Trafalgar Road Corridor Planning Study Open House June 24, 2013 6:30-8:30 p.m. Oakville & Trafalgar Rooms
Overview The Livable Oakville Plan identifies the lands along Trafalgar Road, between the QEW and Dundas Street, as a corridor to be studied to identify opportunities for future development associated with transit improvements. The study will: examine built form, public realm, streetscape, parking, compatibility with adjacent uses, movement of people, and availability of infrastructure identify key sites that may have potential for development assess different land use options to determine appropriate uses make recommendations for new or revised land use designations or policies At the conclusion of the study, staff will recommend an official plan amendment to implement the study findings by introducing land use and built form policies specific to the Trafalgar Road corridor between the QEW and Dundas Street.
Understanding Corridors & Nodes Corridors are linear areas of land that: are located along major arterial roads and transit routes provide a linkage between nodes have a mix of land uses, many in transition, including commercial uses which serve adjacent neighbourhoods have uses which may be unrelated in form or function have higher densities form the edge of adjacent neighbourhoods often contain numerous vacant or underutilized sites are recognized for their potential for increased development Nodes are areas of land that: act as the primary areas of activity within a community act as major connection points for multiple modes of transportation, including transit are accessed by multiple transit routes provide a concentration of mixed use development provide the highest densities are recognized for their potential for increased development CORRIDOR NODE (e.g., Uptown Core) The lands along either side of Trafalgar Road form a corridor. Midtown Oakville and the Uptown Core are nodes. NODE (e.g., Midtown Oakville) ADJACENT NEIGHBOURHOOD
Provincial Policy Context Province of Ontario Halton Region Town of Oakville Planning Act Provincial Policy Statement Provincial Plans (e.g., Growth Plan) The Big Move (Metrolinx) Regional Official Plan Halton Region Transportation Master Plan Trafalgar Road Corridor Study (Oakville), Environmental Assessment Livable Oakville Plan Switching Gears: Transportation Master Plan Urban Design Guidelines Trafalgar Road Corridor Planning Study The Province of Ontario, Halton Region and the town have policies in place to encourage transit supportive development along corridors. The Provincial Policy Statement requires Halton Region and the town to: identify areas where growth will be directed, including the identification of nodes and corridors to support energy efficiency and improved air quality through development patterns that promote compact urban form and a structure of nodes and corridors, as well as the use of public transit The Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (Places to Grow), envisages increasing intensification of the existing built up area, with a focus on urban growth centres, intensification corridors [and] major transit station areas It requires the town to: develop and implement policies in its official plan (Livable Oakville) to phase in and achieve intensification recognize urban growth centres (i.e., Midtown Oakville), intensification corridors and major transit station areas as a key focus for development to accommodate intensification plan intensification corridors to accommodate local services and achieve: increased residential and employment densities that support and ensure the viability of existing and planned transit a mix of residential, office, institutional, and commercial development wherever appropriate
Regional Policy Context & Related Project Halton s Regional Official Plan directs development with higher densities and mixed uses to nodes and corridors. It requires the town s official plan, Livable Oakville, to designate nodes and corridors and prepare detailed policies for them to address matters including: land use and urban design protection of the natural environment population capacity and employment targets location, types and densities of residential and employment uses transportation networks including public transit, cycling and walking storm water management water and wastewater servicing The key objective of nodes and corridors in the Regional Official Plan is: To provide an urban form that is complementary to existing developed areas, uses space more economically, promotes live work relationships, fosters social interaction, enhances public safety and security, reduces travel by private automobile, promotes cycling and walking, and is environmentally more sustainable The Halton Region Transportation Master Plan (TMP) aims to achieve a 15 20% transit modal split by 2031. To do this, Regional Roads must transform from single purpose roads into multifaceted corridors where people will live, work, shop and gather. Trafalgar Road Corridor Study (Oakville) Environmental Assessment In Oakville, most of Trafalgar Road is a Regional Road under the jurisdiction of Halton Region. The Region is looking at a number of road improvement alternatives including widening and reconstructing the road, improving intersections, high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes and the impacts of such improvements on the social and natural environments. For more information visit: halton.ca
