Major Transit Station Areas

Here is the draft Official Plan Amendment (OPA) and Community Planning Permit (CPP) Bylaw for the City’s Major Transit Station Areas for your review and comment:

• Draft Official Plan Amendment
• Draft Community Planning Permit By-law

A copy of the draft Transportation Assessment for the MTSA Area Specific Plan Study is also now available. It needs to be reviewed by Halton Region before it will be approved.

Building on several years of engagement and technical study, the draft OPA and CPP By-law will set up a Community Planning Permit System that will support the evolution of MTSAs into complete communities and transform how development is assessed and approved in the MTSAs. Click here for a one page overview of the proposed Community Planning Permit System.

Key effects of the proposed OPA and CPP By-law are:

• The proposed OPA and CPP Bylaw will set up new land uses, development standards and development review for the MTSAs.
• The CPP Bylaw for the City’s three MTSAs will be used instead of the City’s Zoning By-law 2020.
• The Community Planning Permit application process will be used for the MTSAs instead of zoning amendments, minor variances and site plan applications.
• Once the CPP Bylaw is in place, development in the MTSAs will only be allowed with a Community Planning Permit, with some exceptions. The CPP Bylaw uses on engagement from the MTSA Project to set the vision and standards for development. This means individual CPP applications will not need more engagement if the development meets the standards or variation criteria of the bylaw.

The proposed draft OPA and CPP by-law will be formally presented at a Statutory Virtual Open House this Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023 and at a Statutory Public Meeting held by the Community Planning, Regulation and Mobility Committee on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. See previous post for details or Burlington.ca/Calendar

Remember to:

Learn more, ask questions and speak to City staff about the proposed Official Plan Amendment and Community Planning Permit By-law/System:

• Attend the upcoming Virtual Open House on Oct. 12, 2023
• Visit a drop-in session at Aldershot Library on Oct. 16 or New Appleby Library on Oct. 17, 2023, both 6-8:00 p.m.
• Email mtsa@burlington.ca to schedule a one-on-one meeting with city staff

Tell us what you think:

1. Speak at the upcoming Statutory Public Meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023.

• Pre-register to speak by noon Monday, Oct. 30, 2023 by:
  • Filling out the form at www.burlington.ca/delegation
  • Emailing the Office of the City Clerk at clerks@burlington.ca
  • Calling 905-335-7600 ext. 7481

OR register during the meeting by emailing clerks@burlington.ca if you are attending virtually, and follow the instructions provided at the meeting if attending in person.

2. Send your comments to Jo-Anne Rudy, Committee Clerk at Jo-Anne.Rudy@burlington.ca by noon Monday, Oct. 30, 2023 if you wish for it to be distributed and reviewed by all members of the Committee in advance of the Statutory Public Meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023.

3. Write to the MTSA team by November 7, 2023 at mtsa@burlington.ca or Community Planning Department, P.O. Box 5013, 426 Brant Street, Burlington, ON L7R 3Z6

Feedback received at the Statutory Public Meeting on Oct. 31, 2023 and written comments received by November 7, 2023 will be used to inform staff’s recommended OPA and CPP By-law.

Staff are planning to present the recommended OPA and CPP Bylaw to the Community Planning, Regulation and Mobility Committee later this year. Sign up for updates so you know when more information is available!

As part of the final stage of the Major Transit Station Area (MTSA) Area-Specific Planning Project, the City will be releasing and engaging on a draft Official Plan Amendment and a Community Planning Permit By-law starting next week.

Together, the draft Official Plan Amendment and Community Planning Permit System By-law will support the evolution of the MTSAs into complete communities and transform how development is assessed and approved in the MTSAs.

You are invited to:

• Review the draft Official Plan Amendment and Community Planning Permit By-law – Available Oct. 10, 2023

The draft amendment and bylaw will be posted to the MTSA Project Webpage on October 10, 2023.

