Historic Palermo destined to be transit hubBy David Leawith the areas listed and designated her-Not everyone was happy with the plan.He also argued a drive-thru is lessOAKVILLE BEAVER STAFFitage components.Victor Labreche, of the Ontario Restaurant,intense than a facility that would need toHeight restrictions will also see newHotel and Motel Association, expressed con-rely on a large parking lot.Palermo Village now has planning poli-buildings restricted to a maximum height ofcerns about the drive-thru ban.Blair Taylor, representing Shell Canada,cies in place, which Town staff say will pre-eight storeys while buildings at intersec-Since our last written comments to youraised similar objections to the prohibitionsserve its storied past while simultaneouslytions will be restricted to 10 storeys.on Livable Oakville and specifically amend-on new gas stations in the area.giving way to the future.Old Bronte Road is expected to serve asment 306, it is very important to note thatHe also raised objections to restrictionsThe new policies, which Town councilthe areas main street and there will be anin the Ontario Municipal Board decision onthat require the vacant section of land westvoted to approve during Monday nightsemphasis on integrating transit. Waghraygranting our party status it specificallyof Old Bronte Road to be compatible withPlanning and Development Council meeting,said the area will become a transit hub innotes and acknowledges that an adequateheritage buildings on the east side of Oldfocus on the area of Palermo Village locatedthe future.level of study had not been completed to jus-Bronte Road.at Old Bronte Road, north of Dundas Street.The introduction of these changes followstify the previous recommendations and thisTaylor said this restriction gets in the wayThis portion of the village was labelled aa Nov. 25, stakeholder meeting for thecouncils adoption of those prohibitions inof the intensification planned for this area.special study area, while Town staff com-Trafalgar Township Historical Society, localLivable Oakville, said Labreche.An Ontario Municipal Board pre-hearingpleted an analysis of its heritage features. Asproperty owners and other interested partiesAs such, the validity of the prohibitionson Feb. 22, will deal with appeals to thea result, no policies were in place to governwhere the proposed policies were discussed.has yet to be determined by the OntarioNorth Oakville West Secondary Plan,land use or development.Some had been calling for PalermoMunicipal Board. Therefore we would ques-including appeals related to the futureThis changed Monday with council vot-Village to be turned into a heritage district,tion why the Town would move forwarddevelopment of Palermo Village, north ofing to permit a range of land uses within thehowever, council decided against this routewith additional prohibitions?Dundas Street.area including residential, commercial anddue to the areas significant loss of heritageinstitutional.resources, changes that have occurred, frag-Full Delivery: Town Planner Ita Waghray said develop-mentation of the urban fabric of PalermoTiger Direct, Freshco, Food Basics, Rens Pet Depot,ment would primarily take the form of mixed-and the distances between clusters of her-Longos Fruit Market, Sleep Country, the Bay, use buildings with commercial uses on theInsideFuture Shop, Wal-Martitage resources.bottom and residential or office uses on top.Area resident Jean Wettleufer welcomedPartial Delivery: Opinion............................................6Single-use buildings are also permitted.Bad Boy Furniture, Phamasave, Katz Group, the changes coming to Palermo.Business.........................................24Guardian Drugs, Food Basics, Metro Canada, Drive-thrus and new gas stations, howev-I support the staff report that is comingWheels...........................................26Liquidation World, Ben Thanh Vier-Thai, Pharmassist,er, will not be permitted.tonight, she said. I think that unity is oneM&M Meats, K, Lee Accounting, 2001 Audio, Travel.............................................30Drive-thrus are land intensive and takeissue. Since Livable Oakville already hasSmart Source, Sobeys, Staples Business, Canadian Tire, Sports.............................................32away from the heritage character emphasisdesignated the south portion of Palermo toZellers, Tim Hortons, Best Buy Canada, Classified.......................................37needed for this community, said Waghray.be mixed-use, it makes sense to me for theThe Source,Shoppers Drug Mart, Fortinos, Waghray said cultural heritage policiesnorth section to be so identified. I think thatExtreme Pita, Superstore, No Frills, Baskin Robbinsrequire new development to be in keepingwill build to a more integrated community.www.oakvillebeaver.com OAKVILLE BEAVERThursday, January 27, 2011 4