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Have your say on waterfront development, high rises downtown, GO station mobility hubs

Dates: Sept. 6, 7, 13, 14, 28, Oct. 11

Waterfront Hotel concept 2

Don’t miss your opportunity to share your input on potential redevelopment of the Waterfront Hotel lands, downtown Burlington and Burlington’s three GO station mobility hubs.

Five separate studies are currently underway as part of the city’s review of our Official Plan. Your voice is needed, as the studies will result in changes to the existing Official Plan to reflect community, staff and council input.

A series of public meetings is planned this fall. I encourage residents to attend. You can also share your input via email and via survey (links below). Preliminary concepts and background material from previous meetings is available by following the links below.

Links to individual articles on the studies, including My Take, will be included in future articles.

Downtown Mobility Hub Public Consultation: Preferred Concept for Downtown

Thursday, Sept. 7
Art Gallery of Burlington, Shoreline Rotarty Room, 1333 Lakeshore Rd W.
7-9 p.m.

Staff have taken public input on the two concepts presented in June, and have continued with the technical work required for the Downtown Mobility Hub. On Sept. 7, staff will present the recommended concept for the Downtown Burlington Mobility Hub and want to hear what you like and don’t like about it.

Your feedback will be used to inform discussion of the concept at a Council workshop being held on Sept 28.

If you can’t attend on Sept. 7, come by one of the drop-in open houses:

  • Friday, Sept. 8 –  City Hall, 426 Brant St, Room 307 (2-4 p.m.)
  • Friday, Sept. 15- City Hall, 426 Brant St, Room 247 (2-4 p.m.)
    **Please note: This will be a joint Burlington GO/Downtown Mobility Hub Open House**
  • Monday, Sept. 18 – City Hall, 426 Brant St, Room 305 (6:30-8 p.m.)

A Council Workshop on the Downtown Mobility Hub Preferred Concept and Draft OP Policies will take place  on: Thursday, Sept. 28 at Committee of the Whole, City Hall in Council Chambers  at 1 p.m. As a workshop, no delegations will be registered to speak, but the public may attend and listen to the discussion, or tune in to the live webcast.

Learn more: Downtown Mobility Hub

Which area should grow around Burlington GO? Take the survey.

Burlington GO Mobility Hub: Draft Concepts Public Consultation

Wednesday, Sept. 6
Holiday Inn, Harvester Room, 3063 South Service Rd, Burlington.
7 to 9 p.m.

If you can’t attend on Sept. 6, visit a drop-in open house:

  • Friday, September 15th (2-4pm)  **Joint Burlington GO/Downtown Open House** City Hall Room 247
  • Thursday, September 21st (6:30-8pm) Location TBD

Take the survey: Burlington GO Mobility Hub Visioning survey

Learn more, including summary of previous meetings: Burlington GO Mobility Hub

Waterfront Hotel planning study, Option 1

Waterfront Hotel Planning Study – Public Meeting #3

In May, staff heard from you about what you want to see on this site and in July participants explored what this site could look like when it redevelops. For the next public meeting, staff and the consultants will take that input, along with information from ongoing technical studies, to present proposed concepts for the site.

These concepts will be presented on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017.

Waterfront Hotel planning study, Option 2

Afternoon Meeting:
When: Thursday, Sept. 14
Where: Burlington Performing Arts Centre, 440 Locust Street (Studio)
Time: 4 – 6 p.m.

Evening Meeting:
When: Thursday, Sept. 14
Where: Burlington Performing Arts Centre, 440 Locust Street (Studio)
Time: 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Waterfront Hotel planning study, Option 3

Take the survey (deadline Sept. 7) on proposed concepts: Waterfront Hotel Survey

Learn more: Waterfront Hotel Planning Study

Elsewhere in Burlington

Mobility Hub studies are also underway for the Aldershot GO station and the Appleby GO station. Public meetings for those studies are as follows:

Aldershot GO Mobility Hub public meeting:

To which area should growth be directed? Take the survey,

Wednesday, Sept. 13 at 6:30 p.m.
East Plains United Church, Peart Hall, 375 Plains Rd E.
6:30pm-8:30pm

If you can’t attend on Sept. 13, come by one of the drop-in open houses:

