'An urban pedestrian-oriented place': Bronte GO station area plan includes about 8000 residents, 19000 jobs - Toronto Star

The area around Bronte GO Station will likely see thousands more residents and jobs in the not-too-distant future.

Some local property owners are calling for greater building heights as the town contemplates the future of the area surrounding the Bronte GO station.

The matter was discussed during a recent meeting of the Oakville Planning and Development Council to give members of the public and councillors the opportunity to weigh in on the plan being proposed for this area.

Council is not scheduled to make a decision on the plan until the end of the year, after which it will need the Halton Region’s approval.

Brad Sunderland of the town’s planning services department noted the town is seeking to intensify 146 hectares of land around the Bronte GO station generally bounded by the QEW to the north, Fourteen Mile Creek to the east, the established residential community to the south and Westgate Road and the employment areas to the west.

The area is currently occupied by low-rise employment and industrial facilities.

Sunderland said the goal is to change this area over time into a complete community centred around the Bronte GO station.

“It will become an urban pedestrian-oriented place that is a focus for employment growth, including population growth that is compatible with its surroundings,” he said.

The plan for the area is to achieve a minimum density of 150 residents and jobs combined per hectare, which Sunderland said is in accordance with the provincial growth plan.

Overall, the area is planned to accommodate 8,200 residents and 18,600 jobs by 2051.

Sunderland said the current plan for this area calls for building heights ranging from two to 20 storeys.

The tallest buildings, he said, would be located around the Bronte GO station while the lowest, ranging in height from two to four storeys, would be to the south of the site, at the border of the existing residential area.

Sunderland said a developer would have the ability to apply for up to four additional storeys for a structure in this area.

Jim Levac of Glen Schnarr and Associates Inc, spoke on behalf of the owners of multiple properties located at a southwestern portion of the site.

He said this group supports the plan, but is calling for a section of green space to separate the plan area from the bordering residential communities.

“The existing vegetation and mature tree line that is there now should be incorporated into a publicly owned linear open space feature along the southerly limit of those properties,” said Levac.

He also said greater building heights should be permitted in the vicinity of Speers Road, noting a height range of eight to 12 storeys would be more appropriate than the two to four storeys listed in the existing plan.

Emma West of Bousfields Inc., spoke on behalf of a client who owns a property at 2172 Wyecroft Rd.

She said her client would like to see 20-storey building heights permitted at that site, which West noted is just 100 metres from the Bronte GO station platform.

At present, the plan would see heights of three to eight storeys at that location.

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Leo Longo of Aird and Berlis LLP spoke on behalf of a client who owns 15 acres of property to the west of the Bronte GO station.

He too called for higher building heights and densities than are currently being planned.

Council also heard from several residents.

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Corbin Crawford said he liked the idea that was floated of a 19- to 20-degree sight line being used as a delineating line for the height of the buildings adjacent to the residential areas and of green space separating the development area from the residential communities.

“As a resident in the low-density area, it would make it much easier for me to accept any of the changes happening north of me with that sort of plan,” said Crawford.

STORY BEHIND THE STORY: The Town of Oakville is considering major intensification for the area surrounding the Bronte GO station and we wanted to let residents know what is being contemplated and what property owners within this area and nearby residents are saying about it. 

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'An urban pedestrian-oriented place': Bronte GO station area plan includes about 8000 residents, 19000 jobs - Toronto Star
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