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Burlington, Ont. – July 22, 2026 – The City of Burlington held its regularly scheduled City Council meeting yesterday, covering motions, by-laws and other City business.
View the meeting agenda on the City’s website.
Below is an overview of key agenda items and Council decisions.
Skyway Community Centre and Park 2026 PRO Award of Excellence – Facility Design
Council recognized the City’s Skyway Community Centre and Park Project Team, recently named the recipient of Parks & Recreation Ontario’s (PRO) Facility Design Award. This award is presented for completed projects where robust public consultation was undertaken, and the facility demonstrates excellence in design of facilities intended for public use, as well as uniqueness, innovation, and creativity.
Glenn Arthur Community Impact Award from Parks and Recreation Ontario (PRO)
Council also recognized retired City of Burlington employee, Denise Beard, who was recently named the recipient of PRO’s Glenn Arthur Community Impact Award. The award honours a parks and recreation professional who has made exceptional contributions and championed community-focused initiatives that have left a significant impact on the parks and recreation sector, and their community. The award also recognizes an inspirational leader who enhances the quality of life for others and encourages the spirit of volunteerism in their community.
Burlington’s application for Development Charge Reduction Program funding (CAO-03-26)
Council received a report regarding the City’s funding application to the province’s 2026-2035 Development Charge Reduction Program (DCRP). The City has not yet received an update on the status of its application. It is anticipated the province will communicate funding decisions during the summer, with prioritization given to applications based on the depth of development charge rate reduction, housing impact (number of housing units enabled), and municipal contribution. It is also anticipated that additional priority will be given to projects that are housing-enabling and shovel-ready.
Corporate policy framework and policy review (CAO-05-26)
Council directed staff to implement a policy framework that establishes criteria for which policies are Council approved and maintained, meets legislative requirements for public disclosure, establishes a risk-based policy review cadence, and authorizes staff to make housekeeping and technical edits, provided intent, risk, cost or authority are not altered. Council also directed staff to report changes to the policy framework, changes to organizational policies, and changes to the public disclosure of policies by Q2 2027, with subsequent updates provided via the City’s Council Information Package (CIP) process, at least twice a year.
Amendments to Rates and Fees By-law 92-2025 - By-law Compliance (DGM-22-26)
Council directed staff, to prepare for Council’s approval, the necessary by-law to amend 2026 Rates and Fees By-law 92-2025. The amendment would reduce fees for transient traders (businesses or individuals that sell goods or services on a temporary basis rather than from a permanent storefront), refreshment vehicles and lottery licences.
Council also directed staff to prepare the necessary by-law to amend the by-law to transfer the late renewal fee for dog licences and align administrative fees across all licensing categories to meet customer needs.
Repeal and replace Parks By-law 35-1976 (DGM-47-26)
Staff were directed by Council to prepare, for Council approval, the necessary by-law to repeal and replace Parks By-law 35-1976. The proposed modernized by-law would streamline regulations by removing duplicate provisions covered under other by-laws, reduce confusion regarding noise and nuisance, establish enforcement mechanisms for park agreements and permits, address park encroachments, enable permit-only use of designated facilities, and support the use of an Administrative Penalty System.
Amendment to Licensing By-law 42-2008 to clarify Foodstuff Sales (DGM-49-26)
Council directed staff to prepare, for Council approval, the necessary by-law to amend Business Licensing By-law 42-2008 to clarify definitions related to the sale of ‘foodstuff’, ensure language is easily understood by users trying to comply, and align the sale of foodstuff across all categories. The proposed changes are administrative in nature and will not affect how licences are issued or required fees.
Advance authorization to pursue community, recreation and sport grant opportunities (CSS-17-26)
Council directed staff to submit applications for future community, recreation, sport, cultural, and related infrastructure grant opportunities, including provincial and federal programs, and execute all documents required for the submission of such applications, where any required municipal contribution is within approved budgets and in accordance with applicable City policies. It also authorized staff to identify an appropriate funding source for the municipal contribution, should the City be successful in the grant application under these programs.
