Provincial priority request for four (4) Minister’s Zoning Orders for the Transit-Oriented Community in the Town of Oakville

The Minister of Infrastructure is proposing to make a Minister’s Zoning Order for each of the following lands in the Town of Oakville:

• 217 and 227 Cross Avenue, and 571, 581, 587-595 Argus Rd (“Site 1”)
• 157 and 165 Cross Avenue (“Site 2”)
• 166 South Service Road East, (“Site 3”) and
• 590 Argus Road (“Site 4”)

Together these lands will up the Oakville Transit-Oriented Community (TOC).  The Minister of Infrastructure will be seeking approval to have the above-noted lands designated as transit-oriented community lands as contemplated by section 2 of the Transit-Oriented Communities Act, 2020. 

Pursuant to Order-in-Council 589/25 the Minister of Infrastructure shares authority, with the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, to make Ministerial Zoning orders under s. 47 (1) (a) of the Planning Act for transit-oriented community lands. 

Site 1 is approximately 1.26 hectares. It is bound by a small low-rise commercial building and Argus Road to the west, Cross Avenue to the south, low-rise commercial buildings to the east, and Argus Road to the north. See location map below for further details. 

Site 2 is approximately 0.96 hectares. It is bound by a low-rise commercial plaza to the west, Cross Avenue to the south, a low-rise commercial plaza to the east, and a low-rise commercial building to the north. See location map below for further details. These sites are currently occupied by medical offices, retail and commercial buildings, fast-food restaurants, surface parking lots, and vacant lands. 

Site 3 is approximately 1.19 hectares. It is bound by a low-rise commercial plaza and surface parking to the west, a low-rise commercial building to the south, a low-rise commercial building to the east, and South Service Road East to the north. See location map below for further details. 

Site 4 is approximately 1.54 hectares. It is bound by a surface parking lot to the west, Argus Road to the south, low-rise commercial buildings to the east, and South Service Road East to the north. See location map below for further details

The requested Zoning Orders would permit the development of:

• Site 1: 3 mixed use buildings, 49, 52 and 56 storeys tall with a maximum Gross Floor Area (GFA) of 147,478.73 square metres including 4,179 square metres of non-residential GFA.
• Site 2: 2 mixed-use buildings, 52 and 56 storeys tall with a maximum GFA of 103,639.07 square metres including 4,318 square metres of non-residential GFA.
• Site 3: 3 mixed-use buildings, 49, 50 and 56 storeys tall with a maximum Gross Floor Area of 134,651.16 square metres including 4,018 square metres of non-residential GFA.
• Site 4: 3 mixed-use buildings, 45, 51 and 56 storeys tall with a maximum Gross Floor Area of 151,894.89 square metres including 2,420 square metres of non-residential GFA. 

The proposed Zoning Order will include exceptions to the requirements of the Town of Oakville’s Zoning By-law including, amongst other things, building height, setbacks, maximum lot coverage, density, dimensions of accessible parking, and any requirement for Inclusionary Zoning and community benefits. This approach is designed to better reflect evolving market conditions and support the delivery of a transit-oriented community. 

To help ensure decisions are made in a transparent manner and support government priorities, the Ministry is seeking feedback on this proposal that may help inform a decision.