 By Pepper Parr
January 9th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Part seven of a multi-part editorial feature on the precincts and mobility hub being planned for the downtown core
The Mid-Rise Residential Precinct is a new precinct created out of the existing Downtown Residential Medium/High Density Precinct in the Official Plan. The Mid-Rise Residential Precinct is intended to reflect the existing built form in the precinct.
Draft Intention Statement:
The Mid-Rise Residential Precinct will primarily accommodate existing residential developments consisting of 11 storeys or less. The precinct will serve as a transition from adjacent tall building precincts to established low-density residential areas. Limited development opportunities exist within the precinct, which will achieve a high degree of compatibility with the adjacent St. Luke’s and Emerald Neighbourhood Precinct as well as other established residential neighbourhood areas outside of the Downtown Mobility Hub.
 Mid Rise isn’t so much a geographical location – it is really a collection of locations that are going to have some development principles attached to them. “While the framework for Mid-Rise Residential is generally intended to reflect the existing built form, some new policy directions are proposed that will achieve a maximum building height of 11 storeys; provide opportunities for limited infilling of existing mid-rise residential developments including the integration of new ground-oriented housing formats such as adding townhouse podiums at the base of existing buildings; introduce permissions for commercial activities at grade and require Transportation Demand Management (TDM) and mitigation measures within new development.”
Those bones are pretty bare; nowhere near enough detail for such a sensitive part of the city. The Art Gallery will at some point undergo a major redevelopment which could be decades away.
Lakeshore Road in this part of the city needs room to breath – 11 storeys doesn’t seem to be a fit.
A considerable amount of property has been acquired by a developer
 The data shown to the right is not relevant however the property addresses are believed to still be in the hands of the developer. Councillor Meed Ward has some concerns with the proposals. She will be bringing forward a motion to add the North West corner of Burlington Avenue and Lakeshore Road to the Special Planning Area, and limit this area on both sides to 3 storeys
The bottom of Burlington Avenue and Lakeshore is in the precinct (pink area on the attached map). There are townhouses on the West side and single family homes on the East side (some divided into multi-dwelling units). The current zoning is 11 storeys. The proposed zoning would retain 11 storeys, with a Special Planning Area on the East side reduced to six storeys (thatched pink on the map with the arrow denotes Special Planning Area).
Meed Ward believes “both sides of this intersection should be treated the same, and with reduced height.
 There are a number of really fine homes once owned by prominent people who made the city into what it has become. There is a balance to this part of the city that need not be disturbed. “Burlington and Lakeshore is a gateway to the St. Luke’s Precinct of predominantly single family homes where we don’t want intensification. Allowing 11 storeys on one side of the street, and six on the other, would create pressure to extend growth up the street. Reducing development to three storeys on both sides would better complement and transition to the St. Luke’s Precinct, and is similar to the transition from Brant St to St. Luke’s where the height is three storeys along Locust – the new Bates Precinct.”
Part 1 Evolution of precincts and hubs
Part 2 Brant Main Street
Part 3 – Parks and promenades
Part 4 – Bates precinct
Part 5 – Cannery precinct
Part 6 Old Lakeshore Road
 By Staff
January 8th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Canada’s major cities tend to understate revenue and spending, wait too long to release budgets, and confuse taxpayers with obscure figures in their financial reports, finds a new study from the C.D. Howe Institute.
The C.D. Howe Institute is an independent not-for-profit research institute whose mission is to raise living standards by fostering economically sound public policies. Widely considered to be Canada’s most influential think tank, the Institute is a trusted source of essential policy intelligence, distinguished by research that is nonpartisan, evidence-based and subject to definitive expert review.
 The Infograph does let you know where your dollars are going – is that enough? For 2017, each $100,000 of an urban residential assessment amounts to approximately $365 in property taxes for city services. In the 2017 edition of the Institute’s annual municipal fiscal accountability report card, titled “Fuzzy Finances: Grading the Financial Reports of Canada’s Municipalities,” the authors “found a dramatic divergence in the quality of financial reporting among municipalities”. “Sadly, this year’s report card highlights some marked declines in municipal fiscal accountability.”
While Burlington wasn’t one of the municipalities that was reported on the questions the authors of the report raised are still very relevant; especially for a city that has raised the tax rate by close to, sometimes above 4% each year for at least the past three years.
 Joan Ford, the city’s Director of Finance knows where every dollar comes from and where every dollar gets spent. The staff within the Finance department know their stuff; they have their fingers on every piece of information and when they are asked a question they have a direct answer – no “flim flam” from that department.
Where they err is on making the information available to the public and reconciling what they promise and what they deliver. Basically – the accountants aren’t as accountable as they need to be. The department has the capacity to better inform the public.
They aren’t told to do so by the City Manager who calls all the shots and they aren’t directed to do so by the elected city council.
 City manager James Ridge. There was a memorable occasion during the discussion of last year’s budget when James Ridge, the city manager, said that staffing needs just “bubble up” during Leadership Team budget discussions. At the time Ridge was asking for a $500,000 addition to the base budget. Councillor Meed Ward tried to get that pared back to $300,000 for the first year – she didn’t get the support she needed.
Jack Dennison, probably the best financial mind on council wasn’t aware that the $500,000 was being put into the base budget.
Much of that spending Ridge was asking for was to be on the Grow Bold initiative – and we know what we got for our money on that one.
 Burlington has always had a small group of citizens who get out to public meetings to review budgets, policy proposals and share ideas. In that regard we are fortunate. Unfortunately – the city no longer holds this kind of meeting – they did do a telephone call in program instead. The C D Howe Institute “urges municipalities to adopt accrual accounting in budgets – municipal governments should present their annual budgets on the same accounting basis as their year-end financial statements.
Present headline figures early and prominently in budgets and financial reports –municipalities need to display the key numbers in a more accessible manner. Burlington puts up some detailed Infographics that go part of the way.
Show gross, consolidated, municipality-wide spending – municipal budgets should show gross spending and revenue so that users of financial statements have a comprehensive overview of a government’s fiscal footprint.
Explain deviations from budget plans – municipalities should prominently display tables reconciling year-end results with budget promises.
Publish budgets and financial reports in a timely manner – municipalities should approve expenditures before the government spending happens.
Burlington misses this mark by a wide margin.
Municipalities are not allowed to operate at a loss. When Burlington’s Finance department reports on how they managed the collection and spending of taxes they have gotten into the habit of using the phrase a “positive or a negative variance” – they don’t like saying there was a surplus.
There is always a surplus – sometime a huge amount – it was once as high as $9 million. That surplus gets distributed into the numerous reserve funds the city has to draw on – that’s what prevent any kind of a loss in any one year. When the reserve funds are close to being depleted the city will include a top up amount in the next budget.
The favourite reserve fund is the Tax Stabilization account – it is a sort of the piggy bank that council can always go to when funds for something unexpected is needed.
“Clearer, more consistent figures and better accountability for hitting or missing budget targets would bring the financial management of municipalities better into line with their fiscal impact and their importance in Canadians’ lives,” the authors conclude.
