Burlington City Council Decision Highlights and Updates from Sept. 29, 2026

Update: This media release has been updated to correct the issuance date (Oct. 1, 2026) and the Council date (Sept. 29, 2026). The content of the release remains unchanged.

Burlington, Ont. – Oct. 1, 2026 – The City of Burlington held its regularly scheduled City Council meeting on Tuesday, covering motions, bylaws and other City business. 

View the meeting agenda on the City’s website. 

Below is an overview of key agenda items and Council decisions. 

Bicycle Friendly Communities Award 

The City of Burlington was one of eight recipients of this year’s Bicycle Friendly Community Awards. Presented annually at the Ontario Bike Summit, this award recognizes municipalities that demonstrate leadership in creating safe, accessible, and connected communities through investments in cycling infrastructure, education, policy, planning, and community engagement. 

Operating budget performance report as of June 30, 2026 (FIN-25-26) (CCS) 

Council received a report regarding the City’s operating budget performance as of June 30, 2026, and directed staff to report back on the City’s 2026 year-end results once the 2026 year-end is completed (Q1 2027). 

Municipal Consent Bylaw update (PWS-25-26) (PW) 

Council approved the repealing and replacement of By-law 65-2021, The City of Burlington Municipal Consent Bylaw, with a new Municipal Consent Bylaw. The updated bylaw modernizes and enhances the City’s permitting framework and supports the effective management and regulation of construction and occupancies on City rights-of-way and other City property. 

Spruce Avenue area renewal – road closure extension (PWS-33-26) (PW) 

Council authorized the extension of the already approved road closure on Spruce Avenue between Shoreacres Road and Goodram Drive until the trenchless watermain construction project is completed, which is expected to be December 2026. 

Aldershot GO Transit Oriented Community (TOC) update (DGM-50-26) (GM) 

Council received this report for information. City staff have reviewed the Aldershot GO TOC Step 1 submission by Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and do not feel it aligns with Council’s vision for the Aldershot GO MTSA, and the Aldershot GO Central and MidRise Residential precincts (as outlined in Official Plan Amendment 2). Staff established 10 key themes of feedback on page 5 of the report, and provided comments as part of each in Appendix A of the report. The report also provides detailed comments from other key City departments, levels of government and external agencies. 

Housing Community Improvement Plan update (DGM-53-26) (GM) 

Council received an update on the uptake of the Burlington Housing Community Improvement Plan (CIP) Temporary Programs and the program funding allocation status of the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF). Five applications have been submitted—all focused on purpose-built rental units—making the programs currently fully subscribed. 

Four applications met all requirements for completeness and early program admission. Together, these applications represent 641 purpose-built rental units across townhouses, mid-rise, high-rise, and mixed-use developments, with roughly 40 per cent featuring two or more bedrooms. The four complete applications seek approximately $5.35 million in municipal incentives, fully funded by the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF). 

The Development Charge (DC) Reduction Grant for purpose-built rentals has proven especially effective at aligning with current market conditions. 

At this time, applicants appear to be on track to hit required construction timing and program deadlines by the end of 2027 to secure full DC reductions and support City HAF targets. 

Motion memorandum regarding proposed Roseland Heritage Conservation District Study (COW-20-26) 

Council directed staff to research the budget required for a heritage conservation district study of over 300 properties under section 40 of the Ontario Heritage Act and report back to Council in Q1 2027. This information will help Council to better understand the financial and resource implications associated with a heritage conservation district study and inform consideration of the Roseland neighbourhood as a potential study area. 

Motion memorandum regarding upholding Council decision concerning food truck event in BIA (COW-22-26) 

Council directed staff to conduct a review of the July 17 to 19, 2026 Burlington Waterfront Festival, including engagement with the Burlington Downtown Business Association, downtown restaurants, local business stakeholders, event organizers, relevant City staff and the public to document impacts, identify lessons learned and recommend improvements to the Festivals and Events approval and post-event evaluation processes. 

It also directed staff to report back to Council by Q4 2026 with findings and recommendations, including whether the Burlington Waterfront Festival should be renewed at Spencer Smith Park in its current format, whether a maximum number or proportion of food trucks should be established for events in or adjacent to the downtown or defined business area, and whether material changes to an approved event’s programming, commercial composition, scale, or character should trigger further staff review or Council approval. 

Council also directed that no approval or renewal of the festival be finalized until the review is complete and Council has considered the staff report. 

