- What is an Official Plan?
- Why are we doing a new Official Plan?
- What is the status of the new Official Plan project?
- Where can I get a copy of the adopted new Official Plan?
- What are the top highlights of the new Official Plan?
- What are the key differences between the proposed new Official Plan (February 2018) and Grow Bold: Burlington's Official Plan (April 2018) recommended for adoption?
- Where can I get more information on the Downtown policies?
- Does the proposed new Official Plan include updates to address North Aldershot?
- How can I participate in the adoption of the new Official Plan?
- What are the next steps in the process?
- What are the sustainable building and development guidelines?
What is an Official Plan?
An Official Plan is a statutory document required by the province that describes a city's land-use strategy to 2031, and beyond. It addresses the location and form of new housing, industry, offices and shops as well as anticipated needs for infrastructure. Streets, parks, transit, schools, community amenities, and other elements of a growing city are all considered in the Official Plan. Read Burlington's current Official Plan.
Why are we doing a new Official Plan?
The Planning Act requires every city to update its Official Plan at least once every five years, or every 10 years after the approval of a new Official Plan. Burlington's last Official Plan review began in 2002, and the revised document was approved by Halton Region in 2008.
As the city continues to change and grow, we must regularly revisit the Official Plan to ensure we are realizing the city's collective vision and responding to our community's needs.
On April 11, 2016, Burlington City Council unanimously approved Burlington's Strategic Plan 2015-2040, which captures the priorities of the city's residents and community leaders for the next 25 years.
Among these priorities is that Burlington is A City that Grows - a city that attracts talent, good jobs and economic opportunity while having achieved intensification and a balanced, targeted population growth for youth, families, newcomers and seniors.
To implement this vision, the City of Burlington must develop a new Official Plan to guide growth in Burlington. The new Official Plan will help the city plan for the type of growth it wants in the locations it wants to ensure Burlington continues to be a thriving city in the 21st century.
What is the status of the new Official Plan project?
On Feb. 7, 2019, Burlington City Council voted to re-examine the policies in Burlington's Official Plan, adopted in April 2018.
The motion, approved by Council, directs Burlington’s Director of City Building to immediately commence a process to re-examine the policies of the Official Plan adopted April 26, 2018 in their entirety related to matters of height and intensity and conformity with provincial density targets.
Dec. 4, 2018
On Dec. 4, 2018, the City of Burlington received notice from Halton Region regarding the city’s Official Plan. The notice advised that the city’s adopted Official Plan does not conform with the Regional Official Plan in a number of respects related to policies and mapping, and among others, in the areas of:
proposed employment land conversions and permitted uses within the employment areas and lands;
- the identification of and permitted uses within agricultural lands;
- the identification of and permitted uses within the Natural Heritage System; and
- transportation matters, including road classifications.
Ongoing work will continue between the city and Region which will result in a draft notice of decision containing modifications to the city’s Official Plan. These modifications will be shared with the city and brought forward to City Council for consideration.
Read the media release: Update on the Region of Halton's review of the city's Official Plan, Dec. 7, 2018
April 26, 2018 - Official Plan Adopted by Burlington City Council
On Thursday, April 26, 2018, Burlington City Council adopted Grow Bold: Burlington Official Plan. A report recommending adoption of the plan was presented at a meeting of the Planning and Development Committee on April 24, 25 and 26, followed by a special meeting of City Council on April 26.
The new Official Plan is now subject to review and approval by Halton Region. Until the plan is approved at the regional level of government, the City of Burlington’s current Official Plan remains in effect.
Development applications that are submitted before Regional approval will continue to be processed under the current in force and effect Official Plan (1994, as amended), but during the review of the application, the new Official Plan will inform land-use decisions, and staff will encourage applicants to consider the objectives and policies of the adopted new Official Plan.
Once the plan is approved by Halton Region it may be appealed to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal.
Revisions to policies in the new Official Plan, as directed by Council at the Planning and Development Committee meeting on April 24, 25 and 26, were incorporated into the Official Plan that was sent to Halton Region for approval.
| Download Grow Bold: Burlington Official Plan, adopted on April 26, 2018 |
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A copy of Grow Bold: Burlington Official Plan, adopted on April 26, 2018, can be downloaded here. (Please note: this version contains the most recent revisions requested by Burlington City Council at the adoption meeting on April 26, 2018)
A summary of the motions passed by Council related to the Official Plan recommended for adoption can be downloaded here:
Please visit the Staff Reports and Studies pages for more background on the new Official Plan. |
April 2018
A fourth version of the proposed new Official Plan, Grow Bold: Burlington's Official Plan (April 2018) was released on March 28, 2018, for adoption.
| Download Grow Bold: Burlington's Official Plan (April 2018) recommended for adoption |
A copy of Grow Bold: Burlington's Official Plan (April 2018) can be downloaded here.
