Oakville’s Midtown: Not Just Growth — It’s About Livability

Oakville’s Midtown: Not Just Growth — It’s About Livability

We love Oakville — as we know you do too. So do our Town Council, our Mayor, our residents’ associations, and thousands of our neighbours. We all agree that Midtown is a good location for growth, particularly for condos that help meet housing needs. But growth without thoughtful planning risks creating a concrete jungle, not a community.

That’s the core of the latest dispute between Oakville and the provincial government.

A Thoughtful Plan — Tacoma’s Official Plan Amendment (OPA 70)

After years of community consultations and planning work, Oakville’s Town Council unanimously approved Official Plan Amendment 70 (OPA 70) on February 18, 2025. This amendment sets out a vision for Midtown that:

• Supports mandated growth targets;
• Plans for parks, green space and community facilities;
• Provides for schools, shopping, daycare, transit-friendly streets and other infrastructure;
• Uses a “Community Planning Permit System” to better manage how buildings and public spaces fit together. We Love Oakville+1

OPA 70 has now been submitted to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing for approval — which is a key step in keeping local planning decisions in Oakville’s hands, not Queen’s Park’s. Environmental Registry of Ontario

What the Province Is Proposing Instead

In November 2024, Infrastructure Ontario (IO) — on behalf of the Province — released a Transit-Oriented Community (TOC) proposal for a 5-hectare site around the Oakville GO Station. That proposal would allow 11 high-rise towers between 46 and 59 storeys tall — totaling nearly 7,000 units. We Love Oakville

We Love Oakville and Town staff have consistently pointed out serious issues with this approach:

• Extreme density: 66% of units are studios or tiny one-bedrooms — poorly suited for families or long-term residents. We Love Oakville
• No parks or community facilities in the core area, meaning residents would rely on amenities elsewhere. We Love Oakville
• Lack of meaningful sustainability standards beyond regulatory minimums. We Love Oakville
• The Town’s planning voice is sidelined — the Province would control critical land use decisions for part of Midtown. We Love Oakville

Why This Matters — Even if You Don’t Live Near Midtown

Some residents ask, “I don’t live near Midtown — why should I care?” Here’s why:

1. Traffic & Congestion Will Affect All of Oakville

An influx of tens of thousands of residents in a highly concentrated area will strain already busy roads like Trafalgar Rd, Cornwall, Speers, and major QEW exit points. This isn’t just a Midtown issue — it impacts commutes across town. We Love Oakville

2. Municipal Services & Taxes

Mega-density without adequate planning for schools, fire/police stations, parks and community centres shifts the cost burden onto ALL residents. Services that should be delivered upfront are often delayed — and taxpayers are left filling the gaps. We Love Oakville

3. Housing “Affordability” Myths vs. Reality

Tall towers filled with tiny investor-oriented condos don’t automatically create affordable housing — rents and prices are often high because developers design units for investment returns, not families or long-term residents. We Love Oakville

4. Liveability and Community

Without thoughtful planning, Midtown could end up with limited green space, few gathering places, and transient populations, making it harder to build a true sense of neighbourhood. We Love Oakville

This Is About Good Planning — Not Just “NIMBYism”(Not In My Backyard)

Provincial intervention into local planning isn’t just a flashpoint because of towers — it’s about who gets to shape the future of Oakville. The Town’s OPA was created with extensive community input and aligned with provincial growth targets — and it proposes a more sustainable, balanced model for Midtown. We Love Oakville

This Midtown fight is about good planning, livability for all residents, and democratic, local decision-making. It isn’t about wanting to stop growth altogether — it’s about growing well.

Take Action!

If you support the fight for a livable Midtown in Oakville like we do, here are ways to help:

• Order a lawn sign
• Write a letter to your local representatives
• Sign the petition

Visit https://www.weloveoakville.org/ for directions on how to get involved. We need to show the Province that we want local planning respected — and we know how to vote.