New Official Plan public consultation underway; make your voice heard

Burlington is rewriting its Official Plan which sets the vision for growth, development and land use in the city. Where should we intensify? Where shouldn't we? How do we protect heritage, greenspace, the waterfront, stable neighbourhoods, community character, employment lands, and more?These will all be established during the review process and written into the new Plan. Public consultation is underway now, with the updated plan expected to come back to council for approval in the fall.For more information visit the project page here:New Official Plan ProjectHighlights of the draft new Official Plan are below.Part of the Official Plan review includes reviewing Mobility Hubs in the city. There are four, including two in Ward 2: the Burlington GO station on Fairview, and downtown Burlington.The other two mobility hubs are at Aldershot GO and Appleby GO. Specialized plans are being developed for each of these areas.Staff are particularly interested in what residents want more of, or less of, in mobility hubs.I invite residents to attend any or all of the Mobility Hub sessions below. The first Downtown Mobility Hub session was held April 20. Don't worry if you missed it: information is available online here, including links to the presentation at the event: Mobility Hubs

Burlington GO Vision Consultation

Wednesday, May 10th7pm-9pmHoliday Inn, Harvester Room, 3063 South Service Rd.

Downtown Mobility Hub Land Use Concepts Public Open House

Please join us for our second meeting on the Downtown Mobility Hub to provide your feedback on some land use concepts for the Downtown developed using your input to date as well as preliminary findings from our technical review and background studies.Wednesday, June 21stArt Gallery of Burlington, Rotary Lakeshore Room, 1333 Lakeshore Rd W.7pm-9pm

Aldershot GO Vision Consultation (& Presentation on the New Official Plan)

Saturday, May 1310:30am-1pmEast Plains United Church, 375 Plains Rd East, Upper Hall

Appleby GO Vision Consultation

Thursday, May 18th7pm-9pmAppleby Arena, 1201 Appleby Line

Highlights of the draft new Official Plan are below:

1. Updates the community vision and guiding principles to align with the 2016 Strategic Plan;
2. Reaffirms the commitment to maintain a firm urban boundary;
3. Introduces a new Urban Structure and Growth Framework to direct growth to the right parts of the city, and to prioritize growth around our Mobility Hubs. Mobility Hubs include the downtown and the lands within a short walking distance of our three GO Stations;
4. Protects established residential neighbourhoods by directing growth to other areas of the city;
5. Highlights the importance of employment by supporting the retention of employment lands, supporting innovation and supporting employment intensification;
6. Improves integration of land use and transportation planning, and introduces a Frequent Transit Network to service Burlington's growth areas;
7. Updates policies and land use designations to better support mixed use development in our intensification areas;
8. Puts a strong emphasis on design excellence and great public spaces;
9. Includes direction to protect and strengthen our rural area, by supporting the viability of farming through an agriculture system, and the protection and enhancement of the natural environment;
10. Introduces a city-wide Natural Heritage System, and improved policies to support environmental sustainability; and
11. Emphasizes the important role of public participation, and includes updates to other implementation matters.

My Take:

The Official Plan sets the direction for growth and land use and as such represents one of the most important documents in the city. The stronger our Official Plan, and the more specific we can be regarding where growth should be, and where it shouldn't be, the better able we will be to defend our plan from challenges at the Ontario Municipal Board. Residents have said you want to be in charge of the vision for our city, not simply reacting to applications that come forward. This is our chance as a community to set the growth and land use direction for the future. I urge everyone to get involved, read the plan and provide your input.