A document that compares the proposed new Official Plan (February 2018) and Grow Bold: Burlington's Official Plan (April 2018) in tracked changes can be downloaded here:
Please visit the Staff Reports and Studies pages for more background on the new Official Plan. |
| More about the mapping released by the Province of Ontario |
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On July 1, 2017, the Province of Ontario approved a revised Provincial Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (GGH), which outlines policies for planning and managing growth in the GGH to the year 2041, and includes the City of Burlington. The revised Growth Plan policies recognize the importance of both a Natural Heritage System and an Agricultural System to the GGH. The protection of these resources is vitally important to the Growth Plan's long-term vision for the GGH. Natural Heritage System Agricultural System On February 9, 2018, the Province announced the release of the final mapping for both the Natural Heritage System and the Agricultural System for the GGH to support the Growth Plan. It is now in full force and effect, as of the date of its release. It therefore applies in the consideration of all planning matters, including development applications, within municipalities in the GGH, including the City of Burlington. The City of Burlington has incorporated the Provincial Natural Heritage System and Agricultural System mapping as released by the Province into the mapping of the new Official Plan as adopted by Council, in order to conform to the Provincial Growth Plan. The mapping does not impact the Urban Area of Burlington. Refinements to the provincial mapping The refinement of the Natural Heritage System and Agricultural System mapping will be undertaken on a Regional basis as part of Halton Region's next Regional Official Plan Review. The city cannot make refinements to the mapping in the Burlington Official Plan until the Region completes its municipal comprehensive review through its Official Plan Review process.
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February 2018
A third version of the proposed new Official Plan (February 2018) was released on Feb. 7, 2018. It contained revisions that were made as a result of feedback the city received at the Nov. 30, 2017 statutory public meeting, the Jan. 23 and 24, 2018 public meeting, and through written submissions.
| Download proposed Official Plan (February 2018) |
A document that summarizes feedback received on the draft new Official Plan, and staff's response to that feedback can be downloaded here: A document that compares the proposed new Official Plan (November 2017) and the proposed new Official Plan (February 2018) in tracked changes can be downloaded here: Tracked Changes [9.2 MB] |
November 2017
A second version of Burlington's proposed new Official Plan (November 2017) was released on Nov. 9, 2017. It contained revisions to the draft new Official Plan that was released in April 2017. Feedback received from agencies, stakeholders and the public was considered in undertaking revisions to the draft new Official Plan.
| Download proposed Official Plan (November 2017) |
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Download the proposed new Official Plan (November 2017) [31 MB]
Tables have been prepared that summarize all feedback received on the draft new Official Plan, and staff's response to that feedback. The tables can be downloaded here: A document that compares the draft new Official Plan (April 2017) and the proposed new Official Plan (November 2017) in tracked changes can be downloaded here: Tracked Changes [10.2 MB] |
April 2017
The city released a draft new Official Plan for public consultation in April 2017.
Through the engagement and consultation process, the city received over 1,000 surveys, over 100 written submissions and collected information at a variety of different events. A summary of public consultation and engagement can be found in staff report PB-47-17.
| Download draft new Official Plan (April 2017) |
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Download the draft new Official Plan (April 2017) [32MB]
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What are the top highlights of the new Official Plan?
The new Official Plan:
- Updates the community vision and guiding principles to align with the 2016 Strategic Plan;
- Reaffirms the commitment to maintain a firm urban boundary;
- Introduces a new Urban Structure and Growth Framework to direct growth to the right parts of the city, and to prioritize growth around our Mobility Hubs. Mobility Hubs include the downtown and the lands within a short walking distance of our three GO Stations;
- Protects established residential neighbourhoods by directing growth to other areas of the city;
- Highlights the importance of employment by supporting the retention of employment lands, supporting innovation and supporting employment intensification;
- Improves integration of land use and transportation planning, and introduces Frequent Transit Corridors to service Burlington's growth areas;
- Updates policies and land use designations to better support mixed use development in our intensification areas;
- Puts a strong emphasis on design excellence and great public spaces;
- Includes direction to protect and strengthen our rural area, by supporting the viability of farming through an agriculture system, and the protection and enhancement of the natural environment;
- Introduces a city-wide Natural Heritage System, and improved policies to support environmental sustainability;
- Emphasizes the important role of public participation, and includes updates to other implementation matters; and
- Includes new policies for the Downtown.