In a CBC radio interview earlier this morning the authors of the report touched on citizen participation in the creation of the budget. A couple of public budget session ago Vanessa Warren, an advocate for more significant public involvement in the creation of the budget, asked why the meeting was being shown a budget but not being asked to be involved in the creation of that budget.
Burlington does a survey asking what people think of the budget – and always gets high marks. Councillor Dennison has not been known to question the validity of that survey.
City council passed a bylaw allowing the Finance department to send out interim tax bills for a budget that has yet to be approved.
 By Pepper Parr
January 8th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
There are speeches – and then there are speeches.
 Take the ten minutes needed to listen to Oprah Winfrey make a barn burner of a speech at the Golden Globe awards last night. It equals anything Winston Churchill had to say during the Second World War.
Listen to it and share it widely. She is part of a turning point in the history of this world.
Click here to link to the speech.
Amazing! .
 By Pepper Parr
January 8th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Part six of a multi-part editorial feature on the precincts and mobility hub being planned for the downtown core
The Old Lakeshore Road Precinct is an existing precinct that is being carried forward into the draft New Precinct Plan for the Downtown Mobility Hub.
 It has always been a controversial piece of land with much of it now in the hands of developers.
Draft Intention Statement:
The Old Lakeshore Road Precinct will continue to serve as an area for mixed use mid-rise developments consisting primarily of residential uses, which are pedestrian-oriented and transit-supportive while achieving a high standard of design. Modest tall buildings may be accommodated where such developments achieve strategic public and city building objectives including the provision of public waterfront access and views to the Lake Ontario, among others.
The current policy framework remains unchanged through the proposed draft new Precinct Plan. An additional policy direction is being recommended through the Mobility Hubs Study process to allow for the future undertaking of a separate Area Specific Plan (ASP) process to review existing height and density maximums as well as the conditions for land development within the precinct based on the achievement of key city-building objectives.
The complexity of this area (Conservation Halton setback requirements, discussion of the closure of Old Lakeshore Road, land assembly) plus the City’s new tall building guidelines necessitate a future review of a narrower scale and geography. The Old Lakeshore Road ASP’s city-building objectives would include new pedestrian connections and park spaces along the waterfront; the creation of a new view corridor from Martha Street and Lakeshore Road to the Lake and a detailed study of the shoreline and its impacts on development in consultation with Conservation Halton.
 Old Lakeshore precinct continues to be “the jewel” that has yet to find a crown. This view is looking east with the Ascot Motel and Emma’s Back Porch on the right. Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward made great use of the Save our Waterfront community group to advance her political interests – quite successfully. She focused on what could happen within the Old Lakeshore precinct and the construction of the pier and caught the public’s attention.
Meed Ward has been the only member of this city council who has consistently focused on the waterfront and worked tirelessly to save as much of it as possible.
 At one point during the 2010 election Meed Ward published a graphic showing what she saw as an option (a terrible option) the the piece of land sometimes referred to as the “football” – small piece of land between Lakeshore and Old Lakeshore Road. The Construction of the Bridgewater development which is on the western edge of the precinct radically changes what can be done with the land.
There was a time when it might have been possible to turn that part of the city into something that could benefit from some creative thinking – we appear to be losing that opportunity.
Part 1 Evolution of precincts and hubs
Part 2 Brant Main Street
Part 3 – Parks and promenades
Part 4 – Bates precinct
Part 5 – Cannery precinct
 By Pepper Parr
January 7th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Budgeted at $11 million with much of the money coming from the federal government, some from the province and a more than decent amount from the Joseph Brant Museum Foundation the task of creating a much different museum site is about the begin.
One of the first tasks was the removal of the time capsule – which is now with the museum administration, perhaps on the desk of Barb Teatero, the Director of Burlington’s museums.
The brutally cold weather keeps crews off the site.
 In this portrait Joseph Brant is seen wearing the gorget given to him by King George III. That gorget is the most important piece in the collection at the Joseph Brant Museum. The current Joseph Brant Museum is a 1937 replica of the house Mohawk native Joseph Brant, Thayendanegea, built on a 1798 Crown land grant. A modern addition to the museum will be built into the grassy area under the current museum.
The expansion will add more than 12,000 square feet to its current size. This will allow the Joseph Brant Museum to become a cultural destination and a place to host national exhibitions and the collection of artifacts.
The current 5,000-square-foot museum will be expanded to provide barrier-free space for gallery displays, interactive programming, the storage of collections and community outreach.
 Architect’s rendering of what the transformed museum is expected to look like when completed. – Construction will take 18 months, depending on weather
– The total project amount is approved at about $11 million, which includes a contingency fund and allows for cost increases due to winter construction period.
Funding includes:
– $2.9 million from the City of Burlington
– $4.4 million from the Government of Canada
– $1.5 million from the Province of Ontario
– $2.5 million from the Joseph Brant Museum Foundation
By Pepper Parr
January 7th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Part five of a multi-part editorial feature on the precincts and mobility hub being planned for the downtown core
The Cannery Precinct is a new precinct that is intended to accommodate the height peak at the southern end of the Downtown Mobility Hub and provide for future landmark buildings.
The Cannery Precinct was also created in response to public feedback about enhancing views to Lake Ontario from Brant Street and introduces a terraced built form and the opening up of the Brant and Lakeshore intersection to allow for pedestrian views and activities through the provision of new public space.
Draft Intention Statement:
The Cannery Precinct will be focused at and to the east of the Brant Street and Lakeshore Road intersection and establish this area as a major landmark location within the Downtown Mobility Hub. Developments within the precinct will establish a southern height peak for the Downtown Mobility Hub and be expected to achieve a high degree of architectural and urban design excellence and new public spaces befitting the significance of the area while ensuring that public view corridors to the Brant Street Pier and Lake Ontario are maintained and enhanced.
The key policy directions for the Cannery Precinct include the establishment of a maximum building height of 22 storeys provided that an enhanced public space is provided at the northeast corner of Brant Street and Lakeshore Road, significant cultural heritage resources are retained and public views to the Lake and Pier are preserved.
Policies will be established to require high quality architecture and urban design, building podiums and a minimum of two uses within buildings.
The planners have their views for this site; a small citizens group have well developed ideas that the planners have yet to fully embrace. Known as Plan B – there is a movement to reconfigure the way any re-development of the existing Waterfront Hotel.
 A group of residents have some well developed ideas an how the Waterfront Hotel site might be developed – they are finding the city planners a little hard of hearing. What is both instructive and disappointing is the way the resident view that citizens should be part of the planning process and the Planning department view that planners know best. This clashes with the city’s close to hypocritical statement that it fully engages its citizens.
Naming the precinct the Cannery pulls at some very deep historical roots – there was a time when a tomato processing plant existed at the bottom of Brant street and there was a real pier with real boats and ships tied up.
Before rail lines came into the city the lake was the route to getting product from the fields and the forests to markets.
Burlingtonians don’t, for the most part, know very much about their local history. The Brant Museum was never able to give that task the time, attention and resources needed.
Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward has a big warm spot in her heart for the waterfront. Saving it was the issue that got her into office during the 2010 election.
