Learn more about the City's planning process!
What is City planning? |
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Like people, municipalities need to plan for the future. City planning is the management of land and resources that helps us to make sure Burlington is a well-planned, vibrant community where people want to live, work and play. Through various documents and bylaws, planning provides a framework for:
Successful planning protects the environment, conserves cultural heritage and contributes to a unique sense of place. Ontario Planning ActPlanning in Ontario is governed by the Ontario Planning Act. This act sets out the steps that municipalities must follow during planning processes, such as requirements for public notices and consultation. It ensures municipalities make decisions that align with provincial policies, such as environmental protection and the preservation of farmland. |
Why get involved? |
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Planning affects everyone. It determines where you live, shop, gather, work and go to school. For example, changes made to the City's Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw can impact the height and density of new development. Design guidelines can impact the architecture and design elements you see on building structures. Because planning impacts what we see and the types of spaces we enjoy, our planning process provides opportunities for public input. Under the Ontario Planning Act, municipalities are required to hold public meetings and request input on important planning decisions. |
Why do plans change? |
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The Ontario Planning Act allows any property owner the ability to propose buildings or land uses that do not meet the policies and requirements of the City's Official Plan or Zoning Bylaw. These requested changes are called amendments. Proposed amendments are reviewed by City planners, along with technical studies that look at things like traffic, noise and shadow impacts. Public input is also gathered. Within the City, professional planners provide advice to Council. The planner's job is to evaluate development applications using:
Understanding public interestPlanners formulate a professional, independent opinion based on their understanding of public interest. To understand public interest, the planner needs to:
RecommendationBased on all the information collected, the City planner will recommend approval, modification or refusal of the Official Plan and/or Zoning Bylaw amendment. If approval is recommended and approved by Burlington City Council, the amendment is made to allow the development. Any decision of Burlington City Council is subject to appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal. Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT)Before the OLT, the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT) and the former Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) was an independent adjudicative tribunal that held hearings and made decisions on land use planning issues and other matters. The OLT adjudicates matters related to land use planning, environmental and natural features and heritage protection, land valuation, land compensation, municipal finance and related matters. |
| Planning Process |
| The City of Burlington planning process in 10 steps |
| Technical pre-consultation meeting |
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When the owner of a property in Burlington has an idea for a proposed new development, they first meet with City and Halton Region staff at a technical pre-consultation meeting. Learn how to submit a development application and book a meeting. At this meeting, City staff will tell the owner what kind of planning applications they need for their proposal and which technical studies (such as environmental or traffic impacts) will be needed. |
| Pre-application Community Meeting hosted by property owner/developer |
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After meeting with City and Regional staff, the property owner/developer will host a consultation meeting for residents and businesses in the immediate area. The property owner prepares notices with details about the meeting and sends them to be mailed in advance of the meeting date. At the community meeting, the property owner will share the proposed plans with the community and gather their input and feedback to make any adjustments to the proposal before a development application is submitted to the City. |
| Development application is submitted |
| The property owner/developer submits a development application to the City, along with the required fees and background studies. Once the City reviews the application and determines it complete, the property owner/developer must post a sign on the property which describes the proposed development and outlines how to find more information on the proposed development. |
| Notification to neighbouring property owners |
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Once a development application is received by the City, the assigned planner will create a notification letter to be sent to all properties located within 120 metres of the proposed development property (300 metres in a rural area). The public notice provides details about the development proposal and asks for written comments, which can be sent to the City by mail or email. Those interested in the proposed development may also choose to be added to a mailing list. This helps participants stay informed about the progress of the application. |
| Circulation of application to agencies |
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The City planner assigned to the application sends information about the development application to local external agencies, including Conservation Halton and relevant internal City departments. These agencies are asked to share comments and identify conditions that the proposed development is required to meet. Staff reviews technical studies with the application and may request additional information from the applicant. |
| Statutory Public Meeting & Recommendation Report #1 |
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Following initial circulations, there will be a Statutory Public Meeting and Recommendation Report, which is required by the Ontario Planning Act. At this meeting, staff present the application, relevant policies, and technical and community comments to City Council. Staff will either recommend to Council that the applications be refused within the legislated timelines or recommend that City staff continue to process the application. The public is welcome to delegate to the Community Planning, Regulation and Mobility Committee, a standing committee of Council, The Committee will then discuss the proposal and provide direction on how the applications should proceed. |
