Major Transit Station Areas

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The City of Burlington is in our next phase of city-building as we approach full build-out of our urban area. We are looking at area-specific plans (ASPs) for Aldershot GO, Burlington GO and Appleby GO Major Transit Station Areas (MTSAs) to continue implementing our vision for the right level of intensification for Burlington. We are also looking to protect established neighbourhoods by focusing future population growth to key areas, such as around higher order transit.


This work is not new. We started with the Mobility Hubs Study in 2017-2018 and focused on area-specific planning work for the three GO Station areas. At that time, we gathered feedback through visioning, public engagement and technical studies. From there, we drafted precinct plans for each study area around the Aldershot, Burlington and Appleby GO Stations. In the end, these draft precinct plans were presented to Council for comment, but not approved and the Mobility Hubs Study was placed on hold. For more information on the Mobility Hubs Study including past events and staff reports, please visit the Mobility Hubs Study webpage.


We are now planning to resume this work as the MTSA Area-Specific Planning Project. We will build upon and refine the work undertaken through the Mobility Hubs Study. This includes:


  • the completion of all required technical studies,
  • more public and stakeholder engagement,
  • completion of three (3) area-specific plans,
  • implementing Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw amendments, and
  • other implementation strategies as required

Please subscribe to this project page to stay up-to-date.

To assist Council in making their decision, the City is committed to leading an open and transparent public engagement process to ensure the voices of people from every corner of the city are heard and valued.

The City of Burlington is in our next phase of city-building as we approach full build-out of our urban area. We are looking at area-specific plans (ASPs) for Aldershot GO, Burlington GO and Appleby GO Major Transit Station Areas (MTSAs) to continue implementing our vision for the right level of intensification for Burlington. We are also looking to protect established neighbourhoods by focusing future population growth to key areas, such as around higher order transit.


This work is not new. We started with the Mobility Hubs Study in 2017-2018 and focused on area-specific planning work for the three GO Station areas. At that time, we gathered feedback through visioning, public engagement and technical studies. From there, we drafted precinct plans for each study area around the Aldershot, Burlington and Appleby GO Stations. In the end, these draft precinct plans were presented to Council for comment, but not approved and the Mobility Hubs Study was placed on hold. For more information on the Mobility Hubs Study including past events and staff reports, please visit the Mobility Hubs Study webpage.


We are now planning to resume this work as the MTSA Area-Specific Planning Project. We will build upon and refine the work undertaken through the Mobility Hubs Study. This includes:


  • the completion of all required technical studies,
  • more public and stakeholder engagement,
  • completion of three (3) area-specific plans,
  • implementing Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw amendments, and
  • other implementation strategies as required

Please subscribe to this project page to stay up-to-date.

To assist Council in making their decision, the City is committed to leading an open and transparent public engagement process to ensure the voices of people from every corner of the city are heard and valued.

  • The Major Transit Station Area Preliminary Preferred Precinct Plans (October 2021) are now available!

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    The following primer documents are intended to present a snapshot of the key highlights of each MTSA Preliminary Preferred Precinct Plans (October 2021), a preliminary vision and an overview of each precinct, including proposed building heights and built form elements. A number of things have changed since the draft precinct plans were presented to the public and Burlington City Council in 2018. The drivers of the key changes that have been made or are being considered is also highlighted.



    We invite you to review the MTSA Preliminary Preferred Precinct Plans and provide feedback by emailing mtsa@burlington.ca by Friday, November 5th, 2021.

    The City will also be hosting virtual Public Information Centres to hear what you think about these preliminary preferred precinct plans, including the overall vision for each area, land uses, building heights and urban design considerations. Please join us for one or all of these meetings on Zoom:


    A detailed online workbook and survey will be available in the coming days to allow an additional opportunity to provide feedback on each plan and specific precinct elements. Stay tuned!

    If you would like to connect with the project team directly and schedule a one-on-one meeting with a Planner on the team, please contact us at mtsa@burlington.ca.

  • Background Report and Engagement Plan now available

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    The background report – Planning for Burlington’s Major Transit Station Areas: What you need to Know is now available.

    This report is intended to provide you with a guide to the background to the City’s area-specific planning work around the Aldershot GO, Burlington GO and Appleby GO Stations, including the previous Mobility Hubs Study and the current MTSA Area-Specific Planning Project. Along with this background report, here are technical studies initiated through the previous Mobility Hubs Study (2017-2019) scope of work that have now been completed, including:

    Other technical studies will be released and posted to the Document Library on this project page, once complete.

    The MTSA Area-Specific Planning Project Engagement Plan is now available.


    This plan outlines opportunities for the community to share their input throughout the project.

