By Pepper Parr
April 1st, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Much of the discussion and debate on what a new Official Plan will do to the city is focused on Brant Street and the height of buildings on the south end of Brant.
Protecting the community west of Brant hasn’t been given much attention.
The Gazette is currently running a readership survey that will close on April 6th. The data to date has produced some surprises. While the answers to many of the questions are interesting – of more interest is where he people answering the questions live.
We asked responders to the survey to tell us which ward they lived in which will allow us to cross reference the data with where people live.
We are looking forward to dong the analysis when the survey closes April 6th.
How high should buildings on Lakeshore Road between Maple and Pearl be in the new Official Plan?
The data shown is based on the responses received to date. We have watched the data shift on several of the questions.
Lakeshore is perhaps the most important street in city. One can guess how the people who live downtown are going to react to a question on how high the buildings should be – but what do the people in the Orchard and Alton Village think – and do the people in Kilbride have an opinion?
There isn’t much in the way of difference between the 8 storey and the 11 and 20 storey answers. When we do the in depth analysis we will be able to tell you where the people who made the choices live.
The St. Luke’s – Emerald precinct is solid residential, mostly single family residential and people in that community want to ensure it remains that way.
In the Draft Intention Statement the Planning department said:
“The St. Luke’s Neighbourhood and Emerald Neighbourhood Precinct will conserve the existing established residential and heritage character of these neighbourhoods. Limited development may exist within the precinct and will be compatible with the existing character and built form of the area. New and/or enhanced pedestrian and cycling connections will be established as a priority throughout the precinct to allow for improved access to amenities and services.
“The key policy directions for the St. Luke’s/Emerald Neighbourhood Precinct include the potential for semi-detached dwellings as well as the introduction of accessory dwelling units as a permitted use within single and semi-detached dwellings as well as in detached garages consistent with city-wide policy directions in the draft new Official Plan.
“These precinct policies also recognize existing low-rise apartments and townhouse developments within the precinct and introduce new opportunities for park/green spaces and pedestrian and cycling connections and amenities.”
The land assemblies taking place on Burlington Street suggest that the developer will be looking for significant height.
Property on Burlington Street is being assembled. What kind of height is going to be permitted in this residential community. There are already a significant number of tall buildings on Lakeshore Road. The Bridgewater development at the bottom of Elizabeth is going to rise to 22 storeys; the ADI Nautique development has been given the OMB green-light o rise to 26 storeys.
This question should not be asked. People have expressed their opinion over and over again. What part of WE DO NOT WANT HIGH RISE ON THE SOUTH PART OF BRANT STREET do you not understand? Just got back from a visit to Barrington Illinois and the main street there is charming, beautiful and low rise. Why must the Americans always find ways to create lovely cities and we get caught in the cross-fire of developers who are in Burlington to make big money and for no other reason.
i have no problem with new development, i am a resident of burlington all my life and i am 68 years old with an excellent memory, growth and change is what has been taking place in burlington from day one, use new tax dollars wisely and keep burlington clean and safe, i feel grateful to be able to live in burlington.
With respect to your comment that protecting the community west of Brant hasn’t been given much attention. Good point but the communities on either side of Upper Brant have been given no attention. Hello 7, 11, 15, 20 story building on the other side of your back fence. Check the maps, these neighbourhoods don’t exist — at least Emerald and St.Lukes are recognized.
Sir Elton had it right #dontletthesungodownonme
No precinct is truly “safe”. The wording in the proposed new official plan leaves it open to interpretation and zoning changes. Don’t assume that St.Luke’s and Emerald Neighbourhood Precincts will remain as is.
Residents need to be more aware of what is really happening.
I live at 1431 Lakeshore Rd…………corner of Locust and Lakeshore. We already have a huge orange crane directly out our window on the north side…….building a condo complex that will block part of the view north. Downtown Burlington is NOT a major work destination. It is, and should be, a quiet, calm and large building free zone. People do not commute en masse to work downtown. The area has enough apartment buildings now.
The core is already noisy enough with Lakeshore traffic, the incredibly popular civic parking garage at Locust (very popular with the kids that have high powered and noisy engines who like to race around in the lot and hear how loud the engine can be)………….adding to the noise and the inevitable accompanying dirt and dust of construction is NOT a good plan. If the city needs high rises, build them away fro the core, nearer the GO. That would seem a more convenient location for commuters.