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www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, December 9, 2009 · 10 Region wants more control over growth By Tim Foran OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF For years, local politicians in Halton have decried what they've said are inadequacies in the Province's Development Charges Act that prevent the municipality from covering the full cost associated with new growth. Specific complaints have focused on the fact municipali- ties can't collect money for hospitals or expanded municipal headquarters and can only recoup up to 90 per cent of the cost of new ice rinks, libraries, and other leisure facilities. Councillors have also criticized the `rearview mirror' approach the 1997 Act proscribes to determine how much developers must pay, which is based on the average level of service the municipali- ty has provided over the previous 10 years and not what it wants to provide -- such as new and improved transit service -- to new residents. "Growth must pay for itself" has become a mantra for some members of the current council, led by Regional Chair Gary Carr, and the basis of regional council's Fairness for Halton campaign. But despite the campaign, GIVE THE GIFT OF HEALTH. SHOW YOU CARE. Look for our FREE Swim or Adult Work Out Pass offer in this paper! 905-845-3417 410 Rebecca St., Oakville, ON L6K 1K7 E-mail: customerservice@oakville.ymca.ca letters to various ministers, and meetings between municipal and provincial leaders, the current Liberal government at Queens Park has not reversed what its Tory predecessor put into place. Now, Halton Regional staff are proposing in the municipality's Regional Official Plan Update (ROPA 38) -- which goes to council for approval next Wednesday -- the introduction of a possible contingency that the Region can halt future growth if the necessary infrastructure and "human services" to support the development aren't in place. What exactly do they include? "It's all the stuff we can't get right now (through the DC Act)," offered Tom Adams, the chair of Halton's planning and public works committee and an Oakville councillor. "What's driving this really is the desire to build complete communities." That means Halton must ensure other "players at the table" -- the local municipali- "What's driving this really is the desire to build complete communities." Oakville Regional Councillor Tom Adams, chair of Halton's planning and public works committee ties, school boards, developers, and the provincial and federal governments -- agree on what infrastructure is necessary to support such communities and provide evidence the money is in place to build it, explained Adams. He admits organizing this "joint infrastructure staging plan" would take Halton Region beyond its traditional role of simply ensuring it collects money from developers to build the basics, such as regional roads, water pipes and sewers, to accommodate growth. "You can't move into a house without being able to flush a toilet. But a complete community is not just a toilet," Adams said. A complete community includes hospitals, schools, and better transit, he says. For instance, the provisions in ROPA 38, if upheld at any possible legal challenge, could allow the Region to limit growth -- perhaps by holding back building permits, suggests Adams -- until it is sure it will collect the amount of money it estimates will be needed to provide hundreds of new buses called for in an "enhanced" transit plan. That plan's objective is for See Unclear page 11 E= 8 MORE PIECES + SAME PRIC MORE VALUE! OUR EXCLUSIVE Fourth Line Dorval Dr. 635 Fourth Line 905-842-4233 (just south of Speers Rd.) OAKVILLE Q.E.W. Speers Rd. Hors d'Oeuvre Quartet 48 PIECES 960 g/2.12 lb $ Rebecca St. Lakeshore Rd. Hwy. 5 3 2163 Sixth Line 905-338-3459 (just north of Upper Middle Road) Sixth Line OAKVILLE River Oaks Blvd. Upper Middle Rd. Q.E.W. Prince Michael Dr. Tra algar d. 8th Line PRINCE MICHAEL OAKVILLE Dundas St. E. Shoppers Drug Mart TD Bank Shrimp Party Pak 2525 Prince Michael Dr. 905-257-2412 (Prince Michael at Dundas St.) Northridge Trail 40 PIECES 600 g/1.32 lb Bake & Serve! $ 2 99 $ APPROX. 230 PIECES IN TOTAL WHEN YOU BUY ALL 4 PRODUCTS SAVE $16 Upper Middle Rd. Dundas St. Bronte Rd. 2524 Third Line 905-825-9295 (Third Line at Dundas St.) Upper Middle Rd. QEW Third Line OAKVILLE 9 $ 3 Oriental Party Pak Approx. 60 PIECES 907 g/2 lb Ready from the oven in 16-20 minutes! e ac h WHEN YOU BUY ALL 4! $ 8 Cooked Shrimp Platter with Sauce 80-90 SHRIMP 795 g/28 oz Just thaw & serve! COME IN AND PICK UP YOUR FREE MEAL GUIDE! SAVOUR NEW PRODUCTS, GREAT TASTES AND EXCITING HINTS AND TIPS! ALL PRICES IN EFFECT FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11 UNTIL THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2009 e. Grand Av Cheddar Cheese Bites or Mini Quiche Choose from: Classic French or Florentine. 16 PIECES 340 g/12 oz 4 99 SAVE $1 Mozzarella Sticks Choose from: Mozzarella Sticks - 15-21 PIECES Cheddar Cheese Bites - 58-70 PIECES 454 g/1 lb 6 99 Reg. $7.99 Mini-Franks in Pastry 16 PIECES 368 g/13 oz 5 49 ¢ SAVE 50