Motion memo regarding Freeman Station (COW-18-26) (SD)
Staff were directed by Council to report back by Q4 2026 with information exploring options and implications for the long-term, sustainable operation of Freeman Station, including options to engage with Discover Burlington to explore any available business supports, access to funding, and market research insights and options to explore a Joint Venture agreement.
Staff directions update (CAO-04-26)
Council received an update on staff directions received from Council since January 2025, including progress made and the current status of outstanding items. Council also directed staff to prepare, for Council approval, a by-law to amend Procedure By-law 59-2024 to change the staff direction reporting cycle from quarterly to semi-annually.
Options to restrict construction noise, response to staff direction COW-16-26 (DGM-48-26)
Council received a report regarding options to restrict construction noise and directed staff to report back by Q4 2026 with community engagement plans for Council's consideration. The plans will outline both a "Consult" level of engagement and an "Involve" level of engagement to gather public and stakeholder input on options to restrict construction noise. Council requested the report describe the scope, approach, timeline, and resource implications of each engagement level to enable Council to determine how to proceed.
Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments for 2105 Headon Rd. (DGM-44-26)
Council approved applications for Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments submitted by JEC Properties, proposing eight (8) three-storey townhouse units within a single building block at 2105 Headon Road. It also approved Official Plan Amendment No.10, which amends the designation of the lands located at 2105 Headon Rd. to ‘Low-Rise Neighbourhoods I’, and instructed staff to prepare the necessary by-law to be presented for approval at the same time as the associated by-laws to amend Zoning By-law 09-2026 and Zoning By-law 2020.
Council also approved Zoning By-law 2020.522 to rezone portions of the lands at 2105 Headon Rd. as outlined under the by-law from the existing “LN5” zone to a “O2“ zone, and the amendment to Zoning By-law 09-2026 to rezone portions of the lands at 2105 Headon Rd. from the existing “LN5” zone to a site-specific “(H5)-LN8-1“ zone.
Council also deemed the amendments to Zoning By-law 09-2026 and Zoning By-law 2020.522 will conform to the Halton Region Official Plan, the 1997 Official Plan of the City of Burlington and the 2020 Official Plan once Official Plan Amendment No.10 is adopted.
The Zoning By-laws will not come into effect until Official Plan Amendment No.10 is adopted.
Staff also reported back to Council that they reviewed the traffic conditions, inclusive of all existing and approved development, for Headon Rd., and determined traffic generated by this development can be accommodated without a material change of traffic flow and operations.
Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments for 198 and 206 Plains Road East (DGM-45-26)
Council approved the applications for Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments, as modified by staff, submitted by Landwise, on behalf of the property owner for a seven-storey mixed use building. It also approved Official Plan Amendment No.165 to the City’s Official Plan 1997 to amend the designation of the lands located at 198 and 206 Plains Road East to “Mixed Use Corridor – General” with site-specific policies.
Further, Council deemed that Official Plan Amendment No.165 is consistent with The Planning Act, and instructed staff to prepare the necessary by-law adopting Official Plan Amendment No.165 to be presented for approval at the same time as the associated by-law to amend Zoning By-law 2020, as amended, for the development proposal.
Council also approved Zoning By-law 2020.523, as modified by staff, to rezone the lands at 198 and 206 Plains Road East from the existing “RM1-346” and “RM2-119” zones to a site-specific “MXG-572” zone. It also deemed that Zoning By-law 2020.523, as modified by staff, will conform to the Halton Region Official Plan, the 1997 Official Plan of the City of Burlington and the 2020 Official Plan, once Official Plan Amendment No.165 is adopted. Council also confirmed the amending Zoning By-law will not come into effect until Official Plan Amendment No.165 is adopted.
Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments for 1200 King Rd. (DGM-28-26)
In follow-up to the July 6 Committee of the Whole meeting, staff provided Council with a supplemental memorandum to report DGM-28-26 that provided updated staff recommendations.
