‘NUMBER OF CONCERNS RAISED BY RESIDENTS § Continued from page 1 opment Corporation Ltd. $ and 5270779 Ontario Ltd. = cial pla endment to 6 cated at the northwest cor- ner of Kerr Street and Speers Road. Seven of these buildings would have been 18 storeys tall or higher. The proposal called for approximately 1,841 resi- dential units and 7,900 square metres of grounc floor retail space, includ- ing a grocery store. Aone-acre park and un- derground parking had al- so been discussed. Urban Strategies Inc., which wrote a planning justification report on the developers’ behalf, noted the proposal would trans- form an underutilized commercial plaza within a wth area into a mixed- use, complete community with transit supportive in- tensification. Town staff appeared to in a report to council, Town Senior Planner Paul Town of Oakville photo DOUG SAMS represents good planning. Barrette pointed out the site is within a strategic growth area and said the proposal is transit-sup- portive because the subject lands are adjacent to seven transit routes and within a 15-minute walk of the Oak- ville GO Station. Residents who spoke during th the meeting wer less than enthusiastic about the proposal. Doug Sams of the Kerr Village BIA stressed the importance of having in- frastructure in place, such as the Kerr Street under- pass, to support the large development and avoid traffic issues. He also argued that if the plan went ahead, the amount retail space at the site would be cut in alf. Melanie Hare of Urban Strategies Inc., who spoke Concept art lays out building height plans for a Kerr Street and Speers Road. additional minimum 4,600 square metres of retail space. Those present also heard from attorney Mere- dith Baker, who spoke on behalf of the owner of 171 Speers Rd. She called for a decision regarding the development proposal to be deft noting her client's acter has been incorporated into the plan without her client actually agreeing to it. wer need to get this plan on behalf of i Barrette proval of the proposal, 2 ar- guing that it is consistent with the Provincial Policy Satement, conforms to the ‘rowth Plan and the Hal- on Region Official Plan, has regard for matters of provincial interest and insidehalton.com would be constructed in phases, with only some of them completed prior to the buding or the underpass. so said the plan calls for a 3,000-square-me- tre grocery store to be re- tained on the site with an Ba’ right fc come. We also need a com- prehensive development plan that all owners can support,” said Baker. "The alternative is a costly and adversarial On- tario Land Tribunal pro- ceeding.” Hare said the owner of Urban Strategies image for thi th of 171 Speer Rd. has been in- vited on multiple occasions to participate in the devel- opment process. Nicole LeBlanc of the West River Residents’ As- sociation noted that while she is in support of devel- opment at the site, she still has concerns about the Proposed. med heights and den: “Once ‘the whole project is built, the overall density and height is just so far be- yon the original town offi- of 16 storeys with bonus" said Le] “Our concern is actly the potential of a new pre- cedent being set for future development and not just for West River, but all of Oakville ... We would ie to see some movement the heights of the talieet buildings to something more in line with the area." Warren Toll of the West Kerr Village Residents' As- sociation said new develop- ment in Kerr Village needs to fit in with what is al- ready there and adhere to the rule: height and dei Hare pointed out | that the town's § official p identified this aoa as ms propriate for high-density development. Town staff noted that af- ter hearing concerns from the public, the developers reduced the project's pro- posed building heights along Kerr Street and at the intersection Ps Kerr Street and Speers Road. building heights were redistributed to the northern edge of the site STEPHEN CRAWFORD MPP for Oakville stephen.crawfordco@pc.ola.org4 (905) 827-5141 Merry Christmas € Plagpy Llolidayt along the railway and to- ward the interior of the subject Jands, which town staff sai ould reduce shadow. ‘impacts onthe sur- rounding public area. tainty around the project for it to move forward. Ward 2 councillors Cathy Duddeck and Ray Chisholm ‘cular voiced concerns about the province's deferring of the Kerr Street underpass, which they argued was es- sential to accommodating the new development. town staff noted moving ahead with the de- velopment might get the in good con- science approve this know- ing that everything hinges on that underpass," said Duddeck. "Quite honestly, and I regret having to say this, I don't have much faith in the pro much faith in Metro! The matter has been re- ferred back to town staff so issues raised by council and the public can be ad- dressed. STORY BEHIND THE STORY: A significant development was proposed Sor the Kerr Village area, and we thought it was important for people to be aware of exactly what was |, what resi- dents had to say about it and what council discussed as it made its decis: