Executive summary
The purpose of this report is to present the findings of the Supplemental Technical Memo – Acquisition and Re-Use of Surplus School Sites prepared by Dillon Consulting and SHS Consulting (Appendix A).
On October 6, 2021, at Corporate Services, Strategy, Risk and Accountability Committee staff report CM-22-21 titled “Burlington Lands Partnership update 1” was considered. In addition to the recommendations of the report, staff received the following Staff Direction:
- Direct the City Manager to report back by Q1 2022 with a proposed strategic lands strategy for the acquisition and community use of current and potential surplus school sites that includes the following elements:
- a current practise review of former school site uses in other municipalities, including opportunities for attainable housing;
- a complete review of existing federal and provincial housing support programs, in coordination with the work underway via the housing strategy;
- opportunities for housing, parkland and community uses on these sites, in partnership with other agencies, non-profit organizations and levels of government, including Halton Region, and coordinated with the work of the Burlington Lands Partnership;
- budgetary implications for known and potential sites that may come available;
- a community engagement strategy on potential uses for these sites; and
- communication to the four school boards (English public and catholic, French public and catholic) that the city has an interest in considering any school sites that may become available, and requests regular communication from all boards about their long-term plans. (SD-29-21).
- In February 2022, Council considered Corporate Strategy report CS-04-22 Streamline Development Approval Fund. The Streamline Development Approval Fund initiative saw Ontario’s 39 largest municipalities each receive an allocation from the province to help modernize, streamline, and accelerate processes for managing and approving housing applications.
- The City identified the first phase of the former school site reuse analysis as one of its proposed eligible projects in that it is a study to support new housing opportunities in the City. This report also clarified that this work would be scoped to satisfy several components of the Staff Direction.
- Given the ongoing work of the City’s Housing Strategy an opportunity was identified to address the staff direction in part through a slight broadening of the scope of the Housing Strategy. Staff note that municipalities are required to complete projects funded through the Streamlining Development Applications Fund by February 28, 2023.
- In addition, municipalities are required to provide a final report (posted publicly) in March 2023. This required report back may offer an opportunity to share any progress on building on the information collected through this first phase of work to support the development of a Strategic Land Policy including a municipal policy directive on surplus school sites.
Climate implications
- On April 23, 2019, Burlington’s City Council unanimously passed a motion to declare a climate emergency.
- Broadly, the City’s Housing Strategy provides innovative solutions to address local housing issues while making better use of existing infrastructure and services through the provision of additional residential units and directing new housing options in locations for intensification, such as Major Transit Station Areas with more diverse options for alternative modes of transportation, to support the provision of a wider range of housing options and minimize impacts on the environment.
- Specifically, considering the reuse of existing school sites within existing neighbourhoods is a way to support the retention of the social fabric while increasing options for attainable housing and other public service facilities/community infrastructure.