Committee meetings continue to be held in a virtual format, and this round of meetings provides an excellent overview of the types of infill development (the development of vacant or under-used land within already-developed areas) being requested in Burlington, as well as the variety of other decisions committee members are required to make on an ongoing basis.

Corporate Services, Strategy, Risk and Accountability (September 9): the agenda for this meeting includes the annual report of the integrity commissioner, Principles Integrity; the hybrid city council and standing committee meeting strategy; and a recommendation to approve a lobbyist registration policy. There is also a report about Burlington’s 2018–2022 plan, From Vision to Focus, sharing a July update about implementation and progress toward the city’s 25-year vision; this is an interim version of reporting until public access to the reporting that has been available to city council and city staff since 2020 is possible.

Community Planning, Regulation and Mobility (September 7 and 14): the September 7 meeting agenda included three statutory public meetings, noted in the meeting agenda, with additional information provided in the posted addendum on https://calendar.burlington.ca.

  1.  At 9:30 a.m., 1134 and 1167 Plains Road East Official Plan and zoning bylaw amendments were discussed, with committee recommendations proceeding directly to a special council meeting on September 9. This property is at the corner of Plains Road East and Fairview Street, east of the QEW. The report recommendation was to continue to process the submitted amendments, including evaluation comments received both at the committee meeting and through the technical review process involving agency partners and City of Burlington departments. The applicant is Fothergill Planning and Development Inc., on behalf of the owner Molinaro Group. The application was received on May 19 and the statutory 120-day deadline for making a decision about the amendments is September 16. While comments have been received from some agencies, including CN, the Halton Regional Police Service, and both school boards, staff are asking for additional time in order to receive comments from other agencies and prepare a staff recommendation.
  2. At 1 p.m., 535–551 Brant Street Official Plan and zoning bylaw amendments were discussed, with committee recommendations proceeding directly to a special council meeting on September 9. This property is on the east side of Brant Street, north of Caroline Street. The recommendation was similar to the one noted above. The applicant is Renimmob Properties Limited. The application was received on May 21 and the statutory deadline is September 18. Conservation Halton, both school boards, Enbridge, Canada Post, and others have commented to date.
  3. At 6:30 p.m., 720, 735, 740 Oval Court and 5135 and 5155 Fairview Street Official Plan and zoning bylaw amendments were discussed, with recommendations proceeding directly to a special council meeting on September 9. This property is over 11 acres (4.5 hectares) on the north side of Fairview Street, east of Appleby Line. The application was received on May 14 from Branthaven Development Corporation and shows seven proposed phases. As with the other two development applications, some agency comments have been received and others are awaited.

Also in this agenda is a recommendation for a grant from the Community Heritage Fund. The grant (under $1000) is for restoration work to the front veranda of the Thomas Hiram Alton House, a heritage house at 2411 Lakeshore Road, on the north side of Lakeshore Road between Market and St. Paul streets.

The September 14 agenda package includes two statutory public meetings:

  1.  40–70 Plains Road East Official Plan and zoning bylaw amendments. This property is on the south side of Plains Road East, between LaSalle Park Road and Birchwood Avenue. The applicant is Bousfields Inc. on behalf of the owner Infinity Corporation and Infinity Developments Inc. The application was received on April 21 and the statutory deadline of August 19 has passed. Rick Craven has reported on this proposed development.
  2. 407 Martha Street Official Plan and zoning bylaw amendments. This property is south of New Street on the east side of Martha St. The applicant is Bousfields Inc. on behalf of the owner 2413350 Ontario Inc. The application was received on April 19 and the statutory deadline of August 17 has passed.

Environment, Infrastructure and Community Services (September 13): This agenda includes consideration of a new Burlington Holiday Market from December 9–12 in downtown Burlington, a Recreation, Culture and Community drop-in rates and fees strategy, and a tender award for the Mountainside Pool revitalization. There is also a report about archaeological review agreements with First Nations groups, to include the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, Six Nations of the Grand River, and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy Chiefs Council. Another report of interest is the 2022–2026 Memorandum of Understanding regarding the Cootes to Escarpment EcoPark System.

On September 8, the Audit Committee will meet to consider a few reports, noted in the meeting package and the addendum posted online in the city’s meeting calendar.

Meeting agendas and minutes are available on https://www.burlington.ca/en/your-city/Agendas-and-Minutes.asp, by choosing the meeting calendar and clicking on the respective meeting agenda, meeting package, or minutes.