Photo credit: William Mewes / Foter.com / CC BY
Town staff presented the South Central Public Lands Study (SCPLS) recommendations to Council on Monday, April 8, 2013. The Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital (OTMH) recommended land use options were endorsed in principle with direction from Council for town staff to report back with design details and further public consultation. The Brantwood and Chisholm school site options were approved, and the Linbrook school site recommendations were deferred to allow Council to review an offer to purchase the property made by a private school at Monday’s meeting.
The new town facilities proposed within the SCPLS recommendations, such as the community centre, pool and park space, will be considered as part of the 10-year capital budget forecast this summer.
“The goal of this study was to ensure we repurposed these lands in the best way possible for the community and Oakville as whole,” Mayor Rob Burton said. “I believe Council's final decision on these lands will continue to enhance Oakville's livability.”
Council supports the Livable Oakville Plan policies for the OTMH land and directed town staff to report back with the following information:
- Site design details and drawings
- Further public consultation
- Implementation steps on the subsequent official plan and zoning by-law amendments
- Other site development requirements that ensure conformity with the Livable Oakville Plan policies
- Strategy for the future sale of the development portions of the OTMH site which will provide long term certainty and control to achieve Council's vision
Photo credit: William Mewes / Foter.com / CC BY
Staff will now start the implementation process of reviewing planning amendments, subdivision plans and zoning for the approved Brantwood and Chisholm school site recommendations.
The South Central Public Lands Study took into consideration the recreational needs established in the Parks, Recreation and Library Facilities Master Plan; community needs were identified and options for each site were defined. Over the last year, almost 600 residents participated in SCPLS open houses and public meetings. Feedback from all the meetings was considered when developing the preferred land use options.
“The extensive public consultation on this study steered Council towards its decision, ensuring the best use of these lands for the community,” said Dana Anderson, director, Planning Services. “We will continue to invite the public to offer input as town staff moves forward on these projects.”
The South Central Public Lands Study is one of the studies under Vision 2057: Live It! It was initiated in the spring 2012 to determine the ability to incorporate recreational needs resulting from the Parks, Recreation and Library Facilities Mast Plan, identify other public or community needs, and define a preferred land use option for each of the sites.