NOTICE OF ENDORSEMENT
With respect to modifications to the adopted Official Plan (adopted April 26, 2018)
DATE OF ENDORSEMENT OF MODIFICATIONS: October 7, 2020
DATE OF NOTICE: October 22, 2020
TAKE NOTICE that on October 7, 2020, the Council of the Corporation of the City of Burlington (“Council”) endorsed modifications to the new Official Plan that Council had adopted on April 26, 2018 (By-law No. 24-2018), under sections 17 and 26 of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.P.13, as amended.
Background Information
On April 26, 2018, Council adopted Burlington's new Official Plan (“the adopted Official Plan”). The adopted Official Plan fuses local community interests with regional and provincial policy direction, in alignment with the City’s Strategic Plan, articulating Burlington’s vision to 2031 and beyond, towards a mature state. The Official Plan establishes a set of principles to guide land use decision-making to achieve sustainable development and a complete community in accordance with the following key strategic directions: A City that Grows; A City that Moves; A Healthy and Greener City; and An Engaging City.
The City of Burlington (“the City”) gave notice of the adoption of the new Official Plan on May 10, 2018, in accordance with Subsection 17(23) of the Planning Act. On May 11, 2018, the City submitted the adopted Official Plan to the Regional Municipality of Halton (“Halton Region”) for approval. Halton Region is the approval authority for the City’s adopted Official Plan. Halton Region has not yet made a decision regarding the City’s adopted Official Plan.
On Feb. 7, 2019, Council voted to re-examine the policies in the adopted Official Plan. On May 27, 2019, Council approved a work plan that confirmed the focus of the re-examination would be the policies that guide development in the City’s Downtown and Neighbourhood Centres. The re-examination resulted in Council endorsing modifications to these policies on Oct. 7, 2020.
Purpose and Effect of Endorsement of Modifications (Oct. 7, 2020)
The purpose and effect of the endorsement is to modify the new Official Plan that Council adopted on April 26, 2018. Specifically, Council endorsed modifications to the adopted Official Plan policies that guide development in the City’s Downtown and Neighbourhood Centres.
The endorsed modifications for Downtown Burlington include new or revised policies and mapping to guide development to the year 2031. The policies and mapping recognize the distinct character, needs, functions, and opportunities of various different areas within the Downtown, and will identify how the City intends to achieve its objectives for each of those areas and for the Downtown as a whole.
The endorsed modifications for Neighbourhood Centres are minor policy refinements that are intended to simplify and clarify the policies for Neighbourhood Centres that were adopted in 2018. These include refinements to policies that apply to Mixed Use Nodes and Intensification Corridors.
As part of the development and preparation of the modifications to the adopted Official Plan, extensive public engagement and consultation were conducted. The following staff reports considered by Council included, among other things, information about the submissions received during the preparation of the modifications to the adopted Official Plan:
- PB-89-19 Taking a Closer Look at the Downtown: Concept Discussion (Dec. 5, 2019)
- PL-02-20 Taking a Closer Look at the Downtown: Preliminary Preferred Concept (Jan. 16, 2020)
- PL-16-20 Taking a Closer Look at the Downtown: Recommended Modifications to the Adopted Official Plan (Sept. 30, 2020)
- PL-18-20 Recommended Modifications to Adopted Official Plan Policies for Neighbourhood Centres and Mixed Use Nodes and Intensification Corridors (Sept. 30, 2020)
Oral and written submissions were received in relation to or in response to the noted reports, and as part of the public meeting held on Sept. 30, 2020. These oral and written submissions were, along with the advice of City staff and consultants, considered by Council in deciding to endorse modifications to the adopted Official Plan.
Additional Information
Information in respect of the adopted Official Plan has been made available to the public for inspection online at: www.burlington.ca/newop. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, it is not possible for information to be made available to the public for inspection at the office of the City’s Community Planning Department. To request information in an alternative format, please contact:
Alison Enns, Project Manager – Official Plan
Community Planning Department
426 Brant Street, Burlington ON
L7R 3Z6
(905) 335-7600 ext. 7787
Approval Process
The endorsed modifications to the adopted Official Plan will be submitted to Halton Region for approval. As the approval authority for the City’s adopted Official Plan, Halton Region may approve, modify and approve, or refuse to approve the adopted Official Plan. Any person or public body that wishes to receive notice of decision on the adopted Official Plan by Halton Region should note the paragraph below.
TAKE NOTICE that any person or public body will be entitled to receive notice of the decision of Halton Region if a written request to be notified of the decision (including the person’s or public body’s address, fax number, or email address) is made to Halton Region at the following address:
Regional Clerk
Regional Municipality of Halton
1151 Bronte Road
Oakville, Ontario
L6M 3L1
