City of Burlington asks for review of OMB decision on 374 and 380 Martha St.

Burlington, Ont.—March 12, 2018— The City of Burlington has filed a Section 43 review request to the Executive Chair of the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) regarding development applications at 374 and 380 Martha St.

The OMB released a decision on Feb. 13 regarding these development applications that allows 26 storeys.

Under Section 43 of the Ontario Municipal Act, a review may be requested so the Board may “rehear any application before deciding it or may review, rescind, change, alter or vary any decision, approval or order made by it.”

Among the reasons cited by the city for requesting a review of the decision are:

• The Board failed to properly consider the planning hierarchy set up in the Urban Growth Centre by City Council when the Board approved the height and density at 374 and 380 Martha St.
• The Board did not consider that the city’s Official Plan allocated height and density at different levels with the Urban Growth Centre, with the greatest growth directed to the Wellington Square and Old Lakeshore Road areas. As a result, the tallest building in the city, 26 storeys, is on a site designated for significantly lower levels of height and density.

The city is asking the Executive Chair to grant the city’s review request and to dismiss the appeals related to 374 and 380 Martha St. If that does not happen, the city requests an order directing a rehearing of the appeals or changes to the Board decision to reduce the height and density allowed on the site.

A copy of the city’s request to the OMB can be found at www.burlington.ca/374martha.

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