| Recommendation Report #2 (if necessary) |
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If Committee directs staff to continue to work with applicants to resolve outstanding matters, further refinements to the development application may be made in response to the public and technical comments. Planners will meet with the applicant to suggest changes that may correct technical issues or address public concerns. The applicant may submit a revised proposal to address these concerns and technical issues. If the revisions are significant, another notification letter may be sent and another neighbourhood meeting may be held. There may be more than one set of revisions as the applicant and City staff continue to assess the proposal. The planner will continue to listen to public comments and addresses every land use impact issue through changes to the plan, discussion in the report and recommendations to Council. Following this review, there would be a 2nd Committee meeting, where planning staff present a second and final recommendation report to Committee to approve, modify or refuse the application. Both Committee meetings are public meetings and the public is welcome to delegate to Committee and provide their input. The City will mail a notification letter and invitation to attend the statutory public meeting to property owners within 120 metres of the proposed development (300 metres in a rural area). The letter explains how members of the public can register to speak at the meeting as a "delegation." Delegates have up to 10 minutes to speak. |
| Council Meeting |
| Following the Committee meetings, staff's recommendation report will be presented to City Council for a decision. City Council meetings are also public meetings, where the public can delegate and have their voice heard. |
| Notice of Council Decision |
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Once Burlington City Council has made the decision to approve, modify or refuse a development application, all individuals who have submitted comments, delegated, or asked to be added to a mailing list to receive updates will be mailed a letter notifying them of Council's decision. The letter includes information on how to appeal the decision to the Ontario Land Tribunal. |
| Appeal Period |
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Within 20 days of the date of the notice of Council decision, an applicant or individual may appeal Council's decision related to a development application. The Ontario Land Tribunal decides matters related to land use planning, environmental and natural features and heritage protection, land valuation, land compensation, municipal finance and related matters. |
Development application statuses
Learn about the meanings and stages that make up the different development application statuses as part of our planning process.
'Pre-application' status |
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No comments are received by the City during the pre-application status phase. Public comments may be directed to the applicant during this time. Once a complete application has been received, the public will be notified, and City staff will receive comments. |
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'Received' status |
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'Under Review' status |
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'On Hold' status |
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'Appealed' status |
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Within 20 days of the date of the notice of Council decision, an applicant or individual may appeal Council's decision related to a development application. The Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) hears and decides appeals and matters related to land use planning, environmental and natural features and heritage protection, land valuation, land compensation, municipal finance, and related matters. |
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'Approved' status |
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'Refused' status |
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How to stay informed and get involved
There are a wide variety of ways you can stay informed, get involved and submit feedback on development applications and projects!
News and notices |
| Monitor our news and notices and subscribe for updates to stay on top of development projects and construction updates in your community. |
Calendar subscriptions |
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We deliver development project updates through our Calendar subscriptions, which offer updates, summaries and meeting notifications on:
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Contact us and request to be put on a mailing list |
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If you receive a notice about a proposed development in your neighbourhood or if you see a sign in your neighbourhood outlining a proposed development, take note of the City planner's phone number and/or email address, file number and property address. Call or email the planner with any questions, or to ask to be put on a mailing list to be kept informed about the application. |
Discuss the development proposal with your neighbours |
| You can discuss the new development proposal with your neighbours and get their input. If they have concerns or questions, encourage them to call the City at 905-335-7777 and ask for the planner listed on the notice or sign. |
Share your feedback in writing |
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You can email the City planner in charge of the development or your ward councillor with feedback on a development proposal. You can also submit your comments in a letter addressed to: Community Planning Department All written comments will be considered as part of the review of a development application. |
View staff reports |
| Planning reports related to development applications are available one week before a Community Planning, Regulation and Mobility Committee meeting. Get a copy of a report online or in-person with Service Burlington at City Hall. |
Attend meetings |
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You can attend Community Planning, Regulation and Mobility Committee meetings, as well as potential pre-application community meetings associated with a development proposal. At these public meetings, you can ask questions and find out more information on a development proposal. You can also express your views directly to the property owner/developer. View our City meetings calendar and pre-register to speak at a meeting as a delegation. Each delegation has 10 minutes to present their thoughts. Joint presentations with other speakers are permitted, as long as each speaker does not re-state the same points. Pre-register to speak at a meeting |