Residents oppose Etheridge Avenue Development

By Laura Steiner, Milton Reporter

Milton Council has approved a controversial 8 building development from Mattamy Homes at the northwest corner of Etheridge and 25 highway. The buildings would be a mixture of apartments on top of shopping areas.

The development first came to council in July, 2023 as an 8 building 1,912 unit development. Changes were made, including a 341 unit reduction to 1.571, and an overall 74 parking space reduction. Throughout the planning process residents raised concerns over lack of commercial space, minimum parking space allotment, as well as traffic. The applicant’s traffic study forecast an additional 375 to 450 vehicles during rush hour, a decrease from 515 vehicles when it was first presented it in 2023.

Gokhan Haskan, an area resident challenged the traffic numbers using figures provided by Statistics Canada. According to his math approximately 800 trips per day would be going through that area during each rush hour. Several of his fellow residents submitted feedback via email sharing his concerns. “In short, residents don’t want this. It doesn’t serve our best interests.” Haskan said in his remarks at the Monday night meeting. Town staff admitted they don’t use data from Statistics Canada.

Work has begun at the site. Resident Oliver Clark used his five minutes to highlight the noise caused construction. He measured it at 81-83 decibels during the day, and they’ve been advised not to go out in the backyards. “How is the Town going to protect us?”

Milton schools have 300 portables, and the Town has 23% of Halton Region’s population. This development could house approximately 3,000 people, and the nearest school is Elsie MacGill Secondary School 1.6 km away from the development located on south side of Bronte. “As a council we represent residents, both now and the future,” he said. It’s the reason why there is wording included in the approved motion asking that a copy of the report would be circulated to the provincial ministries of Health, Education, Infrastructure, and Metrolinx. “It comes down to infrastructure. We have none,” Best added before voting against it.

An official Plan amendment is mandated by the province of Ontario to happen every five years, and Milton is in the middle is in the middle of that process. Ward 2 Local Councillor John Challinor raised concerns about the way community developed overall, comparing the development to those buildings under construction near Milton Mall. “I’m concerned that this development is starting to look piecemeal. What is Regional Rd 25 going to look like?” The first studies on the widening of Highway 25 are not due until late in 2025 Challinor voted in favour, citing the fact it fulfills part of the official plan.

Haskan Appeals Development

Haskan is appealing the development to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT), however there is no guarantee it will work. On April 10, 2024 the province introduced Bill 185, known also as “Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes” Act. The legislation includes measures to end third-party appeals to the OLT, making the appeal process open only to the municipality, applicant, or the Minister of Municipal Affairs.

The legislation is retroactive to April 10 2024, and would apply to all appeals filed after that date, including Haskan’s. Asked why he’s still going ahead with it, he responded:  “Somebody needs to push back against greedy developers in a meaningful, legal, effective, and significant manner,” Haskan said. The legislation has entered third reading as of May 29, 2024.