Defend the Shell House Lands

Members of BVRA: The Town of Oakville is actively engaging members of the Bronte community in the design and development of the future visioning for Bronte. The process is called Bronte Village Revitalization Study and is part of the Liveable Oakville reforms. All study background information is located on the Town of Oakville website ( http://www.oakville.ca/livable-bronte.htm ). This process has involved numerous meetings and reports which have attempted to characterize some minimum standards for future development, planning principles and zoning requirements. The BVRA executive has been heavily involved in this process on your behalf and seeks to ensure our vision of Bronte is known and considered. In discussions from the meetings, through the BVRA executive meetings and from listening to the broader community of Bronte and BVRA members, the following key points seem to be of paramount importance to residents. Please provide your feedback, comments and/or agreement/disagreement to these points by November 30, 2008. The results will be forwarded to the planning department for inclusion in the Revitalization Study.

all three scenarios are rejected; (note: The planning department early on had developed three scenarios for initial discussion, these scenarios can be found on the Town of Oakville website)
'not one more' single senior residents complex;
'small town Ontario ' feel;
pedestrian friendly is important;
ensure there are urban design restrictions and prescribed design standards for continuity of design for all new buildings in downtown core area;
3 storeys on the main street of Bronte is max and any intensification - if absolutely required should be at least 1 block away - in all directions;
vision for Bronte is mixed use
all visioning should support a theme of 'harbour' 'heritage' and 'waterfront';
we discourage secondary intensification of Bronte;
emphasis in visioning seems to be given to having 'gateways' to Bronte - from East and West - we thought that was not necessary;
define storeys in terms of metres max. from grade/road not in number of storeys;
more market research is needed to solidify the downtown theme characteristics that support 'harbour, heritage and waterfront.

The next Bronte Village Revitalization Study Public Information meeting is scheduled for December 3, 2008 at the Sir John Colborne Recreation Centre for Seniors, 1565 Old Lakeshore Road (at Third Line). Doors will be open at 6:45 p.m. Presentation at 7:15 p.m.

Public Information Meeting on Pathway

Construction commenced on a 2.4 metre wide asphalt paved, multi-use pathway along the PetroCan pipeline right-of-way, running from Rebecca Street in the north and joining the Shell Park roadway south of the community gardens by Sheldon Creek, with another arm running parallel to the creek towards Lakeshore.

This project was initiated without notification or consultation with residents on some of the local streets. Opposition to the project grew rapidly and with the help of our Councillors, a decision was reached by the Town of Oakville to put the project on hold until they had time to meet with concerned citizens.

A meeting is scheduled for Thursday, December 4th, 7:00 PM at Walton Memorial United Church , Bronte Hall, 2480 Lakeshore West to allow concerned citizens to voice opinions with regards to this pathway.

If you require more information about this project please contact:

Chris Mark, Director of Parks and Open Space (cmark@oakville.ca)