For various reasons, details of which are not critical at this point, Halton is studying how to increase the population density in the region (in existing urban areas).

I’ve seen regions handle it really well and really poorly (and everything in between). For instance, Redmond severely restricts building heights (to 3 floors), and I hope Milton adopts a similar restriction. Bellevue has an amazingly well planned downtown core (not completely implemented yet). The residential areas are very walk-able, walking distance from movie theatres, restaurants, shopping, hotels etc. etc. etc. Not only that, but you get breathtaking views of the Cascades mountain ranges, as well as those of Seattle across Lake Washington. One place I don’t like is Mississauga. Specifically, I don’t like how Mississauga sometime gets tall residential buildings in the middle of otherwise low-density population areas.

Here is what I would like Milton to do :-

1. Restrict building heights outside of really high density areas (more on that later). I hate seeing stuff like this (notice some random buildings in otherwise low-density areas) :-

To my eyes they just look ugly. They are an eye sore. How can the town do it better? I offer you two places I liked like crazy :-

Medina: Every building there was exact same height (more or less) and sat at a same distance from the street. In fact, the frontage of each building was more or less same too :-

Notice how the ground level has a consistent design? Higher up each building had its own character. But due to the bottom floor design, you get something like this :-

These buildings all had stores at the ground floor, which gives walk-able shopping. Consistent layout gives a very aesthetically pleasing look. The pattern does break when it’s necessary to unblock views :-

The other place where I really enjoyed the layout was Munich, Germany. They also had walk-able streets with shopping at the ground floor :-

Notice they dont have gaps between buildings like in Medina, but buildings still have consistent heights.

If Milton does go with higher density areas, then this is what I’d like to see condos / apartments look like. I do not like single tall buildings that do not flow well with the area. Milton has an opportunity here to really define the character of its high density areas.