Midtown Oakville plan could see forest of skyscrapers near GO station

The idea of a forest of skyscrapers near the Oakville GO station has local residents up-in-arms.

And the next step in the Midtown Oakville plan, which could see more than 50,000 new residents, is a meeting today (Feb. 15) from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the south atrium of Town Hall.

Like many communities in the GTA, new provincial housing targets are accelerating growth plans. And also like Halton neighbours Burlington and Milton, Oakville wants to focus much of the growth around local GO stations, effectively creating self-contained communities with access to public transportation and local stores and amenities.

But the initial plan, which called for condo buildings as tall as 58 storeys, took many Oakville residents by surprise. The pushback was so strong that Oakville politicians decided to make serious revisions.

But even that has left a plan that envisions towers from 35 to 48 storeys near Trafalgar Rd., between the railway tracks and the QEW. The further you get from the GO station, the smaller the buildings, with 25-storey buildings planned for near Sixteen Mile Creek and 10 storeys near low density neighbourhoods.

Residents will have the opportunity to provide more feedback at tonight’s meeting before decisions on the Midtown Official Plan Amendment begin later this month.

To register for the event, visit here.