Public Gets Shut Out of Statutory Meetings - It Was a Simple Scheduling issue. Hold These Meetings in the Evening or on Weekends

By Pepper Parr

June 10, 2026

BURLINGTON, ON

On Monday and Tuesday City Council held two Statutory meetings.  These events are required under the Planning Act.  There must be at least one but there, apparently is no limit on how many can be held.

One of the two was the 1200 King Road development where 121 acres is to be developed. Property is owned by Alinea Lands and was, until quite recently, zoned as employment lands.  When the province changed the designation, Alinea was able to put together a development that will eventually have 9000 homes and result in about 2500 local jobs.

A Village Square. Ward 1 Councillor Kelven Galbraith, expects there to be a supermarket in there somewhere.

The Aldershot GO station will anchor the development on the West end.

The western end of the site is anchored by the Aldershot GO station.

Alinea has chosen to start with the recreational/sports portion of the development.

The thinking appears to be that with sports facilities in place, significant traffic will result that will allow the construction of high rise residential and commercial space

Alinea takes a broad brush stroke when they describe sports.  Possible Ontario Hockey League participation, possible Basketball organization participation.  Both the Burlington Aquatic Devils Rays and the Golden Horsehe Aquatic Club have signed on – they get really excited with mention of both a 50 metre Olympic-sized pool and a 25 metre pool in the same location.  This is the first time the two clubs have been able to agree on something.

McMaster University has shut down its swimming pool and is thought to be looking for a new home.

Lou Frapporti has been working on this development for more than five years.

Council was so pleased with the way things went that they gave Lou Frapporti a short round of applause.  Never seen that kind of thing before.

The potential is tremendous.  The endorsement council gave the opportunity has  three phases.

Phase 1 – Scope Endorsement (Current Report)

Council endorses project scope

Authorization to proceed with due diligence.

Phase 2 – Due Diligence (finalized early 2027)

Detailed business case and financial modelling;

Partner negotiations and funding commitments;

Council consideration of finalized scope, financing and partnership approach.

Phase 3 – Implementation (2027+)

Final design and procurement

Council approval of capital and operating commitments

Construction and delivery.

The issue for Lou Frapporti, spokesperson for Alinea, is timing.  There are people prepared to sign on but there is no one sitting on the sidelines with a cheque book.

The endorsement that the city approved is that vital first step.

Aldershot GO station on the left and King Road on the right.

The public didn’t show up for what is going to be the biggest thing to happen to West Burlington. The Statutory meetings were held during the day. These events should take place in the evening or on a weekend.

Federal and provincial funding is going to be required.  All in due course.

The issues the Gazette has with what is a really big deal is that the public really didn’t have much in the way of chances to participate.  The Statutory meetings were held during the day – few people knew about the events. There were two Statutory meetings.

Those who did delegate, positively, it must be said, were nudged by Frapporti to do so.

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