Council will be considering a motion to research options for a policy on fundraising by members of council, and donations and sponsorship to council member-organized community events. The motion directs staff to review practises in other municipalities and report back on options for council’s consideration, including a review of existing policies and the potential for new fundraising policies.

Council will consider the item at the Community Services Committee Feb. 27, with a final vote March 18.

The motion is in response to recent media attention on fundraising practises in other municipalities, as well questions raised by members of Council about fundraising activities, primarily in the Mayor’s Office (some new, some ongoing from previous terms).

Total gross revenue for Mayor’s-Office organized events (Inspire; Cabaret; One Dream) was $201,807 (2012). Events with the sponsorship assistance or branding of the Mayor’s Office (Burlington Economic Development Corporation, and Burlington Community Foundation events) was $201,660 (2012) for a grand total last year of $403,467.

A full list of those activities , amounts raised, expenses and donor lists, is included in a report from the Mayor’s Office available here.

These events are over and above special event spending authorized in council-member budgets (members of council receive $9000 and the mayor $32,000 annually for constituent activities, including hosting meetings and events. See story below).

Summary of events and gross revenue received:

The Mayor’s Inspire Burlington Speakers Series:
$13,050 (2011); $19,350 (2012); $10,000 (2013 – to date)

Mayor’s One Dream Workshop: $57,500

The Mayor’s Cabaret
(a fundraiser for the Burlington Performing Arts Centre): $124,957 (2012)
Planning underway for September 2013.

Burlington Community Foundation Masquerade Ball (formerly The Mayor’s Gala)
Assisted with sponsorship phone calls and signing sponsorship request letters and received $25,000 in each of 2011 and 2012 from the proceeds, which was put toward innovateBurlington (in 2011) and a fund for graduate students administered by BCF (in 2012).

Burlington Economic Development Events
(branded as “Mayor’s” events):
* Mayor’s Luncheon Series: $74,630 (2012); $107,350 (2011)
* Mayor’s Annual Golf Classic: $102,030 (2012); $103,455 (2011)

My Take: We need a made-in-Burlington policy to provide clarity around fundraising and events sponsored by members of council. The legitimacy of the events themselves is not in question – they are all intended for a worthwhile community purpose. Whenever money is involved, policy needs to be in place to provide accountability, transparency and ground rules, to protect donors and council members alike.The amounts here are substantial, the activity is ongoing and there is no clear policy to provide guidance.

I thank Mayor Rick Goldring for bringing forward the motion and providing this report – it’s the first time I’m aware of that a complete listing of activities, amounts, donors and costs has been publicly released by a mayor.

The City of Toronto has a well-developed policy on council-member organized events and fundraising here that may provide some guidance. Among other things, it includes a cap on the amount of fundraising for council-member organized events ($10,000 per year total for all events); restricts fundraising during an election year, and forbids it after nomination papers are filed; provides reporting and banking requirements; and excludes accepting funds from developers with any pending planning, conversion, demolition or sign variance application before the city. Surplus revenue must be counted as part of the councillors annual office budget. Members of council are also advised not seek donations for programs that have been, or could be offered, through the City.

The City of Toronto’s Code of Conduct further forbids the use of city resources for any activity other than “the business of the Corporation.” Among other things, this policy forbids the use of city resources for fundraising for private charities.

Your Take: Do you support a policy on fundraising, and council-member organized events? If so, what criteria should be included? Should council-member sponsored events be paid for through fundraising or through the council members’ annual budget, or both? Post a comment below or email me atmarianne.meedward@burlington.ca.

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The Burl-Oak Naval Veterans have requested that the promenade in Spencer Smith Park from the Waterfront Hotel to the Discovery landing that abuts the Naval Ships Memorial monument be renamed the Naval Veterans Walkway, in honour of Naval Veterans.

According to information from the Burl-Oak Naval Vetarans, the monument is regarded as one of the 12 best War Memorials in Canada, attracting visitors from all over the world. There is a standing order for all Navy Ships leaving Hamilton Harbour to stop and salute the monument before continuing on their way.

Renaming the promenade will bring more attention to the monument, and honour the Naval Veterans.

Click here for the motion, and here to read the letter of request form the Burl-Oak Naval Veterans.

My Take: I have received several emails from residents supporting this change, and also support the change. I thank Mayor Rick Goldring for bringing this forward.

Your Take: Do you support renaming the promenade in honour of the Naval Veterans? Post a comment below or email me at marianne.meedward@burlington.ca.