She wants to reduce the cannery district at the north east corner of Lakeshore Road and Brant Street to 15 storeys.
This area (salmon on the attached map) is part of the new Cannery Precinct, with allowances to go to 22 storeys. The existing zoning Wellington Square Mixed Use Precinct, which allows height of 8-14 storeys.
 Delta Hotel on the right and the 22 storey Bridgewater condominium on the left. The Bridgewater is currently under construction on the South East side of Elizabeth & Lakeshore (circle on the right), with three buildings of 22, 8, and 7 storeys.
There is an existing 15 storey and 13 storey building at the North West corner of Brant/Lakeshore. Limiting height to 15 storeys would reflect roughly what is in the immediate vicinity of this parcel, and existing allowances.
When what is now known as the Bridgewater development was first brought to city council the site was described as the city’s legacy location and was at one point going to soar to 30 storeys – that was back in 1995 when the site was first assembled.
Part 1 Evolution of precincts and hubs
Part 2 Brant Main Street
Part 3 – Parks and promenades
Part 4 – Bates precinct
By Pepper Parr
January 6th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
It wasn’t me” he said.
“I’m just a tenant like the rest of the people in the plaza” said Bob Nadelko, owner of the No Frills on Brant street where Classic Towing has been pulling vehicles off the lot and using what appears to be a “flexible” pricing schedule for people who want to get their cars back.
The towing gets blamed on Nadelko because the brand name is up there on the bright yellow building – people just assume that I am the guy calling in the tow trucks explains Nadelko tells of the occasion when he was on vacation in Portugal and got a call from one of his regular No Frills customers asking why he towed her car.
“I wasn’t me” explains Nadelko.
 It isn’t a public parking lot – and it isn’t the No Frills parking lot either but it is roaming territory for the Classic tow trucks – Up to $350 to get your car back. In order to have cars towed from private property you have to have what Nadelko calls “a signature” or signing rights which is a relationship with city hall.
Earlier this week the Gazette reported on five of a group of six woman enjoying a holiday drink at Joe Dogs had their cars towed. They felt that it was latish in the evening, the parking lot was close to empty – they saw no reason why they shouldn’t park their cars.
Even though it is private property “people just seem to feel they can park their cars because it is convenient” – the flak falls on the No Frills brand.
Nadelko, who has owned the franchise since 1999, has nothing but great words for the community he serves. These are wonderful people. I have hired young people who first came to this store with their Mother’s when they were babies.
Nadelko, who lives in Vineland, does not own the property and does not have the authority to have a vehicle towed off the parking lot.
 Lisa Lunski, Wellington United Church community coordinator. keeping an eye on the kitchen crew that helps prepare ther community dinner. The people from Wellington Square United Church do their food shop for the community dinner they serve regularly.
No Frills is a franchise unit of the Loblaws organization. Nadelko said that he can’t make any comment on the price fixing mess Loblaws is embroiled in but he loves the idea of people signing up for one of the gift cards that are going to be handed out and have them passed along to the Wellington United Church people to help with the sizeable food bill for the community dinner they serve.
Related news stories:
Complaints from those who had their cars towed
Getting one of those Loblaws gift cards
 By Ray Rivers
January 6th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
2018 is going to be a year of surprises.
On the international front, America’s Supreme Leader will visit North Korea. After an inspection of Kim’s ‘goose-stepping’ million-man army, he will dine with the North Korean leader over a meal of Kimchi and Korean-style barbecued Rottweiler – a meal, as Kim will say, befits the lead running dogs of communism and capitalism.
 Who has the biggest red button? Following the state dinner Trump and Kim will discuss plans for nuclear cooperation and reunification of the Koreas, in addition to comparing the size of their respective nuclear buttons. Trump will return home a self-described hero for bringing peace to the Korean Peninsula, though he will have to be admitted to hospital almost immediately for medical attention related to an acute case of intestinal parasites.
But his successful visit will be instrumental in allowing the Republicans to win the mid-term elections and continue their best efforts at eliminating taxes on the wealthy and ending publicly supported health care. Most pundits will attribute the GOP victory to the campaign promise of tearing up NAFTA as the best way to make America great again – keeping American jobs out of Canada and Mexico and bringing them back to the USA and China.
On another front President Trump will decide to completely end all military activity in Afghanistan. The US diplomatic break with Pakistan and a dramatic upturn in al Qaeda, ISIS and Taliban military victories, coupled to general public disillusionment with America’s longest war, will be cited as the primary reasons for the US withdrawing from this region. Trump will tweet that his decision is consistent with history – citing the Russians and British who also left the country with their tails between their legs.
 Between the two of them, Horwath and Brown, they form the next government. Ontario voters will surprise even themselves by electing an NDP minority government which will be supported by the Green Party, having elected its first Ontario MPP candidate ever. Patrick Brown will place a close second to NDP leader Horwath. Still his party’s rank and file will demand his resignation blaming him for running a campaign borrowed almost entirely from the Liberals. Brown will step down, making way for ‘heir apparent’ Caroline Mulroney to lead the provincial party. Karl Heinz Schreiber, having just been released from a German prison, will offer to help her with fund raising, much as he tried to help her father.
The Liberals will attribute their election loss to their decision to increase the minimum wage. The NDP which had also supported the wage increase will attribute their own victory to the promise to nationalize all Ontario franchises of Tim Hortons in the public interest, and to unionize its workers under CUPE, which also represents the garbage workers. US based ‘Restaurant Brands’ which had owned Tims, as well as Burger King and Popeye, will plead unsuccessfully for a ruling under the defunct NAFTA. “Tim Hortons is the hole in the donut that nourishes the lives of all Ontarians” Horwath will be quoted as saying.
 Male actors and directors of theatre and film in Ontario have formed an association to support them against what they call the mischievous accusations of sexual misconduct running amok throughout the industry. Called the “# Fork You Too” these actors will announce their refusal to engage in any intimate scenes with female actors and demand that all female roles now be played by men in drag, as they were in Shakespeare’s day. This will cause great consternation in the entertainment industry, particularly among those engaged in the pornography sector.
Most of Canada experienced its coldest winter in decades in early 2018. In response the federal Minister of the Environment has announced the decision of the government to join the US and withdraw from the Paris Climate Change agreement. Despite accusations by David Suzuki that the government is confusing weather for climate, the PM will defend this position, at the opening of a new tar-sands plant in Alberta, noting, “It is clear that our efforts to mitigate global warming have succeeded in bringing us back into the cold,”
So there you have it folks. Recall that last year I just about nailed it… well the Keystone XL pipeline prediction anyway. And recall that it was in this column where you read it first, in 2016 – I predicted Donald Trump would be elected president.
Happy New Year. May we all live in interesting times, even without the surprises predicted above.
