Latest Updates
Find the latest updates from the Mayor and City Hall.
Policy to acquire beach homes to committee Sept. 10 & 11
My Take: The acquisition policy needs to end now. Read the article for my top 10 reasons why residents should remain near the beach. I will be seeking an end to the blanket acquisition policy, the public release of the list of strategic properties and funding source, and getting on with upgrades to the existing park. The rationale is outlined below:
1. End the blanket acquisition policy. If there is only interest in a select number of strategic properties over the next 10 years, we need to remove the cloud of the acquisition policy from the other homeowners, as the policy has had a negative impact on them (see Item 9 in the Top 10 list article).
2. Publicly release the list of strategic properties, and proposed funding mechanism. If the recommendation is to release this information in two weeks anyway after council votes, there is no negative impact on the city's bargaining power to release that information now. The public needs this information now. Residents need to know the entire picture of what is being proposed before any vote is taken, and before they appear to speak to committee to share their views on the future of Beachway Park.
In addition, the two reports - the legal property report and the overall Beach vision report - must be discussed at the same time, and in public session. As it stands now, the schedule is to discuss strategic land acquisition and set a potential direction for the park in closed session, a day before we hear from the public. These discussions need to take place at the same time, and all of it needs to be public. It goes against public participation and transparency for council to determine the future of the park in closed session, and a day before hearing from the public. There are already discussions underway about moving the legal report from the Tuesday Budget & Corporate Services Committee to the Wednesday Community Services Committee meeting, but that would require a motion at committee to do so.
3. Get on with upgrades to the existing park. We can't wait years to improve the park. We need to get on with it now.
Have your say on acquisition of beach homes: take survey; fill out petition; watch video
The residents who live along Lakeshore Road near Beachway Park have started a petition to Let them Stay in their homes, and seeking an end to the acquisition policy. Sign the petition here
Video: Burlington Beach residents talk about why Halton council should let them stay
Burlington and Halton Councils will vote in fall 2013 on acquiring the private homes on the Burlington Beach. The community has existed here for more than a 100 years. Some residents have lived their whole lives here; many have raised their children here. Residents have an emotional connection to the community they love. They don't want to leave.
Sign the petition: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/164/175/741/let-us-stay/
Fill out the survey: http://burlingtonwaterfront.org
Old Lakeshore Road review won't explore height/density or design, or include public input
Save Our Waterfront brought together 2000 residents from across the city to seek a review of policies in the Old Lakeshore Road area in particular, and more public input on waterfront issues in general. They asked for and secured the formation of a city-wide citizen's committee on waterfront issues in 2010, the Burlington Waterfront Access and Protection Advisory Committee.
The official committee spent over a year reviewing the Old Lakeshore Road area. They recommended a review of planning policy and design for public areas within the precinct, and consideration of options for public waterfront access and a related City acquisition strategy. The review was intended to lead to recommendations, and include the public. This was initially supported by council.
But these hard-won gains for public input on waterfront issues are slowly being unravelled by council as time goes on. The advisory committee was sunset at the end of last year (though their work continues via the Burlington Waterfront Committee), and now the requested review of policies in Old Lakeshore Road is narrowly scoped and excludes public input in the first Phase.
Reports confirm historic value of properties in Village Square
Heritage Burlington has completed a review of the three historic properties in Village Square, and concluded that they all have historic value worthy of heritage designation.
The properties are:
- 416 Pearl Street “The Inglehart House – Mitchell Dairy”
- 415/417 Elizabeth Street “The Stinson –Morrine House"
- 423 Elizabeth Street “The Bastedo – Redmond – John Kenter House
Village Square is a unique historic pocket in the downtown that is worth preserving, especially as the blocks around it are developed with modern buildings. I have and continue to meet with the current owners and prospective purchasers to convey the community's interest in preserving Village Square, and share the results of the heritage studies.