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Working Together on Project

It Takes a Village to Plan a City

Get Involved. Be informed. Share Ideas. Get the facts. Learn what's possible. There's still time to increase liveability in Midtown Oakville.

Progress Tracker

Watch this space for alerts on activities, reports, upcoming meetings and more.

Taking Notes

September 12
Residents Associations Meet with Consultants

On September 12, Commissioner Garbe convened a meeting as requested by the Resident Associations with the two key consultants on the Midtown project.

 

The consultants from Urban Strategies provided greater details on how they will support the building of a new Official Plan amendment for Midtown.

 

The meeting included hearing from resident association representatives regarding their concerns and desired outcomes for Midtown.

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Mark Your Calendar Now! The next meeting of the Committee is OCTOBER 10, 2023

The Commissioner of Community Development, Neil Garbe, has confirmed that material to be discussed at the Oct 10 Committee of the Whole will be posted on Oct 4.

 

Some content will be shared by Sept 28th.

 

Midtown is more than just an urban growth centre; it is a new neighbourhood that must integrate with the existing fabric reflecting what makes Oakville unique. The involvement of the public is essential to this process. Stay with us, stay informed and bring your ideas and solutions with you.

 

We truly value your participation!

Attend the meeting. Delegate. Watch the meeting. Make notes, compile your questions,

send us your comments. 

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Read the RECAP in our BLOG post in the NEWS ROOM and prepare your questions.

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September 12 Documents

Here, we share with you the slides presented during the September 12th meeting, as they provide greater clarity on the four Phases and next steps.

 

For Your Review

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Important Background Resource Documents: 

Here, we include the Joint Best Planning Estimates, staff report and other documents that were provided to Council at its August 15th meeting. Please review them and retain them for future, as they will be discussed and used in future projections and modelling.

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Staff Report

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Oakville Population & Jobs Totals- 2021 to 2051

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Oakville Population & Jobs Growth Distribution 2021 to 2051

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Urban Structure Map w/Planning Estimates by Strategic Growth Area

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OUR PROGRESS 

A Big Step Forward

On May 23, 2023 at a Special Meeting of Oakville’s Planning and Development Council, over 200 residents did what Oakville’s citizens are all about. They showed up, spoke up and provided support for those who were delegates to Council. 

 

Council Chambers were packed and additional space was opened in ground floor rooms to provide everyone with an opportunity to watch the meeting on live stream video. It was a night in support of liveability for Midtown Oakville and its future, and it was a night we took a collective step toward creating that future together.

 

After hearing almost 20 presentations to Council, Ward 3 Regional and Town Councillor Janet Haslett-Theall brought a motion to strike a committee that would undertake far-ranging consultation, analysis and research on what we’ll need to make Midtown truly liveable for all. It passed unanimously.

 

The Motion

Following is the text of the motion for amendment. 

 

That the proposed Midtown draft OPA be reviewed by Committee of the Whole and staff, in accordance with section 5.6 of the Procedure By-law 2020-011, and that the committee undertakes to report on the Town-initiated Official Plan Amendment - Midtown Oakville Urban Growth Centre (File No. 42.15.59) that should include, but not limited to: 

  • Comprehensivepublicconsultationsandinformationsharing and review by external subject matter experts on the proposed OPA including urban design, public realm, park space, community building, transportation plan and development density. 

  • A review of best planning practices for Major Transit Station Areas (MTSA) across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) and any other relevant urban plan. 

  • Options to embed in the OPA, mandatory climate change initiatives for the area

  • A review of a potential comprehensive Community Master Plan for the entire midtown area to include phasing options. 

  • A review and analysis of Midtown and our six growth nodes population forecasts to build out, including the methodology which will assist us in determining the achievement of the mandated Town population growth by 2051 and

  • understanding future capacity and an impact assessment.

  • Consideration of the Parks, Recreation, Library Master Plan, and Transportation Master plans currently underway and the Parks Plan to be reviewed in Q4 and how these integral plans will support a vibrant livable Midtown.

  • An understanding of the required infrastructure timing and the Province, Metrolinx and stakeholder commitment.

  • Any other subjects committee members feel are relevant to make the best planning decisions possible for the future of Oakville and the most favourable precedent for future MTSAs. 

 

The important work of the Special Committee will not delay getting “shovels in the ground” for the critical infrastructure needed to advance Midtown and achieve our mandated growth. These pipes to provide water and wastewater servicing are now in design and construction is anticipated to start in late 2024 to early 2025.