 Ray Rivers writes weekly on both federal and provincial politics, applying his more than 25 years as a federal bureaucrat to his thinking. Rivers was a candidate for provincial office in Burlington in 1995. He was the founder of the Burlington citizen committee on sustainability at a time when climate warming was a hotly debated subject. Tweet @rayzrivers
Background links:
Dog Meat – More Dog Meat – Other Predictions –
Tims – Tim Hortons – Rivers 2017 Predictions –
By Pepper Parr
January 6th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Part four of a multi-part editorial feature on the precincts and mobility hub being planned for the downtown core
The Bates Precinct is a new precinct which formally recognizes the policy direction in the current Official Plan to retain and improve the existing character of the low-rise areas located on the west side of Brant Street, between Baldwin Street and Caroline Street and the west side of Locust Street between Caroline Street and Elgin Street.
 The Bates Precinct also responds to public feedback, which identified a strong desire to protect existing heritage character in the downtown.
Draft Intention Statement:
The Bates Precinct recognizes and preserves the concentrated historic character along sections of Locust and Brant Streets including buildings and streetscapes. The precinct acknowledges that limited opportunities for development may exist and will respect and respond to the existing historic character of buildings and their adaptive re-use over time, through the use of building forms and materials currently existing within the precinct as well as by maintaining the existing parcel fabric.
The proposed Bates Precinct includes a Special Policy Area located at the northwest corner of Elgin Street and Locust Street that recognizes the node created by the Burlington Performing Arts Centre, City Hall, the approved Saxony development and the future extension of the Elgin Promenade.
 The Saxony was approved for four storeys – the developer as returned to the city asking for permission to add an additional two storeys to the development. No mention is made of what height restrictions might be for that Special Policy Area. If the city is every going to do anything with the existing city hall – that location becomes critical.
 The Bates Precinct includes key policy directions intended to retain the last remaining historical streetscapes, buildings and building fabric as well as to establish a maximum building height of 3 storeys to ensure the compatibility of new development within the precinct and with the adjacent St. Luke’s Neighbourhood Precinct.
What little there is left of that older downtown Burlington everyone wants to see retained is in this part of the city.
Related articles:
Part 1
Part 2
 Map showing the location of all the precincts in the downtown
By Staff
January 5th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
It was a very relieved Regional Police Chief who sent a letter electronically to everyone in the Region – thanking them for the help given to avert the death of a senior who was out in the freezing weather without winter clothing.
 Margaret McCormick found in a wooded area some distance from her senior’s residence. Margaret McCormick was reported missing at 2:30 yesterday. The alarm went out and the frantic effort to find the woman before she froze to death began.
The police knew what they were up against and they pushed every button they had available to them. Evening was approaching – the police knew there was no time to spare. Things tightened up in the communications section where everyone was an edge – waiting for that critical telephone call. It came – well let the Chief thank everyone.
Chief Tanner, in his open letter said: “As experience has shown us, whenever someone vulnerable goes missing in the community, every minute counts.
“On the afternoon of January 4, a 78-year-old woman wandered away from her senior’s residence in Burlington. Without a winter coat, physically frail, unfamiliar with the area, and with temperatures plummeting to record lows, it was a race against time to locate this resident and bring her home safely.
“Halton Regional Police Service put out an immediate call to action, and the community responded in an emphatic way:
 Regional Police Chief Stephen Tanner “Our local and regional media partners worked swiftly to assist us in circulating key details to the public;
“The public leveraged their full social media potential to extend the reach of the missing person alert; and
“Local first responder partners (including Burlington Fire and Halton EMS) coordinated resources quickly and seamlessly in extremely challenging and exigent conditions.
“Four hours after she first went missing, acting on a tip from CN Railway personnel, the elderly woman was located in a wooded area, conscious, but suffering from cold-related injuries due to exposure to the harsh elements. She is currently recovering in hospital.
“We are strongest when we work together. Last night’s incredible outcome would not have been possible without the support and contributions of our entire community — the public at large, members of the media, and all first responder agencies.
“I thank you, on behalf of the entire Service, for your continued support of our efforts to preserve and enhance community safety and well-being in Halton Region. We could not do what we do without you.
“Together, we truly are one team.”
By Pepper Parr
January 5th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Part three of a multi-part editorial feature on the precincts and mobility hub being planned for the downtown core
Parks and a big part of the way people experience Burlington. Stretched out along the edge of Lake Ontario the city was able to keep some of the property public – not all of it – the bit of land between Market and St. Paul got away on city hall but that is another story.
Spencer Smith Park is the largest focal point the city has – the Beachway Park to the west of that will result in a very significant piece of parkland space along the edge of the lake – is a
In drafting a new Official Plan the city decided to revise the precincts the downtown core is divided into and revise some of the boundaries and add new precincts. There are now 13 of them.
 The Parks and Promenades Precinct is an updated precinct that builds upon the existing Waterfront West/Public Lands Precinct and identifies current and future parks and promenades in the Downtown Mobility Hub as well as the connections between them.
Each precinct has a draft intention statement attached to it. For Parks and Promenades it is:
Draft Intention Statement:
The Parks and Promenades Precinct will identify current and future parks and promenades within the Downtown Mobility Hub, which will serve the residents and employees of the Downtown Mobility Hub and also function as key destinations for city-wide and regional events and activities. In addition, the precinct will recognize the need to maintain and enhance public access to the waterfront and identify key linkages to ensure pedestrian and cycling access within the Downtown Mobility Hub and adjacent areas.
 A site laden with history and now the prime gathering place in the city. The key policy directions for the Parks and Promenades Precinct include establishing new promenades including from St. Luke’s Anglican Church south to Lakeshore Road, the multi-modal extension of the Elgin Promenade from Brant Street to Brock Avenue and a pedestrian path along the west bank of the Rambo Creek between Caroline Street and John Street. In addition, this precinct recognizes the Burlington War Memorial (Cenotaph) as a park and identifies a future urban park in the general vicinity of Brant Street and Birch Avenue, which would include a new east-west pedestrian and cycling connection between Birch Avenue and Emerald Crescent.
 A series of short promenades are being built that will let people travel through the downtown core without having to be on public streets. When fully completed people will be able to cycle right across the city. With a big push on cycling the city has taken to the idea of promenades that stretch through the downtown core.
The planners are proposing a futurre park for what is now the location of No Frills supermarket – with the additional population that is going to live in all these condominiums – even if they are only six to eight storeys high – where will people buy their food?
Related editorial:
Where will the millennial’s live.
The park opportunity that got away on the city.
Part 1
Part 2
Map with all the downtown precincts.
By Staff
January 5th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
It was never going to be an easy piece of municipal legislation to get passed by Council.
It is a misunderstood document that forms the foundation of how the city is going to grow. Many think that everything in the Official Plan can never be changed – it isn’t that kind of a document.
The Official Plan evolves – it takes wisdom and experience to ensure that the Plan meets the needs of the city.
The public response to the current draft of the Official Plan has been what should have been expected.
 Ward 2 Councillor Marianne Meed Ward intends to put a motion before city council that would have the approving of a new Official Plan deferred until after the October municipal election. Unbeatable? Some Tory’s seem to think so. Experienced bureaucrats understand that the public has to be fully informed and listened to; city Councillors need to be fully tuned into what their constituents think and feel. Four of the current council have been in office more than ten years – two have been in their seats for 20 years – part of their job is to educate their constituents – whatever education they did didn’t stick.
