Acton development proposal raises concerns during public meeting

By: Christian Collington, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, TheIFP.ca

 

Residents expressed concerns and views during statutory meetings to gather feedback on two development proposals in Acton and Georgetown.

 

No decisions were made at the two meetings held by Halton Hills council.

 

97 Bower St. apartment proposal faces backlash

 

The first and most heavily debated item on the agenda was a proposal by KLM Planning Partners on behalf of Castlegrove Developments Inc.

 

The applicant is seeking an official plan and zoning bylaw amendment to permit a five-storey, 80-unit residential rental apartment building at 97 Bower St. in Acton.

 

Town planner John McMulkin outlined the project, noting that the 0.96-hectare vacant lot sits within the Acton GO major transit station area.

 

While provincial policy encourages higher density near transit hubs, the current municipal designation only permits low-density, single-detached homes.

 

The developer is asking to rezone the area to high density, offering 92 parking spaces and dynamic ecological setbacks to accommodate the nearby Metrolinx railway line and local wetlands.

 

Despite a presentation by Ian Franklin, senior planner at KLM Planning Partners, framing the building as a “modest and appropriate middle ground form of intensification,” residents — who filled the council chambers — raised several concerns.

 

Hillary Spurr, who spoke on behalf of Bower Street residents, highlighted environmental and safety issues.

 

Hillary Spurr, who spoke on behalf of Bower Street residents, highlighted environmental and safety issues.

 

“Residents want assurances that the impacts on Bovis Creek and Fairy Lake have been thoroughly considered,” she said. “There have been longstanding rumours about past dumping activities on the site, leading some residents to question whether the property could contain contamination or be qualified as a brownfield.”

 

Spurr also raised concerns about the “impact that approximately 80 additional residents will have on traffic, parking and public safety and questioned the parking shortfall relative to town standards and the use of Bower Street as a “bypass” for downtown congestion.

 

Emergency response capacity was also raised. Kevin Carruthers linked the development to broader service pressures.

 

“We’re already struggling with first responders in Acton,” he said. “By adding an additional 100-plus residents, I just want to know what the plan is with resources for first responders.”

 

Franklin noted the original eight-storey concept has already been reduced to five storeys and that heritage-consistent materials are being explored, including “more red brick” and a “more Victorian style” to better reflect Bower Street’s character.

 

Planning staff emphasized that environmental, traffic, servicing, construction and heritage issues remain under active review and will be addressed in a future recommendation report to council.

 

Mattamy Homes seeks temporary use for Vision Georgetown

 

The second public meeting shifted focus to providing details on a temporary use zoning bylaw amendment submitted by Mattamy Homes Limited for properties at 10114 and 10242 Eighth Line in Georgetown.

 

Town planner Greg Macdonald explained that Mattamy Homes is requesting permission to construct a temporary new home sales centre and eight model homes — four single-detached and four townhouses — for a period of three years.

 

The request comes ahead of the final approval for their massive 120-hectare subdivision layout within the Vision Georgetown Secondary Plan.

 

Macdonald clarified that “the model homes and sales centre would be considered ‘dry’ at this time, meaning they will not be serviced with municipal water or sanitary sewage during the trial phase.”

 

Town staff are working with regional, transportation and fire staff on safe access, parking and firefighting water supply.

 

Next steps

 

Council took no official action or decisions on either proposal. Planning staff will compile all public and agency feedback into a final recommendation report to be presented to council at a later date.