Burlington Moves Closer to Adopting Community Planning Permit Bylaw & OP Amendments for MTSAs

At our Nov. 14 meeting, Burlington City Council approved directing staff to bring a recommendation report in December 2023 with regards to the adoption of the proposed Official Plan amendment outlined for our Major Transit Station Areas (MTSAs) and the adoption of our Community Planning Permit Bylaw. We also directed staff to work with Conservation Halton in expediting a study on flood hazard risk mitigation and building climate change resiliency while supporting growth and development in key areas within our MTSAs.See the approved full motion and My Take below, as well as the staff report, related appendices further down this post.APPROVED MOTION:

• Direct the Director of Community Planning to consider Council, agency, development partner and community feedback received as part of this statutory public meeting, prior to bringing forward a subsequent staff report recommending adoption of Official Pan Amendment No. 2 and Community Planning Permit By-law in December 2023; and
• Receive and file the technical documents completed as of October 31, 2023 (Appendices C-D) as follows:
  • Transportation Assessment (September, 2023), as prepared by Dillon Consulting, and contained in Appendix C of community planning department report PL-59-23;
  • Functional Servicing Study (July, 2023), as prepared by WSP, and contained in Appendix D of community planning department report PL-59-23.
• Direct the Director of Engineering Services to work with Conservation Halton to expedite a study to assess and evaluate potential solutions (e.g., infrastructure, policy) to mitigate or reduce flood hazard risks, build climate change resiliency, and support growth and development in the Burlington GO MTSA and Downtown areas (that are included within the Phase 2 study area), recognizing the highly urbanized nature of the watershed and historic Conservation Halton and City flood mitigation measures. The analysis shall include an examination of the future role and function of the Hager-Rambo Diversion Channel and other features within the Sub-Watershed Study Area. Similar studies are to be undertaken for the East Burlington Creeks study areas, following the initiation of the aforementioned study.
• Direct the Director of Engineering Services and the Executive Director of Community Planning to report back by Q1-2024 with a workplan to expedite a comprehensive review of the Phase 2 Study Area, inclusive of engagement with the public and development community on the initiated studies.
• Direct the Director of Community Planning to undertake any necessary updates to schedules or overlays within the City’s Official Plan and/or Zoning By-Law to reflect the latest up-to-date flood hazard mapping, subject to the findings of the study referred to in item #1 above, inclusive of phased options for an implementation schedule and work plan.
• That consultation be immediately undertaken by the Director of Engineering Services and the Executive Director of Community Planning in association with Conservation Halton to identify and mitigate stakeholder needs on a priority basis to enable development applications to proceed in order for Burlington to reach its Housing Pledge.

MY TAKE:We need to get on with the work to assist us in achieving our goals in our three identified MTSAs. This is another level of due diligence to see what might be required to mitigate the flood hazards where we want to see development, and so we can get behind it and ensure people and property will be protected, and that we’re not putting undue burden on a single landowner.We need to know how to address watersheds as they exist in our MTSAs. What we have before us in our staff directions will yield results and solutions, protecting property and people, while also allowing for development.The MTSA work has been going on for quite a while and has adapted to new realities and government legislation. I'm glad to see something before us from staff -- we need to land this plane and get on with this important work. I'm excited to see the CPP system and happy that Burlington will be an example for other municipalities. What I’d like to see with CPP is super simple: tell us how to achieve our goals towards building complete communities where people want to live over the next seven generations with a high quality of life. We need to be able to plant trees and have active transportation. We’re close to a definition of complete communities -- a place that is welcoming to people's needs, at all stages of life, and from all incomes. I look forward to seeing what staff come back to us in the next stage of this plan.

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To read the staff report and related supporting documents, please click/tap the links below:

• Burlington Economic Development report: PL-59-23 Proposed MTSA OPA and Draft CPP By-law - October 2023 Public Release and Statutory Public Meeting
• Appendices:
  • PL-59-23 Appendix A OPA 2_MTSA ASP_OCT10_finalDraft_compressed
  • PL-59-23 Appendix B Burlington MTS A-Community Planning Permit Bylaw - Draft Plan Oct 10 2023
  • PL-59-23 Appendix C Burlington MTSA Transportation - SEPTEMBER FINAL
  • PL-59-23 Appendix D FSS_Burlington_MTSA_-_FINAL_comb.pdf
  • PL-59-23 Appendix E Response Table (Dec-21 to Jul-23).pdf
• Staff presentation: PL-59-23 Staff presentation on MTSA OP Amendment and Draft CPP Bylaw.pdf

BACKGROUND:The purpose of this staff report is to:

1. Release the proposed draft Official Plan Amendment No 2 (Appendix A) and draft Community Planning Permit By-law (Appendix B) for community and Council consideration;
2. Highlight the elements of the proposed Draft Plan Amendment and Draft Community Planning Permit By-law, including consideration of staff direction SD-20-22;
3. Transmit a number of technical studies and elements;
4. Transmit a summary of recent engagement and notice;
5. Outline next steps to the recommendation for adoption of the proposed Official Plan Amendment and CPPS By-law; and
6. Provide an update on the lands formerly located within the MTSA Special Planning Area prior to the delineation of the MTSA Boundaries through ROPA 48.

The staff report also aligns with the City's Vision to Focus plan by:

• Increasing economic prosperity and community responsive city growth;
• Improving integrated city mobility; and
• Supporting sustainable infrastructure and a resilient environment.

Staff will continue to modify both the proposed OPA and the draft CPP By-law based on the feedback received through the entire month of engagement, including Council’s feedback through this statutory public meeting process and will report back with an updated OPA and CPP By-law for Council’s adoption and approval as soon as possible or as directed by Council.