As it stands, this current…

As it stands, this current proposal fails to address the gap in the rental market in Oakville. The Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation (CMHC) states that a 3% vacancy rate is necessary for adequate rental housing options and competition, but Oakville's rental market has stayed below 3% vacancy rate since 2017. Additionally, The State of Housing Report found that 12% sales in Halton region were affordable, noting a significant gap in affordable family units specifically. My main concern here is that although the current proposal mentions that there will be affordable options, it fails to mention the percentage of these units and the availability of rental units altogether. These findings are especially troubling when we consider that the Province is pausing affordable housing measures near transit for some major cities. This would make it so that there is no longer a guaranteed number of units close to transit lines that lower income individuals and families can afford, even though this is the exact population that is more reliant on the transit system.

My final concern, as a resident of the area for the past 20 years, is the lack of capacity on the roads. Despite our growing population, Oakville has been cutting bus services, leading to more road congestions especially at peak times. Without adequate alternatives to commuting by car, traffic on Trafalgar is bumper-to-bumper, and I have seen this stretch all along Cross around the Go Station as well. I fear that a proposal for a transit-oriented community that has no clear outline for how the transit problem within the city will be addressed is insufficient in dealing with the neighbourhood’s current challenges, let alone the addition of 11,600 residents in this small area.

The FAQ cites the addition of bike lanes and bike parking, which I am on board with, but I also think we need to be adding more bus routes within Oakville to tackle the significant portion of the year where weather makes travel by bike unsafe. Bus routes would also be more inclusive for residents who require mobility aids, something of utmost importance as our population continues to age.

In all, there are several areas that should be addressed before this project goes forward. I hope that the Province and the Town of Oakville can take the needs of locals into consideration.