Local Policy Context Livable Oakville, the town s official plan for the lands south of Dundas Street, conforms to the Growth Plan and the Regional Official Plan, and is consistent with the Provincial Policy Statement. It directs the majority of growth to six Growth Areas (nodes) including Midtown Oakville and the Uptown Core. Lands outside of the Growth Areas and along most of the Trafalgar Road Corridor are predominantly stable residential communities. Growth and change may occur in stable residential communities provided the character of the areas is maintained and the overall urban structure of the town is upheld. The existing land use designations have associated land use policies. However, the lands along the Trafalgar Road Corridor, between the QEW and Dundas Street, are also a special policy area subject to further study to identify: opportunities for intensification linked to future transit improvements appropriate land use policies to accommodate the intensification opportunities The urban design policies address matters such as the public realm, built form and transitions between areas with different lands uses or building heights. The transportation policies support the coordination of land use and transportation planning to maximize the efficient use of land and infrastructure. Switching Gears The town s Transportation Master Plan (TMP), which is consistent with the Region s TMP, aims to develop a more balanced local transportation system that provides a variety of travel options in Oakville. A major TMP implementation project is the Midtown Oakville Class Environmental Assessment Study. That study will determine the transportation and municipal storm water network needed to support the planned growth in Midtown Oakville to 2031. This may include changes to the town hall property and Trafalgar Road south of White Oaks Boulevard. For more information visit: oakville.ca
Understanding Existing Land Use Designations Legend Key Residential Designations Land Use Designation Low Density Residential Medium Density Residential High Density Residential General Description may permit detached, semi-detached and duplex dwellings densities up to 29 units per site hectare may permit multiple-attached, stacked townhouse, and apartment dwellings densities of 30 to 50 units per site hectare may permit multiple-attached, stacked townhouse, and apartment dwellings densities of 51 to 185 units per site hectare Main Street 2 may permit a range of retail, service commercial, restaurant, office and residential uses 4 to 6 storey buildings ground floor is to be primarily retail and service commercial Mixed Use Designations Urban Centre to contribute to a pedestrian-oriented and transit supportive environment may permit a range of retail, service commercial, restaurant, office, residential, entertainment and hotel uses 6 to 8 storey buildings ground floor is to be retail and service commercial uses Urban Core to contribute to a pedestrian-oriented and transit supportive environment may permit a range of retail, service commercial, restaurant, office, residential, entertainment and hotel uses 8 to 12 storey buildings ground floor is to be retail and service commercial uses Natural Area & Open Space Natural Area to preserve natural features and functions Parks and Open Space to provide an open space system of parks and trails, and a variety of recreational activity while having regard for the Town s natural areas
Understanding Existing Land Use Designations Legend Key Employment Designations Land Use Designation Office Employment Business Employment Business Commercial General Description to provide primarily for prestige office uses may permit offices, hotels, banquet halls, meeting halls, convention centres, light industrial uses, training facilities and commercial schools no outdoor storage is permitted to provide a wide range of business and light industrial uses may permit offices and light industrial uses such as manufacturing, assembling, processing, fabricating, repairing, warehousing and wholesaling to provide service commercial and convenience retail to support the surrounding employment area may permit hotels, training facilities, commercial schools, automobile related uses, automobile sales, convenience retail, service commercial uses, restaurants and offices Commercial Designations Neighbourhood Commercial Community Commercial Core Commercial may permit a range of retail, service commercial, restaurant and food store uses as well as residential uses above the ground floor maximum of 2,500m 2 of retail and service commercial uses may permit a range of retail, service commercial, restaurant, food store, service station and recreational uses offices may be permitted as a secondary function may permit a range of retail, service commercial, restaurant, food store, service stations, recreational, entertainment and large format retail and retail warehouse uses offices may be permitted as a secondary function Institutional to provide sufficient land for large scale institutional and educational facilities that serve Town-wide and/or Region-wide functions Utility to permit larger above ground physical services and reservoirs
Existing Context - QEW to Upper Middle Road Sheridan College parking area service station window street abutting Trafalgar Road GO Transit bus stop place of worship apartments apartments with commercial uses Leighland Park and apartments adjacent low density residential Oakville Place service commercial use office uses
Existing Context Upper Middle Road to Dundas Street construction in the Uptown Core commercial plaza along Trafalgar Road GO Transit bus stop existing car dealership street fronting commercial within commercial plazas large vacant site connections to trails existing single detached houses used for various purposes small scale office uses place of worship window streets abutting Trafalgar Road interface with adjacent low density residential area
Related Projects Midtown Oakville The area around the Oakville GO Station, just south of the study area, is the town s primary node Midtown Oakville. This area was identified by the Growth Plan as a provincial growth centre that is to accommodate approximately 20,000 people and jobs by 2031. The policies in the Livable Oakville Plan support this. To implement the Plan, the town has initiated the following projects: Midtown Oakville Class Environmental Assessment Midtown Urban Design Strategy Midtown Parking Strategy Midtown Zoning Metrolinxis an agency of the Government of Ontario that was created to improve the coordination and integration of all modes of transportation in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA). Its visionary plan, The Big Move, aims to transform transportation in the GTHA. Locally, Metrolinx has undertaken the following projects, in consultation with the town and Halton Region: Midtown Oakville Mobility Hub Study Oakville GO Station Operational Study For more information visit: www.metrolinx.com The town s Midtown Oakville Class EA study will develop a practical, long-term strategy to guide the development of the transportation and municipal storm water network needed to accommodate the planned growth in Midtown Oakville to 2031.