I was at a meeting of Milton Heights landowners last week (article in this week's Compass). A developer unveilled a concept of what the area could look like- 1200 home subdivision made up of a variety of housing (townhouses, single family, as well as some condos). They want to respect the history, and natural features of the area, and build around what's there already. It was a short presentation, followed by a Question and answer session.
The discussion was heated, and the residents passionate. But I was struck by a couple of things. The first were the concerns raised. They were over potential traffic problems through the area, not the fact it was being developed. The residents seemed okay with that part of it. I think maybe because the meeting itself made them feel empowered, like they were taking responsibility for how it would look.
So many times lately development has just sort of been there- subdivisions growing in practically overnight, with existing residents having no say whatsoever. And now here are people who are having a say in development. And on the flip side, a set of developers who appear so far at least willing to listen is a rare thing. The process gave credibility to putting into the development process a measure of public consultation.
The second thing I was struck by was the development itself. It isn't just cookie-cutter houses, sitting side-by-side. There is opportunity here for variety, and an opportunity to create a very unique looking part of Milton. And I think the residents realize this, and will fight for it. If this level of public consultation is kept up throughout the process, then this could be an example of development done right, and an inspiration to the rest of us to speak up when development hits our end of town.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
Intensification& Growth
As election issues they'll be dealt with in separate entries, but for this one, they're linked. Intensification is a process mandated by the province, to put a certain amount of jobs and people per hectare in areas called UGCS, or Urban Growth Centres. Milton's UGC stretches the length of Main St, from Bronte, on out to Thompson Road, and Ontario St as far south as Allendale. Milton's number is to reach is 200 persons and jobs/ hectare. Now this process is scheduled to take place between 2014-2031, and the matter returns to Council in June, 2010 for final approval.
Now onto growth- something that is happening at a near record pace in town. At tonight's Planning and adminstration meeting, there is on the agenda an item dealing with Mattamy Homes' plan to build a new 473 new homes on the northwest corner of St. Laurent Blvd, and 25 Highway. Also plans for two 10 storey-condos in the Fourth Line, and Derry Rd area.
In my ideal world, I'd throw up the yellow card to growth until we sort out what's going to happen with the UGC. A portion of it, is on a floodplain- and it's my understanding certain conditions must be met in order to remove that designation. Another issue dealing with the UGC is that great view of the escarpment. Everyone loves the view- complete with the historic buildings lining both sides of Main St. Now how do we preserve it? That is undecided as yet. And this one I'd argue deals directly with proposal for the 10 storey condominiums- once those are built, how is anyone going to be able to see the escarpment from behind or beside them?
Building height is another potentially thorny issue. There was talk at the last council meeting of the concept of bonusing- in other words if builders meet certain conditions they would be allowed to add height to their building. Exact specifics as to the conditions placed on this haven't been discussed yet.
Discussions have started on these issues, but nothing has really been decided yet. While we're talking about intensification, growth is still ongoing- and the pace is picking up. I think we should slow it down for a bit- deal with intensification issues first. Maybe instead of saying "yes" to Mattamy, Say yes, but only build half. Maybe say yes to the 10-storey condo, but come back with the design for an 8-storey.
I'm not against growth- it's brought many advantages to Milton, and I think if done just right intensification could make Milton even better than it is now. But if growth is allowed to continue at such a fast pace, while the town deals with intensification; it won't be long before the town is unrecognizable, and we're all left asking the question: "How did we end up here?"
Now onto growth- something that is happening at a near record pace in town. At tonight's Planning and adminstration meeting, there is on the agenda an item dealing with Mattamy Homes' plan to build a new 473 new homes on the northwest corner of St. Laurent Blvd, and 25 Highway. Also plans for two 10 storey-condos in the Fourth Line, and Derry Rd area.
In my ideal world, I'd throw up the yellow card to growth until we sort out what's going to happen with the UGC. A portion of it, is on a floodplain- and it's my understanding certain conditions must be met in order to remove that designation. Another issue dealing with the UGC is that great view of the escarpment. Everyone loves the view- complete with the historic buildings lining both sides of Main St. Now how do we preserve it? That is undecided as yet. And this one I'd argue deals directly with proposal for the 10 storey condominiums- once those are built, how is anyone going to be able to see the escarpment from behind or beside them?
Building height is another potentially thorny issue. There was talk at the last council meeting of the concept of bonusing- in other words if builders meet certain conditions they would be allowed to add height to their building. Exact specifics as to the conditions placed on this haven't been discussed yet.
Discussions have started on these issues, but nothing has really been decided yet. While we're talking about intensification, growth is still ongoing- and the pace is picking up. I think we should slow it down for a bit- deal with intensification issues first. Maybe instead of saying "yes" to Mattamy, Say yes, but only build half. Maybe say yes to the 10-storey condo, but come back with the design for an 8-storey.