    In October, the City of Burlington will be looking for your feedback and ideas on preliminary preferred precinct plans for the MTSAs. Your input on the preliminary preferred precinct plans and policy and zoning directions is important. Your feedback, findings from technical studies, and planning analysis will together define a vision to guide future development, land uses, building heights, urban design considerations and more. Stay tuned for engagement details coming soon.


  • Urban Growth Centre Boundary Adjustment - Read the Media Release

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    Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing announces Burlington can adjust UGC Boundary

    Burlington, Ont.—June 15, 2021 — Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark joined Burlington MPP Jane McKenna and Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward this morning to announce that Burlington will be able to adjust the boundary of its existing provincial Urban Growth Centre (UGC) designation.

    The adjustment of the boundary of the UGC, once centered on our downtown core, will put the focus of the designation on the Burlington GO Station, allowing the City to direct future height and density near mass transit and help build more complete communities.

    This decision supports the work already incorporated into Burlington’s revised new Official Plan (OP), already approved by Halton Region. Burlington’s new OP includes stronger protections for green space, heritage, jobs, the rural community, established low-density neighbourhoods and a special focus on preserving the character of the downtown.

    Burlington is city where people, nature and businesses thrive. City services may look different as we work to stop the spread of COVID-19. The City’s commitment to providing the community with essential services remains a priority. Sign up to learn more about Burlington at Burlington.ca/Enews and download the free City of Burlington app.

    Quotes

    Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark

    “Our government has been clear that transit-oriented communities are our priority. I am proud to support Jane McKenna, MPP Burlington, and Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward by re-designating the Urban Growth Centre away from the downtown and closer to the Burlington GO station which will ensure that the downtown area is preserved. This will also ensure that people will live closer to transit so that they can spend less time commuting, and more time with their families.”

    Burlington MPP Jane McKenna

    “Burlington’s Urban Growth Centre and Major Transit Station Area designation have been in place for over a decade. This re-designation will put homes near transit which aligns with the policies laid out in the provincial Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe. It will also help preserve the many incredible features that makes downtown Burlington unique. Today’s announcement has been years in the making and is the result of a tremendous collaborative effort by the Mayor and Council, local and provincial planning experts, senior members of the Ontario government and most importantly, the residents of our great city.”

    Mayor Marianne Meed Ward

    “I am absolutely thrilled by today’s announcement. This great outcome for our city is grounded in extensive study, analysis, planning rationale and feedback, and from day one, there was unanimous support from all members of our city council for this change. Executive Director of Community Planning, Heather MacDonald, has provided clear and consistent professional planning advice to council to fully complete the necessary and substantive planning policy work to support the recommended UGC boundary adjustment.

    We did not do this alone. This has been a truly collaborative process with our community, including residents, developers, partner agencies, your City Council, City and Regional leaders and staff, our Regional Chair and fellow Halton Mayors. This outcome today is also the result of a great deal of hard work and advocacy from our local MPP Jane McKenna, and everyone at the Ministry of Municipal Housing and Affairs, led by Minister Clark.

    Burlington continues to be open for growth and development in the right places and at the right scale. Our city will evolve and grow in ways that honour everything that makes Burlington such a special place to live, work and play.”

    Executive Director of Community Planning, Regulation and Mobility, Heather MacDonald

    “This is great news for the work staff is doing as it aligns nicely with our revised new Official Plan (OP) and Major Transit Station Areas (MTSA) project. Our team is also working closely with Halton Region on their Official Plan Review, currently underway.

    This boundary adjustment for Burlington will help to implement planning policies that focus on maintaining our established communities and neigbourhoods while directing growth and intensification where appropriate and transit supportive.”

  • June 8, 2021 - Draft Workplan and Engagement Plan will go to Committee

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    On June 8, staff will deliver a draft project workplan for approval and present a draft public engagement plan to the Community Planning, Regulation and Mobility (CPRM) Committee, beginning at 9:30 a.m. The CPRM Committee meeting can be viewed on the Council and Committee Live Stream.

    You may register to speak at Council. The deadline to sign up to speak at this meeting is June 7, 2021 at noon.

    The staff report and accompanying appendices, including the draft terms of reference and draft engagement plan, are now available, on the Burlington Calendar or visit the document library on this project page.

  • May 17th Council Workshop

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    At the Council Workshop Meeting, staff provided the following for Council questions and discussion:

    • An overview of area-specific planning work undertaken through the Mobility Hubs Study 2017-2018
    • A preliminary overview of Major Transit Station Area Area-Specific Planning workplan, timing and engagement

    Please see the May 17 Council Workshop Meeting Revised Agenda for a copy of the staff presentation and video of the meeting.

Page last updated: 08 Dec 2022, 10:45 AM