What are the key differences between the proposed new Official Plan (February 2018) and Grow Bold: Burlington's Official Plan (April 2018) recommended for adoption?
The proposed new Official Plan recommended for adoption now includes:
- New natural heritage and agricultural systems mapping that was released by The Province of Ontario on Feb. 9, 2018 as part of its Places to Grow program;
- A revised urban structure and employment policies to conform to Halton Region's Area of Employment;
- Modifications to the Downtown Precinct Plan including changes to: the Upper Brant Precinct; site specific policies within the Brant Main Street and Downtown Core precincts; the Downtown urban design section and other various minor technical modifications;
- Revisions throughout the plan to improve clarity, to address Council motions and to address conformity to provincial and regional plans.
Staff report PB-04-18 provides more detail on the updates included in the proposed new Official Plan (April 2018).
Please see the tracked changes version of the Official Plan to view the policy changes that occurred between the February 2018 and April 2018 versions. It can be downloaded here:
- Tracked Changes [10 MB]
What are the key difference between the proposed new Official Plan (November 2017) and the proposed new Official Plan (February 2018)?
The edits made to this version of the plan include changes to respond to public feedback and Council motions, to address conformity, improve clarity, correct editorial issues and address technical concerns. Staff report PB-14-18 (available by Feb. 16) provides more detail on the updates included in the proposed new Official Plan (February 2018).
Please see the tracked changes version of the Official Plan to view the policy changes that occurred between the November 2017 and February 2018 versions. It can be downloaded here:
What are the key differences between the draft new Official Plan (April 2017) and the proposed new Official Plan (November 2017)?
The proposed new Official Plan now includes:
- The proposed new Downtown Precinct Plan and associated policies resulting from the Downtown Mobility Hub Area-Specific Planning process;
- A new approach to design policies including direction on the public realm, and urban design and built form;
- Updated process requirements for development applications, including a revised Growth Framework and development criteria;
- Revised rural policies to further protect and strengthen the rural community;
- A guide to reading the plan; and
- Modifications throughout the plan to clarify the intent of policies.
Staff report PB-50-17 provides more detail on the updates included in the proposed new Official Plan (November 2017).
Where can I get more information on the Downtown policies?
The downtown is considered an Urban Centre and is identified as a mobility hub in the new Official Plan that was adopted by Council. This area was reviewed through the Downtown Mobility Hub Area-Specific Plan, and as a result the new Official Plan contains the new Downtown Precinct Plan and associated Official Plan level policies resulting from this study.
For background information on the Mobility Hubs Area Specific Plan please visit the Mobility Hubs page.
Does the proposed new Official Plan include updates to address North Aldershot?
In general, the North Aldershot policy framework was not updated given that a comprehensive review will be conducted as part of Halton Region's Official Plan Review. However, the new Official Plan contains a new policy that broadens the range of uses pertaining to lands in the vicinity of the Highway 403 interchange and west of Waterdown Road. In order to conform to provincial plans, the new Official Plan also identifies the provincial Natural Heritage System which inclues lands in North Aldershot. Other minor technical changes to policies and mapping were also made.
How can I participate in the approval of the new Official Plan?
Please see our Get Involved page to learn about how you can participate.
What are the sustainable building and development guidelines?
The Sustainable Building and Development Guidelines were approved by Council on April 26, alongside the adoption of the new Official Plan. While the guidelines have been approved, the enabling Sustainable Design policies in the new Official Plan are subject to the review and approval of Halton Region. Until the approval of the Official Plan, applicants will be encouraged to consider the Sustainable Design policies and the Sustainable Building and Development Guidelines.
These guidelines have been prepared to encourage sustainable design approaches through Planning Act applications, in keeping with the City's declaration as a sustainable community, and in alignment with Burlington's Strategic Plan 2015-2040. For more background information please see staff report PB-83-16.