home Sweet Linens has received their new line of spring bedding and has added a wide range of new products. Soothing Waterfalls, Micro bead Pillows, 100% Silk Sheet sets, Bamboo blankets, Designer placemats, & napkins are just a few of the new products. As you enter the soothing sound of a gentle waterfall will greet you. The beautiful fragrance of a Colonial Summer Linen candle will surround you. And no matter how cold it is outside, once you see the new bedding you will know - spring has arrived at Home Sweet Linens. 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