Saw-Whet OMB pre-hearing draws standing-room-only crowd by David Lea Oakville Beaver Staff 11 | Thursday, May 7, 2015 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com The fate of the Merton Lands continued to draw a crowd Friday as residents packed council chambers for a second Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) pre-hearing on the matter. The standing-room-only situation has its roots in an application by Bronte Green Corporation to develop the 55-hectare plot of land at 1401 Bronte Rd., the majority of which encompasses Saw-Whet Golf Course. The application went to the Town of Oakville in March 2014 and Bronte Green appealed the matter to the OMB in October 2014, citing the Town's failure to deliver a timely decision. The potential development has raised concerns among many area residents, who fear the loss of greenspace. Approximately 600 of those concerned residents attended a special meeting organized by Ward 4 councillors Allan Elgar and Roger Lapworth at the Region of Halton Headquarters on April 14. That meeting was held to inform the public how they could have their voices heard during the OMB hearing. The first step involved attending Friday's OMB pre-hearing, where residents were instructed that if they wanted to participate, they would need to have participation statements, which summarized their concerns, submitted to the board no later than Thursday, Aug. 27. Residents can learn how to file these participation statements at www.omb.gov.on.ca. Town officials said such instructions would also be available on the Town's website at www. oakville.ca. During the pre-hearing, Bronte Green lawyer Patricia Foran noted the developer had revised its development proposal. Bronte Green now seeks to build 760 structures on the Merton Lands, including 520 single-detached homes, 104 back-to-back dwellings, 125 townhouses and 11 singledetached residential condominiums. The meeting saw another pre-hearing set for Friday, Sept. 11 at Town Hall and determined the hearing, which begins Oct. 13, would take at least three weeks. Bronte Green expects to call between five and seven witnesses during the hearing. The Town wants to call nine or 10 witnesses while the Region anticipates bringing five or six to testify and the Halton Conservation Authority, four or five. Infrastructure Ontario has yet to decide how many witnesses it will call while a representative of the nearby Enns Lands expects to call one or two witnesses. From simple decorating to major renovations... Paulina can transform any space into something you love to call your own WHAT ARE YOU CROWDFUNDING FOR? fuellocal.com is an online platform to raise money through crowdfunding: an opportunity for a collection of individuals to make donations in support of a cause. Create your fundraising campaign or help fund local initiatives at fuellocal.com Start your campaign now! .com Call: Paulina Dodorico 905-257-0954 · paulinad@sympatico.ca www.paulinasinteriordesign.com a PASSION for living Join Us... May 9th - 15th HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY! TM HOME · GIFTS · FASHION Thomas Sabo | Pandora | Fine Diamonds | Kameleon | Brighton TAX FREE Ancaster 1090 Wilson St. W. 905-304-3044 EVENT Burlington 2435 Appleby Line 905-331-4477 PANDORA EXCLUDED. Oakville 275 Hays Blvd. 905-257-0067 Shop Online Gift Card www.apassionforliving.com