Much has been talked about recently with the proposal for a condominium development in downtown Milton. Recently the Town had held a Public Information Centre (PIC) to discuss it as well as get feedback directly from Milton residents.
I, along with a number of town councillors, attended both sessions which had over 80 people come out both times. The Milton Canadian Champion has done a good story on the development today, so please have a read.
There will be public meetings held at Milton Town Council in the future, so stay tuned to my social media feeds to find out the details. We want to hear from residents not only in the downtown core, but from all over Milton. One of the biggest issues we face as a municipality is the development and improvement of our downtown core. Recently Milton Town Council has also finally launched our Downtown Improvement Study to address these very concerns. What will our downtown look like in the future? How can we improve the quality of life in downtown? We need to address a number of concerns to help breath life into our downtown core and public input is vital towards that process.
I think we can agree that something needs to be done in our downtown core. Where the challenges lie is in the details. Opinions range from total opposition to any kind of development in the downtown core to those who would like to see these kinds of changes made. This is where we as a community need to come forward and have our say.
When council approved the recent downtown study several weeks ago, I remarked that we have to go about this with an open mind. We all agree something needs to be done. Business owners tell me that downtown Milton needs “feet on the street” to become vibrant. We as a town and as a community need to come to a compromise and set a plan and move forward. This will be very challenging and decisions wont be made hastily. But we need to do something so I hope that everyone in Milton will take part in these discussions.
Here is the link to the article below from Melanie Hennessy at the Milton Canadian Champion.
Milton twin tower condo plans unveilved at open house
Milton Canadian Champion
The downtown Milton skyline may soon look very different if plans for a twin tower condo are given the green light.
A group of numbered companies has put forward its plans for a condominium development consisting of an 18-storey west tower and 13-storey east tower with a combined 190 units on lands that front onto Mill and Main streets, west of Martin Street. The proposal also calls for almost 570 square metres of space for businesses that would be accessed from Main Street.
In order for the development to proceed, a number of approvals are needed, including one from Conservation Halton, as the lands fall within a regulatory floodplain.
The proposal was recently the subject of two public open houses, with each drawing about 80 people, said Town Director of Planning and Development Barb Koopmans.
“They were very well-attended,” she said, noting, “The purpose of the open houses was to make sure clear information is available on the proposal, not gauge public sentiment.”
Residents will soon have a chance to make their voices heard at a Town public meeting on the plans. A date has yet to be set, but it’s expected to take place this spring (details will be posted at www.milton.ca, and those who attended the open houses will be notified).
Following that, Town staff will complete its evaluation of the plans and comments received. They will bring a report to council with a recommendation to approve or deny the proposal.
The developer will also need to receive a permit and approval from Conservation Halton to proceed in a regulatory floodplain. The application will be subject to the Province’s “One Zone” concept, which treats an entire floodplain as one unit and restricts or prohibits development.
With two levels of above ground parking proposed for the base of each building, plus a mechanical penthouse on top of the structures to house equipment, the west tower will actually appear equivalent to a 20-storey building, while the east tower will look like a 15-storey structure.
To make way for the development, two Main Street and four Mill Street buildings would have to be demolished, including the Mill Street Coin Laundry, Bumpr’s Restaurant and the building located immediately west of the eatery, which is currently on the Town’s Heritage List.
The proposal comes at a time when the Town is undertaking a Downtown Study that’s examining the current state of Milton’s core and identifying opportunities for revitalization and redevelopment. Town staff is currently conducting a market analysis and anticipates bringing an interim report to council this spring.
“The completion of the study will be critical for the technical review of the (condominium) applications,” according to a fact sheet from the Town’s Planning and Development department.
The plans call for 190 parking spaces for those who live in the buildings, including 164 resident spots and 29 visitor spaces, spread over two storeys of above-ground parking that would be accessed from Main Street.
But the Town’s zoning bylaw currently requires a ratio of 1.5 spaces per dwelling unit, plus an additional 0.5 spaces for designated visitor parking. Based on this, the buildings would require 285 parking spots to service the residents, plus an additional 48 visitor spaces.
Public parking with access points on Mill Street and a total of 132 spaces has also been proposed.
The town must approve Official Plan and zoning bylaw amendments before the project is given the green light. Current zoning of the lands permits a maximum building height of four storeys.
Along with its application, the developer has submitted a variety of studies to the Town, including reports on air quality, heritage impact, noise feasibility and traffic impact. The municipality is awaiting the submission of an urban design brief, shadow impact study and tree preservation plan.
For more information, including copies of the studies, visit www.milton.ca/en/Build/DMOldMilton.asp#MillStreet.
Great idea for Milton!