Burlington Official Plan, 2020 Targeted Realignment Exercise

City of Burlington Staff will present Staff Report PL-66-24: Official Plan Amendment to Increase Housing Options – Preferred Approach to the Committee of the Whole at the September 9, 2024 meeting. The Report and the Appendices, including the Background Report provide an overview of the project, background research and outlines the preferred approach to this work for Council’s consideration. The Staff Report and Appendices are now available online, and can be found in the Agenda Meeting Package for September 9, 2024 Committee of the Whole Meeting at http://www.burlington.ca/calendar.

Those wishing to delegate at the meeting can register to speak to delegate by Friday September 6 at noon.

Staff Report PL-50-24: Burlington Official Plan, 2020 Targeted Realignment Exercise – workplan update 3 is now available online. The staff report provides updates related to work completed over the last quarter (Q2, 2024) and presents the background and vision starting point for Bronte Creek Meadows (BCM) work as well as the proposed engagement plan. It also provides the project milestones for the OPA to Increase Housing Options.

On July 8, the Committee of the Whole will consider the report and recommendation. The report can be found in the Agenda Meeting Package for the July 8th, 2024 Committee of the Whole. Those wishing to delegate can pre-register to speak as a delegate by Friday July 5, at noon. See the Council and Committees Calendar for further information.

The City of Burlington is starting its New Zoning Bylaw Project. This project will create a new Zoning Bylaw that will provide a set of rules for land use planning and development across Burlington. This updated zoning bylaw will help by: making the rules easy to use, reflecting modern zoning practices, streamlining development approvals and implementing the objectives of the Burlington Official Plan, 2020.

The New Zoning Bylaw will be done in phases, and phase 1 will focus on supporting more housing options in Burlington neighbourhoods.

The Official Plan Amendment to Increase Housing Options project is being worked on at the same time as the New Zoning Bylaw project and will inform Phase 1 – Residential Zones.

To learn more about the new Zoning Bylaw project and take the New Zoning Bylaw project survey.

The Official Plan Amendment to Increase Housing Options project work is underway through the BOP, 2020 Targeted Realignment Exercise with the support of the New Zoning By-law Project team to implement 4 units as-of-right and other actions of the Housing Strategy.

Please see the Engagement Plan for more details on engagement opportunities and how to get involved.

At the April 8, 2024 Committee of the Whole Meeting, City Staff presented a report on the Targeted realignment future growth areas – 1200 King Road, Bronte Creek Meadows and Bridgeview.

The report provides: that Bill 162 will reinstate 4 significant changes with impacts on the BOP, 2020 Urban Structure, Growth Framework and Land Use policies.

Now is the time to confirm with Council the approach to planning for three key future growth areas. As directed by Council, staff have worked closely with the landowners

and have an initial approach and timeline to share with respect to Bronte Creek Meadows. Staff believe the approach presented can be a model for understanding the role of all of these new areas, and a means of developing the City direction, informed by collaboration and engagement with the community, landowner, the City and other affected parties.

City staff will provide the BOP, 2020 Targeted Realignment Exercise – Workplan Update 2 Report to the Committee of the Whole on April 8, 2024.

On Jan. 8, 2024, City staff presented the first BOP, 2020 Targeted Realignment Exercise Update Report and Engagement Approach to the Committee of the Whole. View the meeting here.

To help with more housing options and supply throughout the City of Burlington, City Council approved a motion to declare its intention to allow four residential units per lot. This direction supports the City’s Housing Strategy to:

• help with a healthy supply of rental units and
• increase housing options.

This direction also builds on the City’s recent update to its Additional Residential Units policies which now allow up to three residential units per urban residential lot. There will be community engagement on property criteria for ARUs and before more changes are made to the City’s Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw to allow up to four units.

What are Additional Residential Units (ARUs)?

Additional Residential Units are self-contained living units with their own kitchen, bathroom and sleeping areas. They are on the same property as a primary home, including single detached homes, semi-detached homes and townhouses. They can be inside or attached to a primary home, or in a separate accessory building like a detached garage. Examples of ARUs are basement apartments, attached suites, tiny homes and coach houses. The Additional Residential Units page provides details about how to apply for an ARU on your property.

Join us in our work to change policies and regulations to allow four units per lot. We will also consult with you in our review of the existing standards in the City’s current zoning bylaw for ARUs. This may include what might be allowed for the height of accessory buildings with ARUs, such as detached garages, or parking space requirements.

City staff presented a recommendation report on a City-Initiated Official Plan Amendment and Zoning Bylaw Amendment to expand permissions for additional residential units in compliance with the Planning Act, to Community Planning Regulation and Mobility Committee on Sept. 12, 2023.

There was no appeal period; the Amendments are now in force and effect. Please see the Sept. 12, CPRM Meeting revised Agenda for a copy of the staff presentation and video of the meeting.

At the Community Planning Regulation and Mobility (CPRM) Committee Meeting, City staff presented a report on the Burlington Official Plan, 2020 Targeted Realignment Exercise – Initial Work Plan. This included a staff recommendation to start the revised approach to moving the Burlington Official Plan, 2020 forward to make sure it is aligned with the updated Regional and Provincial policy framework. Council approved the initial work plan report and directed staff to develop an engagement plan for this exercise.

Please see the June 27 CPRM Meeting revised Agenda for a copy of the staff presentation and video of the meeting.