Executive summary
- The Housing Strategy is a deliverable of the Housing Strategy project which was undertaken over the course of 18 months (See project timeline in Appendix B).
- The project was initiated in January 2021, when City Council endorsed the Housing Strategy Proposed Terms of Reference with the objective to: “…develop an innovative Housing Strategy for the City of Burlington that sets out policies, tools and actions to address residents’ housing needs now and in the future and will build on and support the Region’s Housing Strategy through the development of local solutions to housing issues in the City of Burlington.” The Burlington Housing Strategy is attached as Appendix A to this report for Council’s consideration.
- The Housing Strategy provides a roadmap for addressing local housing needs and increasing housing options that meet the needs of current and future residents at all stages of life and at all income levels. It identifies the key players in housing and their respective roles, including the role of the City of Burlington (See Action 1 of the Housing Strategy). The Housing Strategy is underpinned by extensive technical work that can be found in the Housing Needs and Opportunities Report.
- The Housing Needs and Opportunities Report articulates the current state of housing in Burlington as well as current and future housing needs and establishes a toolbox of best practices in housing, focusing on innovative practices and new ideas. The entire Housing Strategy project was guided by its Engagement Plan (see Appendix C) to deliver public and stakeholder engagement that took place over the course of the project, soliciting over 1,400 responses over the course of 4 online surveys and hosting 6 virtual Open Houses. One key element of the engagement was the Housing Strategy Working Group who along with the Steering Committee guided the preparation of the Housing Strategy.
- The Housing Strategy identifies 12 Actions to move toward the vision for housing in Burlington. It provides a set of action-oriented housing objectives (Themes) and an associated implementation plan that also identifies a list of Prioritized Actions and Quick Wins.
Climate implications
- On April 23, 2019, Burlington’s City Council unanimously passed a motion to declare a climate emergency.
- 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.