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What’s Next?

The Special Committee for Midtown has an extensive list of areas to explore and will receive external support through Jacobs: the consortium hired for Midtown implementation. It is to complete the following work for the Special Committee for Midtown and all Stakeholders prior to an OPA being approved. The work includes: Designing Midtown, Public Realm Master Plan, Urban Design direction, Zoning bylaw, Community Energy, Stormwater Master Plan, Area Servicing Plan, Midtown Transportation Plan, School Strategy, Economic development strategy. Here is a link to their website and some of their expertise.

 

To be clear, much of the planning work that was initially intended to occur after approval of the Official Plan amendment is now being done in closer consultation with the Special Council and stakeholders BEFORE we agree to any land use permissions.

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The Special Committee will seek comprehensive public consultations and information sharing as well as review by external subject matter experts several aspects of the proposed OPA including population forecasting, development density, urban design, the public realm,  park space, community building and the transportation plan.

Important Questions

Here we offer a series of questions, posed by residents, that outline their interest in Midtown.

The questions were provided to Town planning staff and their responses are outlined. In many instances, we've added our comments as Additional Notes.

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Only a sample number of questions appear below. You'll find many more by clicking on the appropriate category - such as population, density, urban planning, etc.

Population

Q: What is the potential population at build-out, based on the draft Official Plan Amendment? We know the minimum was 20,600 people and jobs. What could the proposed OPA allow?

Staff Response: 20,600 is the minimum number of people and jobs per hectare required by 2031 as per the provincial Growth Plan, which is based on the minimum target of 200 people and jobs per hectare for Midtown Oakville (based on a gross area of 103 hectares). Following current trends and growth estimates from in-effect policies (the 2017 Midtown Area Servicing Plan), Midtown Oakville will take decades to build out with approximately 68,000 people and jobs forecasted by 2061. In reviewing this forecast in the context of Halton Region’s Integrated Growth Management Strategy, staff forecast that population not being achieved until 2081. This forecast will be affected by the timing of servicing, land absorption and market forces, among other factors.

Additional Note from us:  At the Special Committee for Midtown we have asked for a review and analysis of Midtown and our 6 growth nodes population forecasts to build out including the methodology which will assist us in determining the achievement of the mandated Town population growth by 2051 and understanding future capacity and  in addition an impact assessment.

 

Before a decision is made on the land use permissions we must understand and have clarity on the scale and intensity of the future build out.

 

Further, we have asked for clarification on what the per unit population metric is to be used to forecast the population. Is it 1.7 or 2.2 or 2. The difference is significant in calculating achievement of our mandated growth.

Click the icon to read more questions and answers on Population

Urban Planning

Q: Does Oakville have Green Development Standards like Halton Hills and Brampton? What about Green Buildings and Green Energy plans for Midtown? 

Staff Response: The proposed Midtown Oakville OPA includes policies that promote the use of district energy and sustainable building practices in alignment with the Oakville Community Energy Strategy. Planning for Midtown Oakville as a dense, compact urban community supports the Town’s climate change priorities by tackling two of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions – energy used for transportation and the heating and cooling of our buildings. Sustainable building practices and district energy are made more efficient with a dense, compact built form. Additionally, the proposed OPA includes policies that outline that green roofs should be provided. The proposed OPA is the first step in a long process of implementation which will include development of a Community Energy Plan for Midtown. Green building design beyond these measures must still comply with Ontario’s Building Code.

Additional Note from Us: The Special Committee will explore this further and the Future Energy Office ( FEO) who delegated at the May 23 meeting have a strong  interest in supporting a community energy plan with the developers and other stakeholders. As well, municipalities have the power to require green elements such as green roofs through by-laws and site plan controls. All these aspects will be covered under the Committee's work.

Click the icon to read more questions on Urban Planning

Climate/Sustainability

Q: What municipal tools are available to us to ensure we have needed elements such as energy reduction, stormwater, and grey water strategies? 

Staff Response: Through the development review process, the town ensures development complies with town stormwater management requirements. There are also Official Plan policies relating to sustainability measures. A Community Energy Plan is also an implementation component for the Midtown consultant team.

Additional Note from Us: As per our Amendment, the Special Committee will be looking for ways to embed into the OPA mandatory climate change initiatives for the area. By-laws and the site plan approval process offer excellent opportunities.

Click the icon to read more questions on Sustainability

Build Your Knowledge

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