• Listen in and ask questions at the Statutory Virtual Open House on Oct. 12, 2023
  Oct. 12, 6 to 8 p.m. on Zoom

Webinar ID: 899 8062 8040

Participate On-line: https://bit.ly/mtsaopenhouse (internet connection required)

Participate by Telephone: 1-647-558-0588 (audio only)

• Visit a Drop-In Information Session in person at Aldershot Library or Appleby Library

The drop-in sessions are opportunities for you to learn more and ask questions about the proposed amendment and by-law. While a formal presentation will not be provided, staff will be available to answer any questions.

1. Oct 16, 6 to 8 p.m. at Aldershot Library, Program Room (550 Plains Road East, Burlington, ON L7T 2E3)
2. Oct 17, 6 to 8 p.m. at New Appleby Library, Program Room (676 Appleby Line, Burlington, ON L7L 5Y1)

• Speak at the Statutory Public Meeting on Oct. 31, 2023 - Community Planning, Regulation and Mobility Committee
  

Oct. 31 at 9:30 a.m., resuming at 6:30 p.m. if needed

Virtual and In-Person at City Hall Council Chambers, 426 Brant Street

• Share your written comments by November 7, 2023

Written comments can be emailed to the MTSA General Mailbox (mtsa@burlington.ca) or mailed to Community Planning Department, P.O. Box 5013, 426 Brant Street, Burlington, ON L7R 3Z6

• Speak with City Planning staff

The MTSA team have set aside time every Tuesday and Thursday from 2-3 p.m. to accommodate any one-on-one meeting requests. Email mtsa@burlington.ca to schedule a meeting.

More information about the upcoming Virtual Open House, Public Meeting and Drop-In Information Sessions can be found on the City’s Calendar of Public Engagement and Events.

A formal Notice of Statutory Open House and Public Meeting has been mailed to all owners and tenants within 120 m of the MTSAs, The notice contains a general overview of the proposed amendment and by-law.

Over the summer, the MTSA team will be continuing to prepare draft official plan policies and a draft community planning permit by-law for the MTSAs, as directed by City Council on July 11, 2023. The team will also be finalizing the remaining technical studies and will post the studies on the MTSA project webpage as soon as they are complete. To receive an automatic email notification when new information becomes available, subscribe to this project page.

The MTSA team is available throughout the summer to discuss any questions or comments about the project, and have set aside time every Tuesday from 3 - 4 pm and Thursday 2 - 3pm for Talk to a Planner meetings. Email mtsa@burlington.ca if you would like to Talk to a Planner.

On June 27, 2023, the Community Planning, Regulation and Mobility Committee considered staff report PL-40-23: MTSA Update & Community Planning Permit Exploration. The report provides an overview of the Community Planning Permit (CPP) System tool under the Planning Act, and recommends that a CPP System and By-law be established in the MTSAs. At the meeting, Dillon Consulting presented an overview of the CPPS tool and how it could be used to support the City’s objectives for the MTSAs.

Staff report PL-40-23 also provides a general update on the MTSA ASP Planning Project and delivers the technical studies that have been completed since staff’s last update report to Council in June 2022, namely:

• Phase 2 Flood Hazard Assessment of the Burlington GO MTSA and Burlington Downtown (Text, Appendices, Drawings) (Prepared by WSP, March 6, 2023)
• Land Use Compatibility Study (Prepared by Dillon Consulting, May 2023)
• Flood Hazard and Scoped Stormwater Management Assessments (Appleby, Aldershot) (Prepared by WSP, June 5, 2023)
• Scoped Environmental Impact Studies (Burlington, Appleby, Aldershot) (Prepared by Dillon Consulting, August 2022)

On July 11, 2023, City Council approved the recommendations of staff report PL-40-23: MTSA Update & Community Planning Permit Exploration, directing staff to prepare a draft Community Planning Permit By-law for consultation in the fall of 2023 at the same time as the release of draft Official Plan policies.

A copy of the staff report, technical studies and Dillon Consulting’s presentation slides can be found in the Document Library section of the MTSA Get Involved Project Page. For a video recording of Dillon Consulting’s presentation, visit the Revised Agenda webpage of the June 27th, 2023 Community Planning, Regulation and Mobility Committee meeting.