I'm not against growth- it's brought many advantages to Milton, and I think if done just right intensification could make Milton even better than it is now. But if growth is allowed to continue at such a fast pace, while the town deals with intensification; it won't be long before the town is unrecognizable, and we're all left asking the question: "How did we end up here?"
Friday, March 19, 2010
Follow The Changing Ward Boundaries
Thanks to a ward boundary review, the boundaries in the town of Milton have changed for this upcoming municipal election October 25th. The boundary review happens every two elections, and in this case three new wards have been added. The other major change, is there will be eight councillors representing eight different wards. More on the candidates, as we make our way towards election day.
The eight new ward boundaries are as follows:
Ward 1: North 401, South: Lower Base, West: Bell School Line, and east to: ninth line.
Your Current Councillors: Rick Day, and Brian Penman. At the Regional Level: Barry Lee, who is also the regional councillor for ward 3.
Candidates so far: Andrew Salmons
Update,27/4/10: Martin Capper
Ward 2: north: #5 Side Road, South: Derry Road, east: Fourth Line, and west: Tremaine Road
Your Current Councillors: At the municipal level: Mike Boughton, and Greg Nelson. At the regional level your councillor is Colin Best, who also serves as the regional councillor for ward 4.
Candidates so far: Mike Boughton, Greg Nelson, and Jennifer Smith.
Ward 3: north: Highway 7, south: Derry Road, east: Tremaine Road, west: Milborough Town Line.
Current Councillors: Cindy Lunau and Jan Mowbray.
Nobody has declared so far for ward #3.
Ward #4: north: Steeles Ave, south: CP railway, east: fourth line, west: Ontario St
Current Councillors: Wendy Schau, and Paul Scherer. Wendy Schau isn't running.
Candidates so far: Carey de Pass.
Ward #5: north: CP railway, south: Derry Rd, east: Fourth Line, west: Ontario St.
This is the first of four new wards, there are no councillors at the moment
Candidates so far: Arnold Huffman, and Mike Bugala
Ward #6: north: Derry Rd, south: Britainnia road, east: fourth line, west Thompson Rd
The second of four new wards, there are no current councillors
Candidates so far: Mike Cluett
Ward #7: north: Derry Rd, south: Britannia Rd, east: Thompson Rd, west: First Line
The third of four new wards, there are no current councillors.
Candidates so far: Rick Di Lorenzo, Paul Virdo, Marshall Horner and Mahammed Khan
Ward #8: north: Steeles Ave, south: Britannia Rd, east: CP railway, and west: Bell School Line
Candidates so far: Zeeshan Hamid, and Jeffery Belo
The regional councillors have been re-distributed as well. The one regional seat represents 1,6,7,and 8. Running for this seat so far is Tony Lambert. The other regional seat represents: 2,3,4 and 5. Running for this so far are Jan Mowbray, and Colin Best.
Candidates for Mayor so far are Gerry Marsh (officially), and Gord Krantz (unofficially).
To see a full ward map please visit: Milton's New Ward Boundaries
To see a list of individuals who have formally declared their candidacy please see: Candidate List. Check back often, as this is sujbect to change depending on new candidates.
The eight new ward boundaries are as follows:
Ward 1: North 401, South: Lower Base, West: Bell School Line, and east to: ninth line.
Your Current Councillors: Rick Day, and Brian Penman. At the Regional Level: Barry Lee, who is also the regional councillor for ward 3.
Candidates so far: Andrew Salmons
Update,27/4/10: Martin Capper
Ward 2: north: #5 Side Road, South: Derry Road, east: Fourth Line, and west: Tremaine Road
Your Current Councillors: At the municipal level: Mike Boughton, and Greg Nelson. At the regional level your councillor is Colin Best, who also serves as the regional councillor for ward 4.
Candidates so far: Mike Boughton, Greg Nelson, and Jennifer Smith.
Ward 3: north: Highway 7, south: Derry Road, east: Tremaine Road, west: Milborough Town Line.
Current Councillors: Cindy Lunau and Jan Mowbray.
Nobody has declared so far for ward #3.
Ward #4: north: Steeles Ave, south: CP railway, east: fourth line, west: Ontario St
Current Councillors: Wendy Schau, and Paul Scherer. Wendy Schau isn't running.
Candidates so far: Carey de Pass.
Ward #5: north: CP railway, south: Derry Rd, east: Fourth Line, west: Ontario St.
