Executive summary
- The purpose of this report is to provide the recommendation to refuse the subject development applications and to provide the planning rationale for the recommendation.
- On April 28, 2021, City and agency staff attended a preconsultation meeting with representatives of Burlington 2020 Lakeshore Inc., owners of the subject property, 2020 Lakeshore Road, regarding redevelopment of the subject property. The result of this meeting was the creation of a preconsultation package that set out the types of applications needed (Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment), application fees, and required information and materials for a complete application.
- In accordance with the requirements set out in the preconsultation package, the applicant consulted the Burlington Urban Design Panel regarding their proposed development on August 19, 2021 and held a virtual Pre-Application Consultation Meeting via Zoom on September 8, 2021. The latter meeting was attended by the Mayor, Councillor Kearns, City staff, and members of the public.
- The City created a Development Pre-Application webpage, www.burlington.ca/2020lakeshore, to provide information to the public about the development proposal and the Pre-Application Consultation Meeting. The applicant submitted application forms, City and Regional fees, and supporting materials for the subject applications to the City of Burlington on October 26, 2021. On November 23, 2021, the City notified the applicant that the subject applications had been deemed incomplete on the basis that not all of the information and materials required by the City’s Official Plan and the Planning Act had been submitted in accordance with the preconsultation package.
- Subsequently the applicant filed a motion to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) to determine the application complete. However, on December 17, 2021, the applicant provided the City with the information and materials that had been identified as missing from the earlier submission.
- On January 18, 2022, City Council approved the recommendations of staff report PL-13-22 and deemed that the subject applications for Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment are made and complete as of December 17, 2022, in accordance with sections 22.1, 22(5), and 34(10.2) of the Planning Act. On February 16, 2022, the applicant withdrew their motion to the OLT regarding completeness of the applications. No date for the hearing of the motion had been scheduled by the OLT prior to the motion being withdrawn.
Feb. 22, 2022, 5 residents delegated and an additional 5 residents submitted written correspondence (including some duplicates of letters received by Planning staff). - The City held a virtual Statutory Public Meeting to consider the applications at the February 22, 2022 meeting of Community Planning, Regulation, and Mobility Committee.
- The purpose of this report is to provide Committee and Council with Planning staff’s evaluation and analysis of the subject applications, including a recommendation to refuse the applications. This report also provides a summary of technical and public comments received to date
Climate implications
- In February 2020, City Council approved the City of Burlington Climate Action Plan to support the City’s path towards a low carbon future, focusing on mitigating greenhouse gases and reducing energy consumption.
- The Plan identifies seven implementation programs, including
- programs to enhance energy performance for new and existing buildings;
- increase transit and active transportation mode shares;
- electrify City, personal and commercial vehicles and other currently gas-powered equipment; and
- support waste reduction and diversion.
- While the subject applications do propose a more compact and efficient land use for the subject property than existing conditions, the proposed development is not appropriate for its context and does not comply with the City’s Sustainable Development Guidelines, as discussed in detail in section 8.5 of this report.