City Communications report on a Council meeting;

By Gazette Staff

March 3, 2026

BURLINGTON, ON

At a Special Meeting of Council on Monday, March 2, Burlington City Council directed staff to report back with options to support increased housing supply.

The City Council you elected in 2022

This includes potential changes to broaden non-DC programs through a new or amended Affordable Rental Housing Community Improvement Plan (ARHCIP) funded from sources other than property taxes, as well as other time-limited options that could provide DC relief. No new incentives or program changes were approved at the Special Meeting of Council. The report back will outline impacts, funding sources, and implementation considerations to support fiscally responsible decision-making.

To advance this work, Council referred Report DGM-03-26 to the Commissioner of Development & Growth Management and the Chief Financial Officer, with direction to return to Committee of the Whole on April 13, 2026, with further analysis and options.

Council also unanimously directed that the staff report back include an option based on a “made whole” approach: Burlington would only reduce DCs where replacement provincial or federal funding is secured, reducing DCs dollar-for-dollar up to and including permanent elimination if fully matched. No changes to DCs were made at the March Special Council meeting. The unanimous vote reflects Council’s shared commitment to advancing housing supply solutions while maintaining fiscal responsibility.

Anyone interested in speaking to this item is encouraged to register as a delegate at burlington.ca/delegate or by contacting Legal and Legislative Services at clerks@burlington.ca no later than noon on April 10, 2026. If you are attending the meeting in person, you can register to speak during the meeting by following instructions provided during the meeting.

Reading Resource:

Options for the temporary elimination of Development Charges (DGM-03-26)

The Gazette will report in detail on just how the decision made – was made.