Taller buildings but lower population are likley in store for Oakville’s Midtown district

Oakville’s Midtown is in for serious redevelopment, as a new draft of the city’s official economic plan has been revealed.

The Midtown Oakville Official Plan Amendment (OPA), an extension of the Oakville Official Plan, is an everchanging municipal document that projects and monitors economic growth in Oakville up to 2051.

This new version of the OPA — drafted on September 26, 2024 — incorporated some new findings found over the past few months, specifically, with the help of local market research and input from community members.

Due to Midtown Oakville’s current underdeveloped state, municipal officials hope these findings will help inject new life into the region’s economic structure for the next several decades.

Some new key highlights include information surrounding development, such as new height thresholds for new buildings in the area.

However, maximum height limits are contingent on whether new structures contribute to livability in Midtown.

Specifically, in this case, by providing community support systems through parkland exteriors, pedestrian walkways, or by dedicating some of their units to affordable housing.

Municipal officials hope this incentive within Midtown Oakville will eventually bolster a mixed and diverse skyline featuring numerous structures that support the area and its residents in the decades to come.

Additional findings within the new draft also note that — despite earlier projections estimating higher growth citywide — based on current market trends, Midtown Oakville will likely only see 29,900 residents and jobs combined by the 2051 mark.

However, the document noted that fluctuations are incredibly common when it comes to population forecasts.

For more information on the OPA, visit the Town of Oakville’s official website.