This is the first of four new wards, there are no councillors at the moment
Candidates so far: Arnold Huffman, and Mike Bugala
Ward #6: north: Derry Rd, south: Britainnia road, east: fourth line, west Thompson Rd
The second of four new wards, there are no current councillors
Candidates so far: Mike Cluett
Ward #7: north: Derry Rd, south: Britannia Rd, east: Thompson Rd, west: First Line
The third of four new wards, there are no current councillors.
Candidates so far: Rick Di Lorenzo, Paul Virdo, Marshall Horner and Mahammed Khan
Ward #8: north: Steeles Ave, south: Britannia Rd, east: CP railway, and west: Bell School Line
Candidates so far: Zeeshan Hamid, and Jeffery Belo
The regional councillors have been re-distributed as well. The one regional seat represents 1,6,7,and 8. Running for this seat so far is Tony Lambert. The other regional seat represents: 2,3,4 and 5. Running for this so far are Jan Mowbray, and Colin Best.
Candidates for Mayor so far are Gerry Marsh (officially), and Gord Krantz (unofficially).
To see a full ward map please visit: Milton's New Ward Boundaries
To see a list of individuals who have formally declared their candidacy please see: Candidate List. Check back often, as this is sujbect to change depending on new candidates.
Monday, March 15, 2010
MPL- Bruce Street
Milton Public Library's Bruce Street location is slated to close. For those that don't know, it's the current central branch for the library, and it's due to close a year from now when the new library/visual arts centre/ theater is complete. The building itself is located just off Ontario St, behind the Seniors apartments, and has been a part of Milton for... as long as I can remember. Before it was a library, it was a school known as Bruce Street school, a fact attested to by the prescence of the bell out front.
I'm a total sentimentalist. It's the library where I enjoyed book clubs over the summer when I was younger, and a place where I can still gladly disappear in for an hour or so. But I see why we need a new central branch. We need it to reunite all facilities under one location- staff and services, and the chance to enlarge the collections, as well as provide bigger facilities for a growing population... all of those factors can't be denied.
But taking into account the growing population I think Milton can support three branches. Follow my logic for a moment. The town will grow south to Britannia, to use the Beatty Branch, and the new main library will serve as the hub for all branches. But what will all the folks who live downtown do? What will the people who live in the seniors apartments along Milside, and further west of Bronte do? What about those who live on Bronte? I know the answer to that will be drive or take the bus. But what about people who rely mostly on walking to get around? What about people who can't afford to take a car, or even bus fare. Do they have to go without library facilities? I don't think that's fair.
I've been told by the Head Librarian the decision to close the facility has been in the works for over a decade. And I wonder at the fact, that nobody in that time has ever looked at the officials plans and said: fine- build a beautiful new central library in the east end- but we're going to build more subdivisons in the west end, what are they going to use?? Why not keep the Bruce Street location open for them?
To be fair there are some good ideas being discussed for the building following its closure. The region is talking about re-locating the seniors centre over there, after the lease expires next year. Another purpose is a youth centre. I'd favour the youth centre, or some kind of mixed use with a small resource or library component.
Despite the possibilities for the building, I think it's wrong to entirely discount the possibility of keeping it as an extra branch whatever its size. Whatever its purpose, the building could be a centrepice for the area.
I'm a total sentimentalist. It's the library where I enjoyed book clubs over the summer when I was younger, and a place where I can still gladly disappear in for an hour or so. But I see why we need a new central branch. We need it to reunite all facilities under one location- staff and services, and the chance to enlarge the collections, as well as provide bigger facilities for a growing population... all of those factors can't be denied.
But taking into account the growing population I think Milton can support three branches. Follow my logic for a moment. The town will grow south to Britannia, to use the Beatty Branch, and the new main library will serve as the hub for all branches. But what will all the folks who live downtown do? What will the people who live in the seniors apartments along Milside, and further west of Bronte do? What about those who live on Bronte? I know the answer to that will be drive or take the bus. But what about people who rely mostly on walking to get around? What about people who can't afford to take a car, or even bus fare. Do they have to go without library facilities? I don't think that's fair.
I've been told by the Head Librarian the decision to close the facility has been in the works for over a decade. And I wonder at the fact, that nobody in that time has ever looked at the officials plans and said: fine- build a beautiful new central library in the east end- but we're going to build more subdivisons in the west end, what are they going to use?? Why not keep the Bruce Street location open for them?
To be fair there are some good ideas being discussed for the building following its closure. The region is talking about re-locating the seniors centre over there, after the lease expires next year. Another purpose is a youth centre. I'd favour the youth centre, or some kind of mixed use with a small resource or library component.
Despite the possibilities for the building, I think it's wrong to entirely discount the possibility of keeping it as an extra branch whatever its size. Whatever its purpose, the building could be a centrepice for the area.
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