By: Laura Steiner
Residents had a chance to speak out on the Briarwood development at Milton Council’s March 19, meeting. 14 area residents spoke on the proposal. The proposed development is to be located on the southeast corner of Ontario St. South, and Derry Road on the former Richardson’s GM dealership lands.
The proposal is for three condo towers (16, 20, and 25 storeys) grouped along the major streets to create a barrier. Stacked townhouses, and greenspaces are to be located along the interior. Parking is planned for underground. This is projected to house over 6,000 people.
Derry and Ontario is one of the busier intersections in Milton, where cars often wait through more than one light to turn left. Ontario St. South is scheduled widen by the year 2027. Joanne Hewiston of Valleyview Crescent likened the development to an island. “You’ve got two huge roads on each side, and 16 mile creek, they become really isolated,” she said.
Schools were another concern voiced by residents. Halton District School Board (HDSB) expects approximately 54 children living there to attend area schools. “How do we expect to build a community if we’re bussing kids?” Luke DuCharme asked. Tiger Jeet Singh Public School is located off Yates and has over 10 portables.
Not all residents spoke against it. Jennifer Smith of Commercial St. sees its advantages. “It’s better for the community, and it’s better for the environment,” she said.
The developers argue that it meets Milton’s obligations under Ontario’s Places to Grow legislation which regulates growth. Milton’s population is predicted to grow to 230,000 people by the year 2031. Part of that growth is intensification; the practice of building up, not out. The next step is a technical report followed by a site plan review. The process could take as long as two years.
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