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Skateboarding on Burlington’s streets not permitted

As the city tries to encourage more active transportation, we are reviewing rules around using city streets for wheeled transportation including skateboarding, roller blades, electric scooters and other “emerging vehicles.” Currently all of these are prohibited on city streets.

The city wants to hear from you, and is hosting two open houses to gain public input:

Tues. March 19, 7-9pm
Burlington Art Centre
1333 Lakeshore Rd.

Wed. March 20, 7-9pm
Tansley Woods Community Centre
1996 Itabashi Way at Upper Middle Rd.

My Take: I support the review and taking steps to encourage skateboards and other wheeled devices for transportation.

Your View: Do you support allowing skateboards and other wheeled transportation on city streets? Should all roads qualify? Only roads with bike lanes? What criteria, if any, would you support? Post a comment below or email me at marianne.meedward@burlington.ca.

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Freeman Station signing

The Friends of Freeman Station are hoping to move the historic train station to a new home in April, on land provided by Ashland-Hercules on Fairview Street, just east of the fire station.

The Friends are currently interviewing for a general contractor to help with the pre-move stabilization of the station, as well as a mover. They’ve also launched a fundraising campaign. To date, more than $83,000 has been raised for the station. You can buy an annual membership for $10, move the station 6 inches for $20, and make additional donations here.

The Burlington Historical Society has very generously offered to match donations of its members to the FOFS up to $5000.

These milestones follow on the signing of a Joint Venture Agreement with the City of Burlington in January, which still owns the station.

My Take: I have always believed the community would save this station and find a location and use, and they are! My thanks to the volunteer board members led by president James Smith and vice-president Brian Aasgaard, for the countless hours they have all devoted to saving the station.Thanks also to Councillor Blair Lancaster, who serves with me as council liaison to the Friends. Welcome to our guest, Mayor Rick Goldring, who signed the agreement on behalf of the city.

Finally, many thanks also to the late Jane Irwin who died suddenly in February. Jane was a founding member of the Friends of Freeman Station board as vice-president, and was an integral part of the original Save Our Station group formed in the 1990s. Her vision and passion for heritage preservation in Burlington, and her contribution to saving the Freeman Station, will be missed. If you would like to donate to The Friends of Freeman Station in memory of Jane, please send a cheque made payable to The Friends of Freeman Station and a note that your donation is in memory of Jane. Please mail cheques to:

Friends of Freeman Station
3023 New Street
P.O. Box 91536 Roseland Plaza
Burlington On. L7R 4L6

Please include your full name and address if you would like to receive a tax receipt.

The post Burlington’s Freeman Station to be Moved this Spring appeared first on Ward 2 News Burlington | Marianne Meed Ward.

The city is poised to invest $1.25 million in 2013 alone in new and improved multi-use paths throughout the city

City council voted 4-3 to retain the centre turn lane on Lakeshore Road, rather than reduce it to a painted median to install on-road bike lanes. In support were myself, Councillors Sharman & Taylor, and Mayor Goldring.

Your voice made the difference. Hundreds of residents like you (many of you cyclists!) shared your concerns with me and other members of council that the proposal would compromise both functionality and safety of the road  for all users. Your valuable insights, lived experience, and reasonable alternatives to on-road bike lanes helped sway the vote to keep the road as is.

The road is functioning safely now: data I received from our Transportation Department indicates no cycle/car collisions in 2012, or 2011. Compared to cycle/vehicle collisions on other arterial roads, Lakeshore is at the bottom of the list. The road is not on the city’s Top 10 worst roads for car accidents.  The road is functioning as it should. Our users are sharing Lakeshore Road. And for cyclists who wouldn’t ride on Lakeshore even with a bike lane, there is the multi-use path on the south side of Lakeshore, or the fully separated Centennial Path a block away. In fact, as many or more of our cyclists use the Centennial Path: 115 cyclists per day use Lakeshore, but 103 were measured in just a four hour period riding on the path.

Though this particular proposal was not supported, this is not a vote against cycling. In fact, the city is poised to invest $1.25 million in 2013 alone in new and improved multi-use paths throughout the city, including $300,000 to improve the multi-use path on the south side of Lakeshore Road. In addition, the city dedicates $25,000 annually for improvements to hydro paths, and $30,000 annually for improved cycling signage. These improvements have all been identified by our Cycling Committee and recommended in the city’s Cycling Master Plan.

