Council Hears from Public on Bronte St Development

By: Laura Steiner

At an April 15, Milton Council heard from nine delegations about a development application brought forward by the Durante Group.  The proposed development calls for two high rise buildings (one 19 storey, the other 21 storey) at the northwest corner of Bronte St. and Main St.  The buildings would contain 435 residential units with 1195 sq. meters of commercial space below.

Richard Brown spoke on behalf of Save Old Milton.  Save Old Milton is a group of approximately 3,000 members concerned over development in the older part of Milton.  As part of his submission, he submitted an open letter to council, where he asserted that his group was not against development.  “None of our members are opposed to new development, and redevelopment of existing lands.”  The TSC Store currently occupies the lot.

He argued the development was outside the town’s official plan, which calls for intensification (the practice of building up, instead of out) of an area along Main St. between Thompson Rd, and Martin. A check of maps on the Town’s website confirms it.  Marsha Waldie owns Waldie’s Blacksmith shop emphasized that the intensification policy was intended to preserve the historic downtown.  “Towers would be visible from all over, and harm the character of downtown,” she told the council.  Zoning for the area is a maximum eight storeys.

Other delegates shared similar concerns.  In a presentation, Lorraine Dennis used an angular plane to outline the transition from single homes to taller buildings. “The building is out of scale with the surrounding homes,” she said.  She also raised concerns over the possibility of wind-caused derailments along the raised CN overpass west of the intersection.  CN will have an opportunity to offer comment on it.

Council voted unanimously to accept the report for information.  For more information on the development, please visit the town’s website.