So now we have a public that is not happy; a council member who is going to ask that passing the Official Plan be put off until after the next election in October.
The Planning department has set out the next series of public meetings.
 A meeting to recommend adoption of Burlington’s new proposed Official Plan will be scheduled for a committee meeting during the first week of April.
On Nov. 30, a staff report providing an overview of the proposed new Official Plan (PB-50-17), and a staff report with an overview of the proposed new Downtown Precinct Plan (PB-81-17), were presented to Burlington City Council as part of the Planning and Development Committee. Public delegations were considered during the afternoon and evening sessions of the meeting and a subsequent meeting was held during the afternoon of Dec. 1 to provide members of council the opportunity to ask questions of staff.
At the conclusion of the meeting, City Council made the following recommendations:
• Direct the Director of Planning and Building to consider the feedback received through the statutory public meeting process related to the proposed new official plan (version November 2017), and to make appropriate revisions prior to bringing forward the recommended proposed revised new Official Plan for Council adoption; and
• Direct the Director of Planning and Building to advise council at the earliest opportunity of the nature and scope of recommended revisions, including timelines for delivering the revised new official plan.
Mary Lou Tanner, Deputy City Manager said in a media release: “Following the Nov. 30 Planning and Development committee meeting, city staff and council have heard from the community that there should be more opportunity to influence the process and outcome of both the development of the new Official Plan and the Downtown Precinct Plan. These meetings will provide opportunities for more discussion.”
 Official Plan is the city’s community vision An Official Plan is a statutory document required by the Province of Ontario that describes a city’s land-use strategy. It addresses things that are needed for a growing city such as the location and form of new housing, industry, offices, shops, and anticipated needs for infrastructure like streets, parks, transit and community recreation centres.
Burlington’s proposed new Official Plan is the city’s community vision and will guide decision-making on how we use land, manage growth and invest in infrastructure to 2031 and beyond.
The policies in the plan reflect the key directions in Burlington’s Strategic Plan 2015-2040, approved in April 2016. Through the strategic plan, Burlington City Council has made the decision to grow up in key parts of the urban area of the city instead of growing out.
Under the proposed new Official Plan’s current growth management strategy, only five per cent of Burlington will experience significant growth. The majority of this growth is targeted in the areas around the city’s GO stations and in downtown Burlington. These areas are called Mobility Hubs.
2016 Census data shows:
– Burlington’s population is growing. Between 2011 and 2016, Burlington grew by 7,535 people – a 4.3-per-cent overall growth rate.
– The average housing price in Burlington is $632,556, which represents an increase of 177 per cent since 2001.
By Staff
January 4th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Those using the No Frills parking lot on Brant and not actually shopping in the supermarket are being aggressively towed by Classic Towing.
Krista Wright was have an evening with five of her girlfriends at Joe Dogs yards away when one of the group left and came running back to tell the others that their cars were being towed.
 Parking signs are not all that hard to see. The No Frills supermarket has signs posted on light poles in the parking lot – but many people feel they can park in the evening when the lot isn’t busy. Not the case.
What bothers some people is the way they pay the towing company to get their vehicles returned.
For those who pay their fine by credit card the fine is reported to be 265.00.
If you choose to pay cash you can apparently get a bit of a discount – they don’t collect the HST.
Wright’s friends were charged $265 to recover their cars. Wright reported later to the Gazette that she was “in line at the Fortinos check out later in the day and ran into a friend. I was telling her about what happened last night when the elderly lady behind me said “at the No Frills on Brant?!” Turns out the same thing happened to her but she was charged $350!!!! reported Wright.
 The public parking lot right behind Joe Dogs is closer than the No Frills lot – and a lot cheaper. Wright thinks “This all sounds pretty shady.”
Many feel that they should be given a warning, others would like to see Joe Dogs putting a notice on their door about the towing practice.
There is a public parking lot right behind Joe Dogs – closer than the No Frills lot.
 By Staff
January 4th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Update:
The Halton regional Police Service are pleased to report that the missing elderly female (Margaret McCormick) has been found in the City of Burlington.
At 6:45 pm, police located the missing female in a wooded area south of Highway 403 and east of Highway 6. Train personnel from CN rail reported observing a person near railway tracks in that area and provided a location for police to continue searching.
The missing female was carried out of the wooded area to an ambulance and is being treated for hypothermia. She was conscious at that time while being treated. She will be taken to hospital for further treatment.
Halton Police are trying to locate an elderly female who suffers from dementia; she walked away from a senior residence in Burlington (Aldershot) this afternoon at approximately 2:30pm.
 Margaret McCormick – missing in Aldershot The missing person is not dressed appropriately for the current outdoor temperature.
She has been identified as Margaret McCormick (78 yrs) and is described at female, white, 5′ 2″, very thin build, blond/silvery shoulder length hair, hat with a green stripe all around it, blue sweater, blue jeans, red mittens, boots and was seen carrying a white garbage bag.
Police are urgently requesting the public assistance in locating this party with exceptionally cold weather expected.
Residents are asked to check their properties and out buildings in the chance she has tried to seek shelter from the weather.
Anyone with information on this party’s whereabouts is asked to contact the on duty staff Sgt at 905 825 4747 ext 2310.
By Pepper Parr
January 4th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
It was a different way of passing along the Good News.
The staff in the office of Burlington MP Karina Gould sent out a media notice that Gould would be hosting a small event with St. John Ambulance and the Halton Police.
We were invited to “ swing by” on Friday, January 19TH, 2018 at 11:00am at the St. John Ambulance office on 1048 Waterdown Rd, Burlington ON L7T 1N3
 Karina Gould in her House of Commons seat with former United States president Barack Obama speaking. Watch for pictures of Gould with her baby in the House. A due date has yet to be announced. Then the surprise – “Minister Gould will bring the car seat she plans to once she has given birth”.
THAT is new – good news.
We can all hope for an easy pregnancy (only a male can make a statement like that) and the birth of a healthy child.
Congratulations Ms Gould – you constituents will be delighted.
 By Staff
January 4th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Walking Soccer
When – Every Tuesday Morning Starting January 16th , 10 am to 11:30 am
Where – Sherwood Forest Domes
How Much – $5.00 per player/pay as you go
Anyone interested to email Gord King at gking@burlingtonsoccer.com to make sure we have enough players.
January 16th is free for everyone who registers their interest before January 8th.
 By Staff
January 4th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
The third New Year levee will take place on Sunday January 7th from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm., at the Art Gallery of Burlington.
The event is being sponsored by Member of Parliament Karina Gould and MPP Eleanor McMahon.
 A levee is an old tradition in Ontario. In many communities the levee is held at city hall and sponsored by the Mayor and members of council.
There was a time when it was a pretty formal event – not so with the event Gould and McMahon sponsor.
Burlington’s Mayor hasn’t been part of the event the first two years – no mention of his taking part in the 2018 event.
Perhaps the sponsorship will be broadened in 2019.