Thank you for speaking up. It made all the difference.

The post On Burlington’s proposal for bike lanes on Lakeshore Road – You did it! appeared first on Ward 2 News Burlington | Marianne Meed Ward.

The start of 2013 marks not only the beginning of a New Year but the halfway mark of this term of council. It is an honour to serve you, and work together to make our community better. And work together we do.

Residents of Ward 2 are very involved in civic life. I get upwards of 100 emails per day – more when there’s an issue of particular interest or concern. I’ve heard your passion for the city and your suggestions to make it better. We live in a fantastic community – your love of the community comes through when you share your ideas or concerns. We recognize we are blessed to live here – and that there are challenges to the things we cherish, but also much that can be done to make our city even better.

I’ve heard (and share!) your frustrations about the slow pace of government – I sometimes compare government years to “dog years” – 7 to 1! I appreciate your patience; it carries me through when progress is slow, and energy and time must be diverted to steering the city away from decisions that will negatively impact residents.

There are steps we can take, both large and small, short term and long term, that will preserve what we love about the community, and make changes that will make our city even better. Here are some of the issues you and I will be working on this year:

Downtown vibrancy and intensification.

Burlington’s downtown is unique in the GTA, our jewel on the lake. When residents across the city were asked about their top cultural destinations, the downtown and waterfront came out on top. At the same time, we are at risk of losing the heritage and unique character of the downtown with intensification. We are an urban growth centre, required to meet targets of 200 people or jobs per hectare. Residents don’t want a sea of generic glass highrises. We can meet the growth targets through mid-rise office development – a necessity to bring feet on the street year round downtown.

I sit on the Downtown Task Group which is in the final stages of recommendations to council to address these and other concerns. Separately, the independent consultants working on parking strategies for downtown will release their findings early this year. The downtown is also a focus area for the Official Plan Review taking place this year, which is exploring how land use, height, density and zoning policies can deliver a downtown we want – one that is scaled appropriately, and protects our heritage resources.

The future of Village Square is up in the air with a new owner; and many of you have said that if redevelopment occurs it should be limited and aim to preserve the unique character and feel of the area. Three of the buildings have some heritage value, and a consultant has been hired to review and report back to Heritage Burlington and council early in the New Year.

Meanwhile, I will continue to work with landowners and developers to seek your input prior to bringing applications to City Hall, as we have done successfully this past year. That allows your feedback to help shape appropriate development in our neighbourhood.

Economic development.

Over half of our residents commute to work outside Burlington, and many of you have shared your dream of being able to work in the city where you live. Increasing the number of residents who both live and work in Burlington is a priority outlined in our city’s strategic plan. It is also a necessity for our long-term financial health. Unless we increase the number of industrial/commercial/institutional taxpayers, residential tax rates will continue to increase. As I wrote about last month (here), the Burlington Economic Development Corporation has set some aggressive corporate attraction targets; we need to properly fund the organization so they don’t need to spend resources on fundraising and networking luncheons (these can easily be provided by other organizations in the city, like the Burlington Chamber of Commerce) but are able to devote their time and efforts on business attraction.

Waterfront access and protection.

Significant changes are about to occur on our waterfront, with decisions to be made on the future of the Beachway Park Master Plan, the future of the residential community there (which I support), and a potential commercial operator for the historic pump house. The Master Plan for Burloak Park is being reviewed this year, looking at park amenities and pathway design. The city is reviewing our “windows to the lake” – these are public lands at the bottom of street ends, but in many cases have been blocked or encroached by abutting residents, or are overgrown. This is an opportunity to gain more waterfront access for residents, and was one of the many issues identified by the former Waterfront Access & Protection Citizens Advisory Committee. This committee was established by the previous council at the request of the Save Our Waterfront, a community group I founded as a citizen because  residents wanted a voice on waterfront issues, and were particularly concerned about the future of Old Lakeshore Road in the downtown.

This council sunset the committee at the end of 2012, but the volunteer citizen members recognized the importance of continued resident input into waterfront issues. They have committed their time to continue the work of the committee, with support from my office, under a new name: the Burlington Waterfront Committee. Areas of focus this year include participation in the Beach Master Plan Review, Burloak Park Master Plan Review, Official Plan review of Old Lakeshore Road and the waterfront in general, revitalizing windows to the lake at road ends throughout the city, and more. The committee will provide input to council on decision-making, and also to engage residents in the conversation.

