City Talk Winter 2024

Council Composition and Ward Boundary Review 

Summary of Phase 1 and Phase 2 engagement is coming for 2025

Review impacts how you’re represented in local government  

Burlington is planning for its future through a Council Composition and Ward Boundary Review. The review will help ensure voters are represented equally in the local government decision-making process no matter where they live in the city. 

Why is a review needed now?

Burlington City Council is currently made up of the Mayor and six Councillors. This group also sits on Halton Regional Council. The last ward boundary review for Burlington was done in 2005, when the city’s population was 139,000. Since this time, the city’s population has grown to approximately 186,948 (2021 Census). Over the next 25 years, the city will continue to grow. Approximately 265,000 people are expected to call Burlington home by 2051. 

Reviewing how well the current size and structure of our Council and wards work for our community now and in the future is important.

Factors to consider

Input from residents is one of many factors considered in the review. Other principles guiding the Council Composition and Ward Boundary Review include:

• Geographic representation, e.g. the physical boundaries in the city
• Future population trends
• Communities of interest, e.g. keeping neighbourhoods together
• Representation by population, e.g. wards with a similar population size

Public engagement opportunities

There are two phases of public engagement for the Council Composition and Ward Boundary Review. 

The first phase of engagement began in the fall and wrapped up in early November. Residents were asked for their input on the size and structure of Council. Feedback was gathered through six information sessions, an online survey, a virtual public meeting, at Food for Feedback, and at a meeting of Burlington’s Youth Student Council. Participants could also leave their questions and comments on the City’s online public engagement portal getinvolvedburlington.ca/boundaryreview.  

Data gathered from the community in phase one has informed an interim report going City Council for their consideration in December 2024. The report explores Council composition options. 

In the second phase of public engagement, in early 2025, residents will be asked to provide their thoughts on options for ward boundaries. Multiple public engagement opportunities across the city are planned. Please consider getting involved to help ensure your voice is well represented in your local government. Subscribe to getinvolvedburlington.ca/boundaryreview for the latest project updates.

A final report and recommendations about Burlington’s Council composition and ward boundaries will be presented to City Council in the Spring of 2025. 

Housing Strategy update 

Housing options welcome for all 

Housing options for everyone are welcome in Burlington. By prioritizing housing solutions, municipalities like ours can enhance overall economic vitality, community health and sustainability. 

Burlington’s Housing Strategy creates a road map and acts as a guiding document for housing needs in our city. It will help us work towards meeting the housing needs of the Burlington community. It is important people have housing options that are affordable and attainable. The Housing Strategy emphasizes the City’s role and opportunity to address the missing middle. Missing middle housing refers to types of multi-unit housing that fit between single-family homes and large apartment buildings in terms of size and density. This includes housing options like garden suites, secondary suites, duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes, row houses, courtyard homes, and small apartment buildings (up to four stories). 

We want to help diversify housing types. We’re increasing Burlington’s housing options in our neighbourhoods. The City has been engaging the community on four units as-of-right and other ways we can enable the range of housing options available. 

The City has been engaging with the public about our Community Improvement Plan Study. We are looking at incentives to create new rental housing across the city.  

Burlington’s population is expected to grow by over 40 per cent in the next 25 years. The Assessment Growth in the City’s 2025 Budget is estimated to be 0.75 per cent and will come from new construction across Burlington. 

The City received $21 million from the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) to encourage more affordable homes for Burlington. HAF provides funding directly to municipalities nationally to support initiatives to accelerate the housing supply. Burlington had 857 new construction housing starts in the first nine months of 2024.  The significant rise in Burlington’s new housing starts is a testament to the City’s renewed focus and leadership on housing.  

As Burlington continues to grow, the HAF plan supports the development of complete, climate-resilient communities that are affordable and inclusive. 

The City will open its HAF incentive program on Dec. 1, 2024. These incentives are available until Dec. 31, 2026. 

• Residential homeowners and not-for-profits can get a fee waiver on all municipal fees associated with new, eligible, ARU permits.  
• Not-for-profits can get a fee waiver on all municipal fees associated with new, eligible, affordable rental housing for non-profits and if they receive their building permit by Dec. 31, 2026. 

Watch for more details, such as detailed criteria and how to apply, on our Housing Accelerator Fund page. 

2025 Budget

Each year, the City of Burlington reviews its annual budget to make sure we have the funds needed for City operations, programs and services. These investments keep a high quality of life for Burlington residents and businesses. Budgets aren’t just about money; they directly affect residents through City programs and services. Whether it’s road plowing, using a park or cooling off in a pool, your tax dollars are at work. 

Work on the City of Burlington’s 2025 budget began in May. Residents, businesses, partners, staff and council were invited to give feedback at getinvolvedburlington.ca/2025budget, at six in-person consultation meetings, at a telephone town hall and during committee and council meetings. This feedback was presented to City Council to help them prioritize projects and services. 

Four Main Principles

This year there are four main principles that balance providing for today while preparing for our future:

All new investments in 2025 were considered based on how they satisfied the four principles.

Civic recognition honours outstanding volunteers

The City celebrated its second Civic Recognition ceremony in October. The event honours residents for their outstanding volunteer efforts in the community. City Council hands out civic recognition twice each year, in the spring and fall. The new initiative provides an opportunity for the Mayor and members of Council to acknowledge and celebrate the incredible contributions made by individuals and groups who volunteer their time to make Burlington better.

Successful recipients are recognized at a Burlington Council meeting where they are presented with a certificate. Learn more about this year’s recipients, who have contributed significantly to the quality of life in the community through their volunteer efforts.

Nominations for civic recognition are open year-round. Check out the criteria and nominate someone today. 

AI tools speed up development approvals

Recently, the City was a finalist in the Gartner Eye of Innovation Awards for Government and was honoured by CIO Awards Canada. The recognition was earned for Burlington’s use of artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline the development approval process. Burlington’s population is expected to grow by over 40 per cent in the next 25 years. Approving development efficiently is crucial to enable more homes and manage growth.

AI is one way we’re enhancing the development approval process. In a pilot, two AI tools were trained to assess zoning bylaws for employment buildings and evaluate architectural drawings against the rules of the Ontario Building Code. Applicant building designs were uploaded to the AI tools and immediate feedback was provided about which aspects of the design met the bylaws/rules. 

The digital innovation led to some efficiencies, including less time spent on design revisions and improved transparency about the development process. Based on this success, plans to expand the pilot in 2025 are underway. 

A plan to increase housing options in Burlington 

The Official Plan Amendment to Increase Housing Options 

The Burlington Official Plan, 2020 (BOP, 2020) is the City’s long-term vision to 2031 and beyond. It sets out strategic priorities for growth, land use and infrastructure. This policy framework guides the City’s decisions and approvals to make sure that all new development fits into to this long-term vision. 

Staff are looking at ways to increase housing options by using its Official Plan and zoning bylaw to create new policies and regulations to support housing options. The goal is to implement the Actions of the Housing Strategy and Housing Accelerator Fund Action Plan to support more housing options in our neighbourhoods.  

In 2025, staff will present a report to Council. Delegations are welcome! After that, Phase 3 of the project will launch.