Downtown Mobility Hub Study

On April 20, 2017, approximately 70 people attended a public meeting to talk about their vision for the future of Downtown Burlington.

Following this public meeting, the city held a series of drop-in open houses and coffee shop consultations where we continued to hear from the public and stakeholder groups about their vision for the Downtown Mobility Hub.

• View the presentation from the public meeting and the poll results from those in attendance.
• View a summary of the public feedback provided (June 2017)

On June 21, 2017, approximately 70 people attended the second public meeting for the Downtown Burlington Mobility Hub. The city and consultant Brook McIlroy presented two draft hub concepts exploring where height could be located and what form it could take. A workshop was held where we asked the community what they liked about the concepts and how they felt they could be improved.   

Following this public meeting, the city held a series of drop-in open houses where we continued to hear from stakeholder groups and the public about the concepts.

• View a summary of the public feedback provided (August 2017).

June 21 Supporting Materials

The following material was prepared in response to the public input received to help continue the conversation around growth in the Downtown Mobility Hub.

[DISCLAIMER: The following information is intended for discussion purposes only. The images represent a conceptual depiction of how growth could be facilitated in the downtown, modeling potential heights at a block level, and may assume some land assembly. The concepts will be subject to further modification pending the outcome of community consultation and various technical studies (transportation, environment among others) which will inform the development of a final recommended land use concept for the downtown.]

• Staff Presentation, June 21, 2017
• Presentation by Brook McIlroy, June 21, 2017
• Animated Fly-Through Video (Concept 1)
• Animated Fly-Through Video (Concept 2)
• Conceptual Building Heights Cross-Section

On Thursday, Sept. 7, the city hosted a public meeting at Art Gallery of Burlington where the draft new Precinct Plan and key policy directions for the Downtown Mobility Hub were presented.

The Precinct Plan is a system of 13 defined areas in the Downtown with a common character and/or objective for land uses and built form, which may be informed by historical development patterns and precedent. The purpose of the Precinct Plan is to establish a vision for the Downtown and guide future development through the use of land, height and design considerations.

Workbooks were prepared and provided to all attendees, which outlined the objectives, intentions and key directions for each of the proposed precincts in the plan.

Supporting Materials:

• Draft New Precinct Plan Presentation, Sept. 7, 2017
• Downtown Mobility Hub Draft Precinct Plan Workbook (PDF)
• Downtown Mobility Hub Draft New Precinct Plan Online Workbook

On Sept. 28, the draft new Downtown Mobility Hub Precinct Plan was presented to Council for discussion and feedback at a Council Workshop at the Committee of the Whole.

• Sept. 28 Committee of the Whole Material (Agenda, Staff Report and Minutes)
• Sept. 28 Staff Presentation Handout
• Staff Report PB-68-17: Downtown Mobility Hub draft new Precinct Plan and Policy Framework
  • Appendix A - Draft New Precinct Plan Workbook
  • Appendix B - Downtown Burlington Technical Memo (September 2017)
  • Appendix C - Summary of Public Consultation on the draft new Precinct Plan

November 2017 - Open Houses for Proposed New Downtown Precinct Plan

Following the release of the proposed new Official Plan in November, the city held three drop-in open houses. The purpose of the drop-in sessions was to provide the public with the opportunity to review and discuss the proposed new Official Plan, including the proposed new Downtown Precinct Plan and associated policies for the Downtown Mobility Hub.

The drop-in open houses were held on:

Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.    

Art Gallery of Burlington, Shoreline Room

Monday, Nov. 20, 2017  1 - 3 p.m.

City Hall, Room 247                                                                                                

Monday, Nov. 20, 2017  6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Haber Community Centre, Community Room 1 - East

On Nov. 30, 2017, the proposed new Downtown Precinct Plan and associated policies for the Downtown Mobility Hub were presented to Burlington City Council within the proposed new Official Plan at the Planning and Development Committee meeting. The purpose of the statutory public meeting was to provide the public with the opportunity to provide comments to Council on the proposed new Official Plan.

• View a copy of the report presented to Council (PB-81-17)
• View a map of the proposed new Downtown Precinct Plan [November 2017]
• Learn more about Burlington's proposed new Official Plan at burlington.ca/newop.

Nov. 30, 2017 - Proposed New Downtown Precinct Plan Statutory Public Meeting

 On Nov. 30, 2017, the proposed new Downtown Precinct Plan and associated policies for the Downtown Mobility Hub were presented to Burlington City Council within the proposed new Official Plan at the Planning and Development Committee meeting. The purpose of the statutory public meeting was to provide the public with the opportunity to provide comments to Council on the proposed new Official Plan.

• View a copy of the report presented to Council (PB-81-17)
• View a map of the proposed new Downtown Precinct Plan [November 2017]
• Learn more about Burlington's proposed new Official Plan at burlington.ca/newop

View a video recording of the Nov. 30, 2017 meeting

January 2018 - Public Meeting regarding Supplementary Information and Directions Regarding the Proposed Downtown Mobility Hub Precinct Plan

A recommendation report related to the downtown was presented to Burlington City Council at two sessions of the planning and development committee on Jan. 23 and 24, 2018. The report contained additional information requested by Council (e.g. background information regarding the Urban Growth Centre boundary; proposed heights compared to the existing in-effect heights in the current Official Plan; and potential redevelopment sites).