Staff report PL-40-23: MTSA Update & Community Planning Permit System Exploration is now available online. The report can be found in the Addendum Meeting Package for the June 27^th, 2023 Community Planning, Regulation and Mobility meeting at www.burlington.ca/calendar.

Area-specific planning for the Appleby GO MTSA has resumed, following a pause beginning last June to investigate next steps with respect to land use compatibility.

A staff report with an update on the MTSA Area-Specific Planning Project will be presented to the June 27, 2023 Community Planning, Regulation and Mobility Committee. A copy of the staff report will be posted on the Burlington Calendar by Friday June 16, 2023 end of day.

The MTSA team can be reached at mtsa@burlington.ca if there are any questions

Thank you for all the feedback that has been shared since our last update to City Council in July 2022 regarding the Major Transit Station Area Area-Specific Planning Study Final Report. If you have not yet provided comments but would like to, please email the MTSA Team at mtsa@burlington.ca. Comments received by March 24, 2023 will be used to inform the draft policies for the major transit station areas. After March 24, there will be opportunities to provide feedback on the draft policies once they are complete.

Thank you to everyone who provided comments at the MTSA booth at the City’s Food for Feedback event on September 17, or met with or wrote to us after our last update to Council in July regarding the MTSA Area-Specific Planning Study Final Report. Since July, the MTSA team has been working on addressing the additional areas of analysis requested by Council in July as well as the remaining outstanding technical studies and comments received to date.

We are also taking stock of the recent changes that have been made by the Province to the broader Provincial and Regional planning framework and assessing its impacts on the MTSA Area-Specific Planning Project. These provincial changes include Bill 23, the More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022 which received Royal Assent on November 28, 2022, and the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing’s modified approval of Regional Official Plan Amendment 49.

More project updates will be posted to the Get Involved Burlington MTSA Project Page in 2023. In the meantime, the Team continues to be available to receive comments and questions at mtsa@burlington.ca.

Wishing everyone a safe, healthy and happy holiday,

MTSA Team

On July 12, 2022, City Council discussed staff report PL-10-22. This provided an update on the MTSA ASP Planning Study and directed staff to use the Major Transit Station Area Area-Specific Planning Study Final Report (Accessible Version) to prepare Official Plan policies for the Downtown Burlington UGC /Burlington GO MTSA and the Aldershot GO MTSA. Council also directed staff to re-examine the height permissions and provision of community elements in the Burlington GO Central precinct of the Burlington GO MTSA.

We are still looking for your feedback on the MTSA ASP Planning Study Final Report! This includes:

• precinct plans,
• associated schedules,
• draft policies and
• policy directions.

Your feedback will be used with technical studies and further analysis by staff as directed by Council, to inform the policies for Burlington’s MTSAs.

To share your comments or book a time to talk to a planner, email mtsa@burlington.ca.

Community Planning Staff Report, PL-10-22 – MTSA ASP Planning Study Update is now available. The Staff Report includes Dillon Consulting’s MTSA Area-Specific Plan (ASP) Planning Study Final Report for the Downtown Burlington Urban Growth Centre/Burlington GO MTSA and Aldershot GO MTSA, as well as two recently completed supporting technical studies: Market Analysis Update and Air Quality Assessment. An overview of the modifications made to the Recommended Preferred Precinct Plans is also provided (Appendix C of Staff Report).

The Staff Report:

• Outlines the MTSA ASP Planning Study Process to-date and discusses the next steps for the project, including the Appleby GO MTSA;
• Presents the findings of the MTSA ASP Planning Study that will be used to prepare draft Official Plan policies at a later date and
• Shares the two newly completed technical studies.

The Staff Report, MTSA ASP Planning Study Final Report and Technical Studies will be presented to Burlington City Council for discussion at the July 5 Community Planning, Regulation and Mobility Committee Meeting at 9:30 a.m. For information about how to watch or participate in the meeting, visit the Meeting Details webpage.