Financial status report as at June 30, 2026 (FIN-18-26) (CCS) 

Council received a financial update from staff highlighting the City’s second quarter of 2026 (April-June) in the following areas: investments and cash flow, property tax collection, debt and financial obligation limit, reserves and reserve funds, budget monitoring and the City’s financial position. More detailed information is available via the report link.  

Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw Amendments for 235 Plains Rd. E. and 1022 Gallagher Rd. (DGM-57-26) 

Council approved the applications for Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw Amendments, as modified by staff, submitted by Weston Consulting on behalf of the property owner. The applications are for an eight-storey residential building (plus mechanical penthouse) and Official Plan Amendment No. 167 to the City of Burlington Official Plan 1997, as outlined in Appendix D of the report, to amend the designation of the lands located at 235 Plains Rd. E. and 1022 Gallagher Rd. to “Mixed Use Corridor – General” with site-specific policies. 

Council officially deemed that Official Plan Amendment No. 167 is consistent with The Planning Act, and it approved Zoning By-law 2020.527, as modified by staff and attached as Appendix E to the report, to rezone the lands at 235 Plains Rd. E. and 1022 Gallagher Rd from the existing “H-MXG” zone to a site-specific “H-MXG-580" zone. Council also deemed that Zoning By-law 2020.527, 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. 167 is adopted. The amending Zoning Bylaw will not come into effect until Official Plan Amendment No. 167 is adopted. 

Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw Amendments for 517 Plains Rd. E. (DGM-56-26) 

Council approved the applications for Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw Amendments, as modified by staff, submitted by Weston Consulting on behalf of the property owner. The applications are for an 11-storey mixed-use building (plus mechanical penthouse) and approved Official Plan Amendment No. 166 to the City of Burlington Official Plan 1997, as outlined in Appendix D of the report, to amend the designation of the lands located at 517 Plains Rd. E. to “Mixed-Use Corridor – General” with site-specific policies. 

Council deemed that Official Plan Amendment No. 166 is consistent with The Planning Act and approved Zoning By-law 2020.526, as modified by staff and attached as Appendix E to the report, to rezone the lands at 517 Plains Rd. E. from the existing “MXG” zone to a site-specific “H-MXG-579“ zone. Council also deemed that Zoning By-law 2020.526, 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. 166 is adopted. The amending Zoning By-law will not come into effect until Official Plan Amendment No. 166 is adopted. 

Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw Amendments for 1376 and 1382 Plains Rd. E. (DGM-52-26) 

Council refused applications for Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw Amendments submitted by Bousfields Inc. on behalf of 2731115 Ontario Inc., F. K Deals on Wheels Inc., 2731119 Ontario Inc., and Manor Care Homes Inc. The applications are proposing a 25-storey (plus mechanical penthouse) mixed-use building at 1376 and 1382 Plains Rd. E., as well as on three additional parcels of land being conveyed from the abutting lands owned by Canadian National Railway, which are without municipal addresses.  

Official Plan Amendment and Draft Plan of Subdivision for 2155 Country Club Drive, 4135 Millcroft Park Dr. and 4291 Couples Cres. (Millcroft Greens Current Proposal 2026) (DGM-55-26) 

Council refused the application for the Official Plan Amendment submitted by Macaulay Shiomi Howson Ltd. on behalf of Millcroft Greens Corporation and 1000835226 Ontario Inc. to change the designation for the subject lands to support the proposed residential subdivision. 

Council also refused the application for Draft Plan of Subdivision submitted by Macaulay Shiomi Howson Ltd. on behalf of Millcroft Greens Corporation and 1000835226 Ontario Inc. proposing a residential subdivision with 73 detached dwellings, 65 townhouse dwellings, six private roads and blocks for open space, landscape, natural heritage and stormwater management. 

Motion to address Electric Kick Scooters and Powered Personal Transportation Devices – Public Awareness, Injury Prevention, Point of Sale Education, Enforcement and Legislative Action 

Council endorsed a motion that recommended that a multi-agency and multi-government approach be taken to managing e-scooter usage in the province. The focus should be on safety and injury prevention, and include the provincial Ministries of Transportation, Education, Health and the Solicitor General, asking that they work with local police, school boards, businesses, public health and other community partners and agencies to review current regulations, licensing, retailer and point of sale regulations to identify opportunities to better ensure public awareness and safety.