It is a fun event and the speeches are kept to a minimum. It’s a time for the political set to gather and do what the politicians and the political junkies do
 By Pepper Parr
January 4th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
In the not too distant future Burlingtonians will learn what the provincially appointed Administration Review facilitator Margaret Wilson has to say about the Program Accommodation Review process that was used to close two of Burlington’s seven high schools.
How did this city get to this messy place?
The Gazette believes a large part of the reason was Marianne Meed Ward’s failure to lead.
How did a natural leader fail to lead when it really mattered?
 Meed Ward is a very astute politician – she chooses and issue and sticks with it asking people not just to vote for her but to trust her telling people: “I can do something about that”. I have watched Marianne Meed Ward develop as a politician since 2010. I sat in on a few of her early 2010 election campaign meetings. I was given an opportunity to be part of the team that was going to run her election.
 Marianne Meed Ward delegating as a citizen – before she had been elected to city Council. I have watched Meed Ward appear before council as a citizen delegate; she was tireless, deliberate, focused and consistent.
When she was elected I watched her begin the process of bringing city council around to a better way of operating. Her colleagues did not make it easy.
During the period of time after a car accident that resulted in a concussion that Meed Ward was not fully aware of, I watched her struggle through a city council meeting and then drove her home – it wasn’t that she couldn’t walk – she knew she shouldn’t.
That same evening all the members of city council were being entertained for a holiday event at the home of a Council member whose application for a property severance had been denied by the Committee of adjustment. The decision was appealed to the OMB at considerable cost to the city.
Meed Ward said she had not been invited to the event.
 Councillor Meed Ward has always wanted what council does to be on the record. She makes her colleagues stand up and be counted – and they don’t like it one bit. I vividly recall watching Meed Ward put her colleagues through five recorded votes at a city Council meeting. The Councillor closest to her philosophically, John Taylor, sat there rolling his eyeballs. Meed Ward wasn’t budging one inch; she wanted those Councillors to be on the record.
I watched Meed Ward mature as a politician. She has been described by some as divisive – and to some degree she was – but not to the majority of the people in her ward. They believed she could walk on water.
Meed Ward held frequent ward meetings. I recall one during which she blurted out that she “loved her job” and she did.
During her first few months in office she got a call from a constituent about some garbage on the street – Meed Ward drove out with her van and picked up the garbage.
During her first six months as a city Councillor the City Clerk had to point out to her that she had used up her postage budget. She used up much of her coffee and donuts budget well before the end of the fiscal year. Her job was to send out information and meet with people, which she did.
 Ward 2 Councillor Meed Ward has had her eye on the job of Mayor from the day she filed her first set of nominations papers. The public should get a chance to decide if she is what the city needs next October. She told her colleagues that that they should be paying for their parking – and that city staff should pay for their parking as well. Council didn’t agree with her – that didn’t faze Meed Ward – she said she was going to remit to the city the value of the free parking she was getting.
During the first election in 2010 Meed Ward had made it clear that she wanted at some point to be the Mayor.
She decided in 2014 that her children needed her at home and so she ran again in ward 2 and was handily re-elected.
With the 2018 municipal election in October expect to see Meed Ward running against the current Mayor.
The Gazette doesn’t agree with everything Meed Ward does but she is much, much closer to what a politician people in Burlington want to see representing them.
 Ward 2 city Councillor and Central high school parent Marianne Meed Ward at a school board PARC meeting. Which gets me to the point of all this: Where were those leadership skills when it came to Meed Ward’s service as a member of the Program Accommodation Review Committee (PARC)?
That group of fourteen people was desperate for some leadership. Meed Ward could have given the group a strong sense of what needed to be done.
What went wrong?
 PARC members deliberating with options on the walls The members of the PARC certainly knew who she was. There was some concern expressed over a member of city council taking part in a Board of Education matter.
The Gazette didn’t have a problem with Mead Ward taking on the assignment. The Central high school parents asked her to represent them and given that she had a child attending the school she qualified.
We believed that Meed Ward knew the difference between the two roles she was playing. She was doing what the Mayor should have done. Mayor Goldring took the weasel position of sending his city manager to the PARC – James Ridge displayed a significant lack of knowledge when he said the school board should not sell any school property. Once a property is declared surplus the Boards of Education are required to sell property.
It was pretty clear by the second formal PARC meeting that they were stumbling. While the Board of Education Superintendent who was tasked with running the PARC had a lot of rules that he imposed those 14 people were bound by any of them. They had no input in the creation of the rules and began to realize that they were being manipulated.
To this day I don’t understand why someone: Steve Cussens , Steve Armstrong, Lisa Bull or Cheryl De Lugt – anyone, didn’t invite everyone over for a BBQ and have a frank and open discussion. The opportunity was there – they didn’t take it.
 PARC members ranking the various school closing options that were put in front of them. Without the leadership that was needed the best the 14 PARC representatives could do was protect the school they were representing.
The chance to take the high road was missed. They ended up hurling invectives at each other. The Bateman people panicked when they saw their school as marked for closure and claimed the Central parents had thrown them under the bus.
Whatever opportunity there was for a consensus was lost; the people power Meed Ward talks about wasn’t seen at any of the PARC meetings.
There is a phrase that Meed Ward uses when she talks about why she got into public service: “What inspired me to seek public office in the first place – “I can do something about that!” And she certainly does something as a city Councillor.
She just didn’t follow that direction as a PARC member.
There was from the very beginning an option that would have solved the immediate problem; options was #7 – do nothing, don’t close any of the high schools. The option wasn’t worded all that well and had a bit of a battle to remain on the list.
Some PARC members thought such an option voided the whole purpose of the PAR process while others felt very strongly that the public had the right to voice an opinion on whether or not they wanted any of their high schools closed.
Mead Ward chose not to take that option and run with it using her formidable skills to rally the other 13 people to that position.
The PARC could have, indeed the Gazette believes they should have, arrived at a consensus – option # 7 was there for them.
 PARC member Marianne Meed Ward directing school board trustee Leah Reynolds on how to vote during some of the procedural issues. The best Meed Ward was able to do in terms of leadership came after the PARC had been disbanded was to send a text message to a trustee with directions on how to vote, while the trustees were deliberating before the final vote to close two high schools.
 A parent took a photo of Meed Ward’s iPad screen during a school board meeting that clearly showed she was instructing Reynolds. In one line, Meed Ward wrote; “DON’T VOTE IN FAVOR” and in another, “Do not uphold the Chair’s ruling.” It was not Meed Ward’s finest hour. Many people expected better.
Salt with Pepper are the opinions of the publisher of the Burlington Gazette.
Related content:
If there was ever a time when real leadership was needed the above this was it; the PARC infighting was getting dirty.
Meed Ward had to decide how she wanted to position herself once the Director of Education released the final report.
 By Stephen White
January 4th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
It was an interesting news story – the former Director of Planning doing a sit down interview with Colleen Podesta, a real estate agent. What could have looked like a fluff type interview by someone with a vested interest in the decisions the Director of Planning makes turned out to be something quite a bit different. Mary Lou Tanner, who is now the Deputy city manager explained that “granny flats” were possible in Burlington.
