City of Burlington to Engage in Provincial Facilitation with Millcroft Greens

Jul 15, 2025

Media Releases

Burlington, Ont. – July 15, 2025 - The City of Burlington will participate in a provincially-led facilitation process with Millcroft Greens/Argo, at the request of the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

The facilitation will be guided by the Office of the Provincial Land and Development Facilitator.

The facilitation will explore mutually agreeable land-use options for the portion of the Millcroft Golf Course not yet before the Ontario Land Tribunal. This step follows Council’s June 17, 2025 motion requesting a Minister’s Zoning Order for those lands and the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing’s subsequent correspondence that such an order would be premature, instead encouraging a mediated dialogue between the City and the developer.

Through a non-binding mediation framework, an impartial provincial facilitator will guide discussions focused on how housing and an integrated parks and open-space system might coexist on the remaining golf course lands. While the facilitator can offer opinion and guidance, any amendments or plans agreed upon would require formal approval—such as a future Minister’s Zoning Order—before they can be implemented.

Council has directed the Commissioner of Development & Growth Management, or their designate, to represent Burlington in the facilitation and to report back on progress and any further instruction needed. This ensures that subject-matter expertise informs the discussions and that elected members stay apprised of key developments.

Progress updates and any proposed next steps will be brought forward to Committee and Council as the facilitation unfolds.

Joint Statement

Mayor Marianne Meed Ward and Councillor Angelo Bentivegna

“We want to thank Council and the community for their continued support for protecting greenspace and directing housing where it should be. We appreciate the Minister’s offer of assistance to resolve these matters through a facilitator. We look forward to hearing updates from staff on how the interests of the City and community can be advanced through this dialogue.”

Quick Facts

On June 12, 2024, the Ontario Land Tribunal approved redevelopment of the Millcroft Golf Course, overturning the City’s pre-existing parks-and-open-space zoning for those lands.
On Aug. 16, 2024, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing denied Burlington’s first request for a Minister’s Zoning Order (MZO), noting that overriding an OLT decision would conflict with provincial housing priorities.
Council renewed its MZO request on April 15, 2025, to protect the balance of the course not approved for development by the OLT.
On June 17, 2025, Council passed a motion asking again for an MZO on the remaining lands.
The Office of the Provincial Land and Development Facilitator (OPLDF) steps in when a municipality and a developer disagree on a proposed land use, offering a structured, non-binding forum to explore potential solutions.
The facilitation will address only the lands not subject to Ontario Land Tribunal–approved redevelopment. It is a non-binding process involving solely the City of Burlington, Millcroft Greens/Argo, and the provincial facilitator, and does not include public or neighbourhood associations.
An impartial provincial facilitator guides the parties with opinion and procedural advice but does not make decisions.

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Media contact:
City of Burlington Communications
communications@burlington.ca