You are invited to attend our meetings, which are open to the public, and new members are being sought from Wards 1, 3, 4, and 5.

Pier.

The pier is on target for completion in 2013, but at a budget almost three times the original forecast in 2006 of $6 million. And there are outstanding legal issues with the original contractor, engineering firm, bonding company and others, which will be a focus of decision-making for council this year.

Before we can put this chapter behind us as a community, we must learn from it. That requires transparency with residents, including disclosure of the legal bill, the design changes, and the options and costs that were considered to complete the project, up to and including the decision to retender. The full story has yet to be told. Given the magnitude of cost-overruns and delays on the project, we have a responsibility to you, the public, to be transparent and accountable for our decisions.

Governance review.

Council is taking time this year to discuss how we function as a governance team, and review our corporate policies, including the existing Council Code of Conduct, and others. The situation with Toronto Mayor Rob Ford provides an incentive to review our own policies around fundraising by members of council using city resources – the issue that became his undoing. Several of you have also recently raised questions about city council members serving on boards (we all do), and the potential for conflict of interest. The governance review provides an appropriate forum to discuss these important issues.

Fiscal prudence.

Many of you have shared your desire for modest and predictable tax rates, and a focus of spending on need- to-haves over nice-to-haves. I will continue to champion that fiscal focus during budget discussions and throughout the year. That will mean some choices – funding infrastructure needs over subsidizing private entertainment, for example, and investing in job attraction, transit, libraries and other resident services.

Collaborative leadership and community engagement.

The city is in the final stages of approving a community engagement charter to foster collaboration with you, the residents we serve, in decision-making. There is still room for improvement. I outlined some of those opportunities in a video entitled Valuing Public Input early this term (available here), and much of it is still relevant now. We need to move beyond the notion of one-way education (that the public needs to be educated) to the notion that we all have something to learn from each other; we need to move beyond labelling and dismissing those we disagree with as NIMBYs or “special interest groups” but instead listen for the value in what they have to say; we need to move beyond simply collecting feedback, to allowing it to inform decision-making – and getting back to you about how your views shaped the final outcome.

We sometimes hear the word “leadership” used to justify those times when council ignores what the majority of residents are telling us. True collaborative leadership – of the type envisioned by residents and captured in the engagement charter – requires us to incorporate feedback into our decisions.

Your take: What’s at the top of your list of priorities for City Hall and Ward 2 this year? Share a comment online here or drop me an email at marianne.meedward@burlington.ca.

The post My priorities for Ward 2 and Burlington in 2013 appeared first on Ward 2 News Burlington | Marianne Meed Ward.

The Committee of Adjustment also imposed several conditions, specifically:

• Along Lakeshore Road, to maintain the “highest level of architectural design,” including a hotel entrance on Lakeshore Road that successfully creates a main focal point for the building at street level;

• To obtain a permit through the site plan process from Conservation Halton, as the project is along a shoreline regulated by Conservation Halton; and

• Obtain a zoning certificate and building permit within three years.

On Nov. 29, the applicant obtained a 2-year building permit from Conservation Halton.

Meantime, the site is being cleared, with the recent demolition of the Riviera Hotel.

Bridgewater expect to file a site plan application shortly. Construction is expected to start late in 2013 or early 2014.

My Take: The height and density of this project were approved in 2006, and though my preference is not to put tall buildings along the shoreline, there are aspects of this project that enhance public access to the waterfront, including a public waterfront walkway and central piazza open to the public. The retail along Lakeshore Rd. will enhance the commercial vibrancy of the downtown and draw shoppers east of Brant to discover the many businesses along our side streets. I’ve received several calls from residents and businesses looking to purchase space in the new buildings. I’ve also heard from residents expressing concerns about the reduced commercial parking. The project is located within the Burlington Downtown Business Association (BDBA) boundaries, so is not required to provide any commercial parking. Instead, businesses in the BDBA boundaries pay a levy to build future parking supply, even if they have onsite commercial parking, as this project will. The financing and timing of a future parking structure is currently being studied by a consultant for the city, with a report expected in 2013.

The post Variances approved for Bridgewater development at Riviera waterfront site appeared first on Ward 2 News Burlington | Marianne Meed Ward.

Focus on jobs will help protect downtown’s character.

Council members received sobering news at several recent meetings: without an aggressive strategy of job creation, Burlington residents will see their property taxes spike, services cut or development expand into rural areas.