 Colleen DePodesta, a Re/Max Escarpment real estate agent with Deputy city manager Mary Lou Tanner during an interview in the Atrium at city hall The full interview can be seen at: Click here.
Stephen White didn’t see the interview that way.
He sent the Gazette some very pointed comments which were significant enough to be upgraded to an Opinion piece.
Here is what White had to say:
First question: since when were “granny flats” under consideration as an affordable housing option in Burlington?
Second question: since when do municipal public servants express public policy that, at least as far as I know, hasn’t been officially endorsed or sanctioned by Council?
Third question: why are local real estate agents interviewing municipal public servants for a promotional video that will be hosted on Ms. DePodestga’s website to advertise and promote the services of her business?
Fourth question: if a municipal public servant is supposed to maintain an arm’s length relationship with developers, real estate agents, etc., while ensuring a high degree of impartiality and objectivity in the process, why is she appearing in a featured interview? If she were being interviewed at a convention or broader public forum by a news agency that is one thing, but appearing in an exclusive interview for one business creates the impression of endorsement.
Fifth question: As per the City of Burlington’s policy on Media Relations, dated Wednesday December 24, 2014, Corp. Comm. -3-05, it states:
 Donna Kell, Manager Public Affairs. “The City of Burlington will designate corporate media spokespersons based on their accountability and responsibility. Corporate media relations spokespersons will function as the primary contacts with the media”.
Why wasn’t the Communications Manager the spokesperson on this issue.
Aside from the messaging the optics of this really stinks!
Ouch!
 By Staff
January 3rd, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
How did the 421 Brant development get to where it is today?
The developer took a proposal to city hall, the planners talked about it and suggestions were made.
Then the Tall Building Guidelines were introduced and the developer found a way to revise a plan and convince the Planning department that it was worth recommending. )See the Muir note on Ridge negotiating)
The letter from the developer to the Planning department set out below shows how the two sides managed to come together.
The visuals used in this article were not provided by the developer – they come from the Burlington Gazette photo data bank and are used to lighten the narrative which can be pretty boring at times.
January 12, 2017,
City of Burlington
Planning and Building Department City Hall
426 Brant Street
P.O. Box 5013
Burlington, Ontario L7R 3Z6
Delivered By Hand
Attention: Mary Lou Tanner, MCIP, RPP
Director of Planning & Building
Dear Ms. Tanner:
Subject: Official Plan & Zoning Amendment Application Redevelopment of 421 – 431 Brant Street & 2007 – 2011 James Street (“421 Brant”)
Northwest Quadrant of Brant Street & James Street City of Burlington
421 Brant St Inc.
421 Brant St Inc., the acting owner of the above noted properties (the “subject land”), is pleased to submit this application to amend the Official Plan for the City of Burlington and Zoning By-law 2020, as amended, to facilitate redevelopment and revitalization within the core of the Downtown area.
 A development project had a lot going for it in the early stages – then the public took notice and said they didn’t want it. Purpose of the Applications:
To permit the redevelopment of the subject land to allow high density mixed-use redevelopment within the Downtown core of the City of Burlington, official plan and zoning amendments are required.
Description of the Subject Land:
The subject land is located within the northeast quadrant of the intersection of Brant Street and James Street, immediately across the street from Burlington’s City Hall. Comprised of a total site area of approximately 0.20 hectares, the subject land fronts onto Brant Street, James Street and John Street. Several commercial buildings and operations currently exist or have existed on the subject land since the 1950’s. The subject land is
significantly under-developed for a site that is ultimately one of the most prominent and significant redevelopment sites in the Downtown area of the City of Burlington.
Project History:
421 Brant St Inc. has been assembling these lands for several years and has considered many possible redevelopment scenarios over this time. More recently, Brant St Inc. has been working with its consultant team to formalize its redevelopment proposal and bring it forward for approval. The project team includes:
Fothergill Planning and Development Inc.;
Turner Fleischer Architects Inc.;
Bousfields;
Ferris+Associates Inc.;
S. Llewellyn and Associates;
Novus Environmental Inc.;
Paradigm Transportation Solutions Inc.;
Terraprobe Inc.; and,
AT. McLaren Limited.
Prior to submitting the requisite development applications to the City of Burlington, 421 Brant St Inc. presented a proposal to the City as part of the standard pre-submission consultation process. This proposal is generally summarized as follows:
Original Proposal:
The original proposal was designed in the absence of contemporary development standards for Burlington’s Downtown and specifically to consider expectations of the market.
 The 421 Brant project got a more than favorable response at the first public meeting. Two private sector planners and a Carriage Gate executive. The original proposal included:
• Approximately 23,226 sq. m. of total gross floor area within a 25 storey building – representing a floor area ratio of 11.71;
• A tower floor plate size of approximately 870 sq. metres;
• Approximately 195 residential units and parking at a rate of approximately 1.1 spaces per unit and 0.1 spaces for non-residential uses respectively;
• A three storey podium with retail at grade, office space on the second floor and residential units on the third floor;
• Podium setbacks from the edge of street pavement as follows: Brant Street – approximately 4 metres; James Street – approximately 3.9 metres; and, John Street – approximately 4.5 metres;
• Promoted a strong streetscape as a result of the positive relations created by the massing of the podium and the width of the setbacks/streetscape provided;
• Tower setback from northerly property line – Minimum 12.5 metres;
• The condominium entrance and lobby area was proposed at the south corner of the site; and,
• Loading, service bays and underground parking ramps accessing John Street.
As this concept was being finalized by Turner Fleischer, the City of Burlington released new draft city-wide guidelines for tall buildings in the City of Burlington in August 2016. Tall Buildings Guidelines were approved by City Council on September 13, 2016 as interim (the “guidelines”). These guidelines include critera that are new to the City of Burlington and had not been previously implemented in most high rise developments in the City.
Through our pre-submission consultation meeting with City staff, we were advised of the City’s intent to implement the “guidelines”. In light of this dramatic change in philosophy and approach towards tall buildings and to respond to other comments received from City staff (as noted in the minutes from the pre-submission consultation meeting), 421 Brant St Inc. went back to the drawing board with its project team to investigate ways in which the new guidelines could be addressed while at the same time addressing market expectations and the economic feasibility of the project.
Further to significant additional analysis by the project team and 421 Brant St Inc., the redevelopment proposal has been significantly revised. The revisions that have been made demonstrate the will and desire of 421 Brant St Inc. to cooperate with City staff and Council to bring this project to market as quickly as possible. The revised proposal is summarized as follows:
Revised Proposal (“421 Brant”):
 Nick Carnicelli Dramatic modifications have been made to the project to promote compliance with development standards included in the guidelines and to respond to comments received from City staff:
• The FAR has been reduced from 11.71 to 11.24;
• To accommodate wider streetscapes around the project, as requested by City staff, the podium setbacks from the edge of street pavement have been increased as follows: Brant Street – from approximately 4 metres to approximately 6 metres; James Street – from approximately 3.9 metres to approximately 6.08 metres; and, from approximately 4.5 metres to approximately 5.87 metres on John Street.
