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Burlington, Ont. – Jan. 18, 2018— The City of Burlington continues to share facts about the proposed new Official Plan and Burlington’s Downtown Mobility Hub in a series of Ask Grow Bold videos and on an Ask Grow Bold webpage.
The videos, webpage and ongoing information are designed to provide more clarity, additional information and to answer the most commonly asked questions about growth in Burlington. Ongoing information will include a daily fact about growth in Burlington posted on the city’s social media channels.
The videos and the questions and answers can be viewed at www.burlington.ca/askgrowbold.
About Burlington’s proposed new Official Plan
Work on a revised Official Plan for the City of Burlington began in 2011. Significant community consultation in the form of more than 35 public events was held between 2011 and 2017 and helped shape the policy directions that appear in the new Official Plan.
On April 6, 2017, a draft new Official Plan was released and more consultation took place between April 6 and June 30, 2017. More than 60 engagement activities and events were held to gather feedback from the public and other stakeholders. An emphasis was placed on reaching out to residents in popular locations such as events like Sound of Music, community centres, farmers markets and the mall. Open houses, online surveys, social media and a workbook were also used to engage the public.
Through the consultation period, the city received over 1,000 survey responses, over 100 written submissions and collected information at a variety of different events.
Residents told the city they want things like:
- more urban green space including trees, parks and natural areas
- improved transit service
- protected residential neighbourhoods and intensification that is focused to specific areas ready for intensification
- streets that are pedestrian friendly and interesting to walk along
- different and affordable housing options
- less traffic congestion.
The proposed new Official Plan released in November 2017 contains significant edits in response to the feedback received from the public and stakeholders. In the proposed plan, 50 per cent of the city will continue to be protected rural land; 34 per cent will remain established residential neighbourhoods and 11 per cent will be land for employment. Only five per cent of the city will see targeted growth.
A summary of the public feedback gathered and the corresponding policies in the new Official Plan can be found in Council report PB-50-17.
About Burlington’s Downtown Mobility Hub
Conversations about the future of Burlington’s Downtown began in 2012, with a number of visioning workshops. Public consultation and engagement for the Downtown Mobility Hub began in April 2017. Through public meetings and open houses held throughout April, May, June and September, feedback was gathered to help create the proposed new Downtown Mobility Hub precinct plan.
Residents told the city that higher density developments are more appropriate at the north end of Brant Street, closer to the Burlington GO Station, to make it easier to walk, cycle or take transit to the Burlington GO station. The city also heard about the importance of protecting and conserving the character of existing downtown neighbourhoods and parks and open spaces in the downtown.
This public input helped to shape the policies in the proposed new Downtown Precinct Plan. In the proposed plan, 49 per cent of the downtown is protected urban parks and public space and 40 per cent of the downtown remains established residential neighbourhoods. Only 11 per cent of downtown has the potential to see change over the next 50 years.
A full summary of public feedback is available on the city’s website.
Burlington is one of Canada’s best and most livable cities, a place where people, nature and business thrive. Sign up to learn more about Burlington at www.burlington.ca/enews.
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Mary Lou Tanner, Deputy City Manager
“As the discussion with Burlington City Council about the proposed new Official Plan, including the proposed new Downtown Precinct Plan continues this month, we recognize the community has a lot of questions. The Ask Grow Bold videos and webpage aim to set the record straight about growth in Burlington. It is important to understand that many of the things people value about Burlington today will not change in the next 50 years.”
Quick Facts
- Discussions with Burlington City Council about the city's proposed new Official Plan, including the proposed new Downtown Precinct Plan, are continuing at a series of upcoming committee meetings. View the meeting schedule.
Links and Resources
- Watch the Ask Grow Bold videos
- Find answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about a growing Burlington at www.burlington.ca/askgrowbold
- Learn more about Burlington’s proposed new Official Plan
- Learn more about Burlington’s mobility hubs
- Learn more about Burlington’s Strategic Plan 2015-2040
Images/Photos
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Communications contact: Sharon Will | Media contact: Mary Lou Tanner |
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