Here’s why: Providing all of the services required for residents – community services and infrastructure for example – far exceeds the tax revenues collected. By contrast, the “industrial, commercial, institutional” tax class – or “ICI” -pays more than double the residential property tax rate, but only costs a fraction of that to service. There can be as much as an 80% profit on industrial taxes, versus a 40% loss on residential taxes.

A balance between residential and ICI tax revenue is critical to municipal health, yet currently, residential taxes account for 82% of Burlington’s tax revenue, versus 18% from the commercial/industrial sector.
Non residential growth has essentially flatlined in Burlington over the past 15 years, while residential growth has almost tripled. Burlington used to see double digit employment growth; now, 2% annual growth is “optimistic.” When residential growth outpaces economic growth, the city is left with three unpalatable choices: cut services, dramatically increase property taxes, or expand development into the rural area.

If this isn’t a burning platform to focus on economic development, “you can certainly smell the smoke,” commented Scott Stewart, our General Manager of Development & Infrastructure, at a recent council workshop.

This is a wake up call for our city. We must focus on job creation. Our neighbours in Oakville, Milton, Hamilton are already doing so – if we don’t, we’ll be left behind. The financial health of our community requires a rebalancing of residential and economic growth. So does our social and environmental health.

About 56% of residents work outside Burlington, including 11% commuting to Toronto. Sending our best and brightest to work in communities outside Burlington creates a brain drain. These residents also spend much of their time commuting. That adds a strain on our roads and our environment, but also eats precious hours that could be spent with family or participating in our community.

Job creation will also help meet intensification targets and help preserve the character of our neighbourhoods.

There are city-wide intensification targets set by the province, with higher targets for the downtown, which is identified as an “urban growth centre.” The target here is 200 jobs or people per hectare. The target can be achieved through job creation, but most recent developments downtown have been highrise condominiums. I’ve heard many times from residents they don’t want the downtown to become another generic concrete jungle of condo towers – they’re looking for balanced, appropriately scaled growth. Experience has shown that the recent condo developments have not delivered the “feet on the street” required to support the economic health of downtown merchants. What’s needed is year round, daytime foot traffic from office workers.

To address these challenges, the city has been divided into five strategic employment districts along the 407, 403 and QEW corridors, Bronte Meadows (in northeast Burlington); and downtown Burlington.

For each area, the Burlington Economic Development Corporation (BEDC) will work with city staff, council and economic experts to develop a plan to attract jobs, including any investment required by the city to make it happen. The downtown plan is expected to come early in 2013, and focus on a “boutique office environment” for employers who value a creative urban experience.
City-wide, the BEDC aims to add 29,000 jobs and $600,000 in ICI tax revenue annually (up from current forecasts of 18,000 jobs and $200,000 ICI tax revenue). The target is for 50% of all new jobs to be held by Burlington residents.

To make it happen, BEDC needs a revised operating model and budget, including added investment from the city. As I reported in the last issue of City Talk, BEDC relies on fundraising events for part of its budget, but planning these activities eat valuable resources. Staff time on events is roughly 1.5 full time equivalents, versus only .5 FTE (and $20,000 or 1% of budget) devoted to business attraction. Refocusing BEDC and providing an appropriate budget will reposition BEDC from “taking orders to making orders,” commented Sheila Botting, of Deloitte & Touche, at a recent workshop.

My Take: I support a revised strategic focus and funding for BEDC as an investment in the economic health and sustainability of our community. Unless you’re on for double digit tax increases, cuts to services, or expansion into the rural area, we must make economic development our top community priority.

Your thoughts: Do you agree job creation must be the city’s top priority? If not, what is your primary goal for council? Let me know by commenting below or emailing me at meedwardm@burlington.ca.

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Branthaven’s request to rezone 2072-2102 Ghent to allow 30 two-storey townhomes and 28 3-storey back-to-back townhomes (58 total), will be discussed by the city’s Development & Infrastructure Committee Mon. Dec. 3.

In preparation for that meeting, city planning staff have prepared an information report providing a summary of the development application, an overview of the current policy framework, and identifying issues raised by the technical review and public consultation. A summary of the report is below. Read the full report here.

Summary of project and planning principles

The current Official Plan designation on the site is residential – medium density, which allows a density of up to 50 units per hectare. The site is just over 1ha in size, so the proposed project density is 49/ha.