As a result, Council approved the applications, as modified by planning staff, for Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment, submitted by Bousfields Inc. on behalf of Alinea for the lands known as 1200 King Rd. It also approved Official Plan Amendment No. 9 to the City of Burlington Official Plan 2020, as modified by planning staff, to amend the designation for the lands located at 1200 King Rd.
Further, Council deemed that Official Plan Amendment No. 9 is consistent with The Provincial Planning Statement, and instructed staff to prepare the necessary by-law adopting Official Plan Amendment No. 9 to be presented for approval at the same time as the associated by-law to amend Zoning By-law 2020, as amended, for the development proposal.
Council also approved Zoning By-law 2020.524 and deemed it will conform to all applicable Official Plans of the City of Burlington once Official Plan Amendment No. 9 is adopted. The amending zoning by-law will not come into effect until Official Plan Amendment No. 9 is adopted.
Recommendations from Traffic, Congestion and Road Safety Roundtables (MO-02-26)
Council received and filed the key findings and strategic priorities arising from the Mayor's Roundtables as outlined in Report MO-0-26 and further supported through the supplementary report as the foundation for advancing Burlington's next phase on Transportation Systems management, including endorsing enhanced intergovernmental collaboration, governance improvements, technology enabled transportation management and evidence-based congestion mitigation, and requested staff take into account the findings of the roundtable in the development of the Q4 traffic management system report.
Council directed the Director of Transportation Services to report back in Q4 2026 with an implementation framework, associated resource requirements, governance considerations, and priority actions arising from the Roundtable recommendations, including intergovernmental advocacy, coordination measures with Halton Region and the Province of Ontario, and the development of a comprehensive congestion strategy; and
Council also directed the Director of Corporate Communications to report back by Q4 2026 with a community engagement plan to gather input from residents on the set of recommendations arising from the Roundtables and to identify any gaps in strategy.
Motion Memo Policy Framework for Municipal Decision-Making regarding the Deployment of Data Centres in Burlington (ADM-05-26)Council endorsed a motion that directed:
- The Director of Community Planning to prioritize and expedite early engagement as part of the City’s 2027 Official Plan Review on the key topic of employment areas, with particular attention to data centres. This engagement would build on feedback received earlier this year through the consideration of draft Official Plan Amendment 7.
- Engagement and community discussions on this matter be focused on employment area policies, employment uses, the employment area extent, emerging issues and trends, as well as the City’s emerging economic development strategy and objectives, with the purpose of informing recommendations as part of the City’s 2027 Official Plan Review.
- Staff to report back in December 2026 with a comprehensive framework including, but not limited to: potential guidelines, amendments, frameworks, compliance, by-law updates, public engagement strategy, and/or advocacy to address municipal decision-making regarding the deployment of data centres in Burlington.
- Staff to report back in December 2026 with an interim information update outlining the City's role in reviewing and evaluating data centre development applications, including applicable planning and zoning considerations, infrastructure requirements, environmental considerations, and any existing or potential standards related to energy and water consumption and community impacts.
Motion Memo Coordinated Federal, Provincial, Regional, and Municipal Response to Data Centre Infrastructure Capacity, Growth Readiness and Protecting Public Interest (ADM-06-26)Council endorsed a second motion related to data centres that Burlington Council request the federal and provincial governments work with municipalities and municipal associations to establish a coordinated regulatory framework with environmental, human and community health safeguards, and infrastructure capacity and priority-setting for energy and water use, along with public disclosure requirements for the AI industry growth and development; and
A copy of this resolution would be shared with Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, Ontario’s Big City Mayors, Halton Region, and Halton MPs and MPPs.
View the full motion.
Motion Memo Sign By-Law Amendment (ADM-08-26)
Council referred motion memo ADM-08-26 to the September 2026 Committee of the Whole meeting and directed staff to provide a business case, draft agreement and draft sign by-law amendment.
Next Council Meeting
The next Council meeting is scheduled for Sept. 29, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. Community members are invited to attend in person at Burlington City Hall at 426 Brant St. or tune in via the City’s livestream.
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