• While the increased podium setback accommodate a significantly wider streetscape/pedestrian realm and may be visually attractive, this has resulted in the elimination of a significant amount (over 300 sq. m.) of valuable retail and office floor space;
• A three storey podium;
• Tower floor plate – reduced from 870 sq. metres to 799 sq. metres;
• Residential units sizes and dimensions have been significantly modified;
• In response to the Interim Tall Buildings Guidelines, the height of the development has been revised from 25 to 26 floors;
• In response to the modifications noted above, the total residential unit count has been reduced from 195 to 183;
• To improve and reinforce the relationship of the proposed re-development to the street and the civic open space adjacent to City Hall, a substantial cut-out has been made to the southwest corner of the building at the Brant Street and James Street intersection;
• To reinforce the significance of James Street, the entrance to and lobby of the residential component of the development has been relocated such that the main entrance is located “mid-block”; and,
• In response to City comments in respect of the visual prominence of the loading and service entrance on John Street, overhead doors have been included to screen these operational functions.
Impact of Proposed Modifications:
a) Satisfies the intent of the Official Plan and builds upon the evolving planning policy framework for the Downtown and the mobility hub;
b) General compliance with Interim Tall Buildings Guidelines;
c) Superior streetscape and relationship of the building to the public realm – promoting animation and vitality on the streets;
d) Building height and floor area ratio are suitable and appropriate for this landmark location located at a gateway to City Hall;
e) Improved relationship between the project to civic open space at both the north and south ends of City Hall;
f) No adverse wind, noise, sun light penetration or shadow impacts;
g) Enhanced access to residential condominium from the middle of the block along James Street – promotes and enhances the prominence of James Street;
h) Improved entrance to the office space from Brant Street;
i) Effective screening of loading and service facilities and functions on John Street;
j) New retail space at the corner of James and John Streets provides new and improved options for retailers and enhances the economic vitality of the area as one moves east from Brant Street;
k) Frames and compliments the view of City Hall from most directions;
I) To assist the City in its efforts to minimize the use of private motor vehicles and promote TOM standards and the use of public transit, reduced parking rates are to be implemented;
m) The underground parking garage that satisfies all City design standards;
n) Improved outdoor amenity space promoting interaction with Brant Street at multiple levels;
o) Promotes the revitalization of the Downtown Core;
p) The proposed redevelopment is compatible with neighbouring uses and activities;
q) The building architecture has been refined;
r) Mixed-use building setting a new standard for the Downtown while expanding the City’s tax base; and,
s) To improve and reinforce the relationship of the proposed re-development to the street and the civic open space adjacent to City Hall, a substantial cut-out has been made to the southwest.
Existing Planning Permissions and Amendments Required: Official Plan for the Regional Municipality of Halton:
The Official Plan for the Regional Municipality of Halton designates the subject property as being located within an “Urban Area” within the “Urban Growth Area”. This permits a range of urban uses which are to be designated in accordance with local official plans and zoning by-law. The proposal, as described, satisfies objectives for Urban Growth Centres in the Region and helps to achieve policies in the Plan promoting redevelopment and intensification of Urban Areas, and is in conformity with the Regional Official Plan. No amendments are required.
The Official Plan for the City of Burlington:
 A visual of one of the concepts shown at a city sponsored public meeting. Official plan policies promote and encourage the form of redevelopment that is being proposed, which achieves stated policies with respect to infill and housing intensification. At the same time, the policies are clear that consideration must be given to the issue of compatibility with existing neighbourhoods and surrounding development. The extent to which the proposal can achieve these objectives is considered in more detail in the Planning Justification Report prepared by Fothergill Planning and Development Inc. and the Urban Design Brief prepared by Bousfields.
While the proposal meets the general intent of the direction of the Official Plan, there are specific policy provisions that are required to be amended in respect of building height and permitted floor area ratio.
It must also be noted that the City of Burlington has commenced the process of undertaking a comprehensive review its Official Plan. This exercise recognizes that Downtown Burlington is one of the key areas within the City which can, and should, accommodate significant redevelopment and intensification initiatives. It is our understanding that the redevelopment proposed is consistent with the policy directions currently being considered by the City of Burlington. Therefore, the proposed amendments to the Official Plan appear to be representative of the policy framework being developed and as such do not challenge the overlying goals and objectives being promoted.
Interim Tall Buildings Guidelines:
The City of Burlington has also confirmed its new direction to promote “tall buildings” through its adoption and implementation of “Interim Tall Buildings Guidelines”. While it is recognized that these are guidelines, City Council has demonstrated its support for new development and redevelopment that satisfies these guidelines and further that these guidelines are in conformity with and are intended to reinforce and implement official plan policies for the Downtown in particular.
Zoning By-law 2020, as amended:
Zoning By-law 2020, as amended, zones the subject land DC (Downtown Core) and DC- 434 (Downtown Core – Modified). This zoning permits a mix and range of uses including an apartment building, retirement home, offices, restaurants and retail units. Special Exception Number 434 allows for a maximum height of 17 storeys and 21 metres as opposed to the standard requirement of 4 storeys and 15 metres in a DC zone and a floor area ratio of 4.5:1 as opposed to the 4:0:1 permitted in a DC zone. A zoning amendment is required to implement the Interim Tall Buildings Guidelines and the proposed redevelopment.
Conclusions:
 Aerial of 421 site 421 Brant St Inc. has made significant revisions to its redevelopment proposal to accommodate comments received from the City of Burlington and we are of the opinion that the proposed redevelopment represents good planning and satisfies the intent of all Provincial, Regional and City policies and guidelines while effectively promoting the evolving planning regime pursued by the City of Burlington for its Downtown Core.
Included with this Submission:
• Application fees;
• Application form;
• Architectural site plan drawings, prepared by Turner Fleischer;
• Shadow Analysis, prepared by Turner Fleischer;
• 3d model, prepared by Turner Fleischer;
• Waste Management Plan, prepared by Turner Fleischer;
• Planning Justification Report, prepared by Fothergill Planning and Development Inc.;
• Urban Design Brief, prepared by Bousfields;
• Transportation Impact Study, Parking Study and TOM Options Report, prepared by Paradigm Transportation Solutions Inc.;
• Conceptual Landscape drawings, prepared by Ferris+Associates;
• Pedestrian Wind Assessment, prepared by Novus Environmental Inc.;
• Environmental Noise Assessment , prepared by Novus Environmental Inc.;
• Functional Servicing Report, prepared by S. Llewellyn and Associates;
• Phase 1 Environmental Report, prepared by Terraprobe Inc.;
• Environmental Screening Checklist, completed by 421 Brant ST Inc.;
• Geotechnical Engineering Report, prepared by Terraprobe Inc.; and,
• Boundary and topographic survey, prepared by A.T. McLaren.
We look forward to working with the City of Burlington on this project.
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the undersigned.
Yours truly,
421 Brant St Inc.
Comparing the changes that were made between the original proposal and the final submission shows the degree to which the developer was prepared to accommodate the requests from the planners.
What no one saw coming at the time was the public reaction to a 5-2 city council vote approving the project.
Related Gazette content:
Muir and Ridge talk about negotiated developments.
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