Townhomes not permitted: However, the zoning that implements the Official Plan does not allow townhouses. As the project site includes 8 assembled properties, there is a mix of zoning. Some of the 8 properties allow detached, semi-detached, duplex and triplex dwellings, as well as retirement homes up to 4 storeys. Some of the properties only allow detached and semi-detached homes. None of the properties are currently zoned for townhomes, thus the need for a rezoning.

Character must be maintained: While the Official Plan encourages residential intensification within the urban boundaries, several criteria must be met including:

• the amount and form of intensification must be balanced with other planning considerations
  including compatibility and integration with existing residential neighbourhoods. Specifically, compatibility must be achieved with the existing neighbourhood character in terms of scale, massing, height, siting, setbacks, coverage, parking and amenity area so that a transition between existing and proposed buildings is provided. Residents have raised concerns that the housing form and density of the project do not match the current neighbourhood character.
• Effects on existing vegetation must be minimized, and appropriate compensation must be provided for significant loss of vegetation to assist in maintaining neighbourhood character. The current properties feature single family homes and extensive mature trees. Residents have raised concerns about the loss of trees, vegetation and overall greenspace with the proposed development.
• Natural and cultural heritage features and areas of natural hazard must be protected. Residents have raised concerns about the impact of the development on stormwater runoff into Rambo Creek, at the back of the property, and the potential for flooding adjacent basements.
• Proposals for medium and high rise housing intensification shall be permitted only at the periphery of existing residential neighbourhoods on properties abutting, and having direct vehicular access to, major arterial, minor arterial or multi-purpose arterial roads and only provided that the built form, scale and profile of development is well integrated with the existing neighbourhood to provide a transition between existing and proposed residential buildings. This project is well into the interior of the Ghent neighbourhood with detached dwellings immediately adjacent.

As part of the planning process, city staff sought comments from technical and other agencies, including Halton District School Board, Burlington Hydro, Canada Post, Halton Catholic District School Board, Bell Network Services, and the Region of Halton. No objections to the project have been identified by these agencies. There are requests for additional information and recommended conditions.

Branthaven submitted 11 reports and plans in support of their application, most of which you can read online here.

A detailed discussion of the issues raised by the staff review of the application, technical comments and public input will be addressed in a future report, some time in early 2013. That report will also include a staff recommendation to deny, approve or approve with conditions.

Speaking at the public meeting

Back to back townhouses on Plains Road

The staff report will be discussed during a statutory public meeting on Dec. 3, 6:30pm, City Hall, as part of a regular Development & Infrastructure Committee meeting. Residents can attend to provide input on the project to members of council, all of whom sit on the committee. Because this is a statutory public meeting, there is no need to register as a delegation in advance to speak. The chair of the committee will call three times for speakers from the floor. Residents will have up to 10 minutes to address the committee.

I invite residents who wish to provide their feedback to council on this project to attend this meeting and speak.

If you have any questions or comments please contact me.

My Take: Throughout this process, I have committed to keeping an open mind to fairly review and evaluate all the studies and policies relating to this project, as well as listen to residents’ input and concerns, seek solutions, and maintain an open dialogue between residents and the developer. As I have learned more about this project, and the intent of the zoning, I have growing concerns about the scale and density of the project, and its compatibility with the character of the neighbourhood. The intent of the Official Plan is for increases in medium density zones to be permitted on the periphery of neighbourhoods, rather than well into the interior of a neighbourhood, as this project is. The intent of the current zoning, which prohibits townhomes, is to provide a transition between higher density housing and single family homes in the area. Maintaining that transition is one of the criteria in the Official Plan. The significant loss of trees and greenspace, and the impact on the creek to accommodate this requested increase in density is also a concern.

The post Public meeting on Branthaven townhouse project on Ghent appeared first on Ward 2 News Burlington | Marianne Meed Ward.

If some or all of the site is redeveloped, the Official Plan permits a height for this site of four storeys with a possibility to go to eight storeys. The zoning on the site permits four storeys. Some of the properties are on the Heritage Registry, but none are designated.

Your Take:  What’s your vision for Village Square. Please comment below or email me at meedwardm@burlington.ca.
My Take:   This quaint enclave of shops and historic buildings is a jewel in Burlington’s downtown and needs to be preserved. Though it has been struggling with empty storefronts in recent years, there are complex reasons for that, including the economy and the layout of our downtown, which doesn’t easily draw people off of Brant Street to the shops a few blocks over.  I will be watching what happens here very closely and keeping residents informed with a view to maintaining the character of this area.

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