OAKVILLE NORTH NEWS Friday, Aug. 13, 1993 â€" By ANGELA BLACKBURN Oakville Beaver Staff River Oaks residents are upset with a developer‘s bid to build a development exceeding the town‘s current population density levels for the area. "This came up before council two OAKVILLE ARGUS ELECTROLYSIS CLINIC 581 Argus Road, Suite 202 (5 min. from GO Station) Please phone 8444247 for appointment River Oaks pilot project weeks ago and again last week. This doesn‘t deal with the merits of the appliâ€" cation, we haven‘t done any processing. The fact that the approval is submitted is the issue," said town development proâ€" cess manager John Ghent, at last week‘s Planning and Development Council meeting. A PROJECT OF THE OAKVILLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE sUSAN BURNSIDE... I N T E R 1 O R D E $ 1 G N C O N S U L T A N T S is 792â€"8 735 let‘s update your r e s i doe n t 1 a 1 0 r o 1 EB i=c e Pn t‘ e t o t ! T 0 D a Y C A L L A N D $E â€" uP A C 0 N Sâ€"U L T A T 1 0 N# h l 1 . EMECHANIC wek WB BPROFESSIONAL AUTO SERVICE Lube, oil filter change; : â€" 95¢1,§ : Casim. i Bumper to Bumper Maintenance Inspection i (with this coupon Incl. brakes, tires, suspension, steering. I General Vehicle Condition : Offer expires Aug. 28/93 ONN ; _ ABOVE SPECIAL AVAILABLE AT THIS LOCATION ONLY Master C ECHANIC WB BPROFESSONAL AUTO SEAVICE Front Wheel Alignment 53995 Includes FREE tire rotation valued at $20.00. ; Offer expires Aug. 28/93 ONN Custom Trailer Hitches For Appointment Call 845â€"0178 210 North Service Rd. at Dorval Dr. OAKVILLE TOWN CENTER 11 Rear of Plaza behind Hy Zel‘s OPEN: MON.â€"FRI. 8 A.M.â€"5:30 P.M. â€" SAT. 8 A.M.â€"12 NOON In January 1993, council approved a "pilot project" for a triangle of land across from the River Oaks Recreation Centre on Sixth Line. Zoned for mediâ€" um density, the lands are being develâ€" oped along the concept of higher density with public laneways behind buildings as well as front streets. Council, in approving the plan, said it was a pilot project and developers shouldn‘t construe it to be a new stanâ€" dard for Oakville development until the town has studied the outcome. In midâ€"June, however, the River Oaks Group submitted an application for an Official Plan Amendment that would see the Phase 2B lands in north River Oaks (north of River Glen Boulevard to Highway 5 and from their east boundary to Towne Boulevard) involve a higher density than the Official Plan done in 1987 allows as low density. The developer‘s plans call for 700 units instead of the currently allowed 347, consisting of detached, semiâ€" detached, multipleâ€"attached dwellings and lowâ€"rise and midâ€"rise apartments. A sixâ€"story apartment building is included in those plans. "Except for a relatively small area within a more conventional form of low density housing, the principal developâ€" ment concept is similar to the approved medium density residential development in the are of Sixth Line with an emphaâ€" sis on a compact urban form, pedestrian environment, a variety of housing types and public rear lanes," said a report from Ghent. He added the proposal is "a sigâ€" nificant variation to the Official Plan." The plan‘s merits, however, weren‘t up for debate. It was whether the town should accept the application. To request the developer withdraw it, could mean that it would be like the request didn‘t exist â€" not allowing future buyers to be forewarned of potential change. To keep it on the books, but not deal with it, wasn‘t what some residents were seeking â€" on the reasoning that if it was kept around, it may gain favor through that very fact. In the end, councillors requested a staff report on the specifics required for the Sixth Line Project‘s evaluation, that options on the application be deferred until the staff report, that the application not be processed pending the staff report, that the legal and planning departments report, that all area resiâ€" dents expressing a concern be kept informed of progress and that the develâ€" oper/builders be required (if permitted under law) or at least requested to post diagrams of their proposed changes along with the Official Plan diagrams posted in their sales offices. Ward 1 councillor Kevin Flynn noted that residents shouldn‘t necessarily expect planning to be "business as usual" in 1993 in comparison to the late 1980s when the Official Plan for the area was passed. Ward 5 councillor Liz Behrens received rounds of applause when she said the River Oaks Group wasn‘t "Number One" on her hit parade and said, "I‘m not prepared to increase the density in that particular location." Ward 5 councillor Sean Weir was surprised at the timing of the application "so soon on the heels of the Sixth Line Project debate" but noted that the appeal process at the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) is open to the developer. Weir said local council could repreâ€" sent the residents‘ interests "and in a more sympathetic manner than the OMB." Weir noted the ward‘s public August 1993 Oakville‘s only 1 hour Joshua Nadine photo lab using Fuji‘s stateâ€"of theâ€"art colour monitor film developing, Services Include: _ * Fax transmissions retrieval e Photo C.D. * Enlargements * Transparencies * Slide Film Processing * Paseport Photos * Video Transfer * Reprints Develop all of your summer memories at ZOOMâ€"IN 1 L 827â€"1917 1395 Abbeywood Dr. Pilgram‘s Way Plaza. Glen Abbey Zoning application to increase density for triangle school trustee told him the area‘s schools are at 110% Functional Rated Capacity for next year. "I want it clear to the developer and residents. I‘m not in favor of increasing the density. I told the developer he has quite a selling job to do," said Weir. Jim Richards, a director of the River Oaks Association of Residents (ROAR) told council that his board of directors agreed that for the town to consider the application, would be in conflict with the Sixth Line Project evaluation proâ€" cess. "The application is totally and undoubtedly premature," he said, adding the understanding that the Sixth Line Project was to be evaluated and not taken as a new standard seemed to be being "ignored." Saugeen Road resident Mark Mills, who appeared on behalf of many area residents, presented a petition signed by 348 area households and presented 289 form letters opposing the application. He noted the plan would mean a "substantial increase in population in the area," calling the developer‘s projection of increase from 1,041 to 1,514 "conserâ€" vative." River Oaks Group president Marvin Green told council the apartment dwellings would attract a different group of people than young families and thereâ€" by less population increases. Mills said many of his neighbors were "disillusioned and disturbed by what appears to be an unwelcome trend toward medium density. Our premise is that the application is premature," Mills told councillors, noting the Sixth Line Project evaluation should be done before the application is considered. Mills said many of the current north River Oaks residents and potential new ones are ""not getting what they thought they were bargaining for when moving into the area." "The kindest thing to do for people may be to leave the thought out there so people buy knowing what the potentials may be," said Mayor Ann Mulvale, notâ€" ing "At some point in time the applicaâ€" tion is likely to come back." Green said it wasn‘t his company‘s intention to undermine council on the Sixth Line Project Evaluation. "What we‘re simply doing is trying to declare as much in advance as possiâ€" ble our intention for the remainder of the River Oaks community," he said. The River Oaks Group doesn‘t expect the town to take action of the application now, but Green said diaâ€" logue with staff and the community could begin as early as September.. 4 Ey Cl P \4 * Children‘s programs * Water Colour Pastel Classes * Now introducing a teen program Posters, Prints Original Paintings Students Seniors discounts. With any purchase during the month of August fill out a ballot to win a trip for two! es e ART SUPPLIES AND FRAMING We also carry posters, prints and original paintings 310 KERR ST. 849â€"1590 OAKVILLE