Residents near Sheridan College upset about Oakville’s housing plan

Oakville’s plan to remain eligible for a portion of federal funding isn’t a hit with everyone in town.

The goal of the Housing Accelerator Fund is to encourage housing supply growth and create certainty in development approvals. However, to be eligible for a piece of the $4 billion fund, municipalities are required to develop an action plan.

Regulators told Oakville they also needed to permit four-storey buildings within 800 metres of Sheridan College as well as four-dwelling units per property across the whole Town.

However, the plan isn’t being welcomed by everyone.

Cheryl Baber lives in the College Park neighbourhood, just north of Sheridan College, and is opposed to idea of allowing multi-unit residential buildings.

“We want to express our deep concern and absolute lack of support for the Proposed Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments Town-wide and specifically, the Sheridan College Housing Area Special Policy Area Town-initiated Zoning By-law amendments,” she wrote in an email to Inhalton.com.

“We have lived on Queensbury Crescent for over 30 years. The houses were built as single-family dwellings according to the Town of Oakville’s development plan. Homeowners have taken pride in their upkeep and have shown respect for the family community of Oakville, its bylaws, the green spaces, and the well-being of our children and our elderly residents.”

Baber said she and many of her neighbours are afraid developers will buy up properties in the neighbourhood in order to build four-storey buildings for students attending Sheridan.

“Sadly, we have seen a blatant disregard of bylaws by absentee landlords and their move to make single family dwellings into multiple rental units. This has resulted in poor property upkeep, parking issues on the street and boulevard, increase of rat activity, lack of snow removal on sidewalks, no lawn care (front and back), noise violations, and speeding cars.”

She said bylaw officers have responded multiple times to complaints by various neighbours living on Queensbury Crescent and Martindale Avenue.

“Please keep College Park safe, green, and family oriented as it has been since its development. Changing the housing zoning bylaws for College Park will ruin a subdivision that Oakville has been proud to call its own.”