Controversial 11 building Oakville condo project takes next step to become a reality

A development proposal that could largely replace an existing Oakville shopping plaza with 11 high-rise buildings, will take its next step towards becoming a reality when the project comes before a town committee meeting next week.

The project, slated for the northwest corner of Kerr St. and Speers Rd., will gut the existing plaza and be replaced by the condo development as well as a redesigned shopping area. The current plaza houses a Food Basics and Shoppers Drug Mart along with several other stores.

The committee meeting will take place September 6 at 6:30 at Oakville Town Hall as well as through live streaming. It will focus on the developer’s desire to amend Oakville’s official plan to allow the project to take place. Councillors will debate the issue at the meeting and also consider a staff report recommending how the project should proceed.

Considered a major development that will reshape the future of central Oakville, the development calls for 11 new buildings that range in height from eight to 28 storeys and add 1,840 residential units as well as replacing existing commercial properties with new shopping areas on the lower levels of the residential structures. A small park is also included in the plan.

However, the project has met with some resistance by members of the community who have argued the buildings will be too tall for the neighbourhood as well as create traffic chaos that will come with increase of cars and trucks that will belong to the new condo dwellers.

Some nearby residents also voiced concern about the type of retail that will move into the development fearing that upscale shopping will replace the budget stores that are there now.

Depending on the results of the committee meeting, the proposal will have to go before town council to receive final approve before construction can begin.

The meeting can be viewed here.