Thirty five delegations were heard by Burlington City Council at the two sessions. As a result of the input received from the public at the meeting and through phones calls and emails, amendments to the proposed new Downtown Precinct Plan were made. Some of the amendments include:

• Moving the block at the northeast corner of Lakeshore Road and Brant Street from the Cannery Precinct, where the height maximum is 22 storeys, to the Downtown Core Precinct where the maximum heights are between 12 and 17 storeys.
• Modifying the building heights in the Downtown Core Precinct to 12 storeys for buildings with retail at street level and up to 17 storeys for residential buildings that provide retail at the street level and one floor of office space.
• A minimum tower separation of 30 metres for tall buildings instead of 25 metres.
• Adding the northwest corner of the intersection at Burlington Avenue and Lakeshore Road to the Special Planning Area Precinct, which limits future redevelopment height to a maximum of six storeys

These amendments have been reflected in the proposed new Downtown Precinct Plan map [February 2018]. Highlights of the plan and each precinct can be found here.

Resources/Helpful Links

• Planning and Building Committee Public Meeting Minutes- Jan. 23, 2018
• Jan. 23 Staff Presentation
• Staff Report PB-11-18 - Supplementary Information and Directions Regarding the Proposed Downtown Mobility Hub Precinct Plan and Proposed Official Plan Policies
• Appendix F - 2D Plan of Primary Downtown Redevelopment Sites at Build-Out
• Appendix G - Primary Downtown Redevelopment Sites (Block-by-Block Current vs. Proposed Precincts and Maximum Building Heights)

    View a video recording of the Jan. 23-24 meeting

Complete List of Downtown Mobility Hub Conceptual Renderings

The followng conceptual streetscape and skyline renderings were completed as part of the Downtown Mobility Hub Planning Study process, as a visual tool to show examples of what various downtown streetscapes and the Burlington skyline could look like in the future based on the policy framework of the new Downtown Mobility Hub Precinct Plan.

Note: These images are conceptual renderings and are for illustrative purposes only. The images do not represent any proposed development application, nor are they necessarily representative of the scale, height, density or design that would be supported by the City on a site-specific basis now, or in the future. 

• Current Burlington Skyline (2018)

• Burlington's Skyline in 100 years

• Brant Street at James Street, looking north

• Brant Street at Olga Street, looking south

• Lakeshore Road at Brant Street, looking east

• Northeast corner of Brant Street and Lakeshore Road
  • Note: This conceptual rendering was prepared showing a maximum height of 22 storeys at this intersection and reflects policies contained in a previous draft version of the proposed precinct plan. In the Council adopted New Official Plan (April 2018), which includes the new Downtown Precinct Plan, the northeast corner of Brant Street and Lakeshore Road has a maximum building height of 17 storeys, subject to specific policy requirements in the Downtown Core Precinct.

• Elizabeth Street at Maria Street, looking south
  

February 2018 - Burlington's Proposed New Official Plan: Open Houses and Statutory Public Meeting

Burlington's Proposed New Official Plan: Open Houses and Statutory Public Meeting

The third version of Burlington's proposed new Official Plan (February 2018) was released on Feb. 7, 2018. This version contains revisions that were made as a result of feedback the city received at the Nov. 30, 2017 statutory public meeting, the Jan. 23, 24 and Feb. 6, 2018 public meetings, and through written submissions.

The proposed new Official Plan also contains the proposed new Downtown Precinct Plan and associated polices, developed to-date, from the on-going Downtown Mobility Hub Area Specific planning study.

The third version of Burlington's proposed new Official Plan [February 2018] is available on the new Official Plan web page: www.burlington.ca/newop

The city held three open houses in Febraruy 2018 to provide the public with the opportunity to review, discuss the proposed new Official Plan and proposed new Downtown Precinct Plan with representatives of the city. Open Houses were held on the following dates:

Monday, Feb. 12, 2018 6:30 to 8 p.m. Haber Community Centre, Community Room 2 - West 3040 Tim Dobbie Dr.

Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. City Hall, Council Chambers, Level 2 426 Brant St.

Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018 6:30 to 8 p.m. City Hall, Room 247, Level 2 426 Brant St.

The city also held a second Statutory Public Meeting on Feb. 27 and 28, 2018 to provide the public with the opportunity to provide comments to Burlington City Council on the proposed new Official Plan.

Resources/Helpful Links

• Planning and Building Committee Public Meeting Minutes- Feb. 27, 2018
• Staff Report PB-14-18 - Proposed New Official Plan (February 2018): Public Release and Second Statutory Public Meeting

   View a video recording of the Feb. 27-28 meeting

April 2018 - New 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.

The new Official Plan also contains the new Downtown Precinct Plan and associated polices, developed to-date, from the on-going Downtown Mobility Hub Area Specific planning study.

    Downtown Mobility Hub Precinct Map: 

• Downtown Mobility Hub Precinct Plan map [April 2018]

• a document outlining the highlights of each precinct

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.

For more information and updates on the New Official Plan, please visit the New Official Plan Project website.