  • Tuesday, Sept. 19from 2 to 4 p.m. – Location TBD
  • Monday, Sept. 25 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. – Location TBD

Take the survey: Aldershot GO mobility hub vision survey

Learn more: Aldershot GO mobility hub study

Appleby GO mobility hub public meeting:

Wednesday, Oct. 11th
Appleby Ice Centre, Multi Purpose Room, 1201 Appleby Line.
6:30pm-8:30pm

If you can’t attend on October 11th, come by one of the drop-in open houses:

  • Thursday, October 12th  (6-8:30pm) Location TBD
  • Friday, October 13th  (2-4pm) Location TBD

Take the survey: Appleby GO Mobility Hub survey

Learn more: Appleby GO Mobility Hub Study

Written by Marianne Meed Ward

I was inspired to seek public office because I believe, like so many of you, “I can do something about that” on the issues we face. As councilor, my role is to take a stand on what’s best for residents and go to bat for it. Pushback is inevitable from those who don’t have the community’s interests at heart. I will stand with you and for you, to achieve the best interests of our city, without caving to unacceptable compromise in the name of consensus.

42 Comments

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  1. Here’s my simplistic summary:
    1. Anonymous bureaucrats mandate that we should grow to a specific population level by a pre-determine date.
    2. Developers submit proposals that far exceed height and density levels to generate the greatest return.
    3. The City don’t have the experience and legal resources to fight the developers.
    4. OMB rubber stamp the developers proposals.
    5. Today’s residents loose out with the loss of green space and its heritage
    6. Tomorrow moves ever closer to creating a depressing concrete jungle replicating what is now downtown Toronto.

    Welcome to George Orwell’s 1984!

    • In reply to Rob Stonehewer ‘s comments, I don’t think black and white could be any clearer than what you are saying!! Do not know what The City does not see, other than $$$$$$$$$$$. that seems to be the driving force to ruination of our limited green space land near water. Concrete and towers, forget about our echo system and environmental issues that are, supposed to be high on the “save our planet” issues. Joke!! Say one thing and do another!!!

  2. I think none of these proposals are good for the waterfront. Wish Burlington would have taken a page from Windsor where their waterfront is fully accessible and viewable by all residents. I agree that the opinion of Burlington tax payers means nothing. This city is becoming very greedy, seeing only property tax income in a very small foot print. Where are the roads for all the car traffic being proposed? Downtown traffic will be a disaster. Wait till they start selling off parts of Spencer Smith for highrises.

  3. Tim, please see the options and then relate them to massive buildings as shown. This is not socializing and engaging people. It is satisfying developers in an area where huge heights are needless

  4. I am glad the city is trying to engage – it may not be what people wnt but change is coming and I am glad the city is working to socialize and engage people

  5. I think it’s crazy alllowing tall buildings like the one that going up on lakeshore it sticks out like a sore eye n will creates darkness in that area I thinks it ruins the downtime core

  6. I have come to the conclusion that input from the public counts for naught, as these monstrosities will be built regardless – developers rule!!!!

  7. Is there actually any point in sharing input? Seems development of these high rises, etc chugs ahead regardless of what the people of Burlington have to say :/

    Good thing we closed Pearson High School though – I’m sure the new families in South Burlington moving into these lakeblocking eyesores won’t have any children to educate… 😒

    • I suspect we’re gonna start seeing people have to make do – we’ve done nothing about the runaway cost of housing, so if I want to move to Burlington to raise a family as I get older, I’m basically choosing between these shoeboxes and moving out of the city.

      Hopefully Hamilton stays affordable for a little while longer… :/

    • Reply to Katie McGrath’s questions on how she can make her voice heard. Please be vocal for all Burlington citizens that enjoy our “lake space”!!! Your comments and concerns need to be taken to the media to educate them BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. Do not believe our people really know the true concept of what is the real “big plan” to block our/your waterfront.

  8. Wow–am I ever impressed with these “mobility hubs”!?!@?!? NOT!!! I wonder which member of the council will lead by example and move into that monstrosity being erected next to Walmart with its pristine view of the CN train tracks. Will the mayor take the lead?????

    • At least the tall building near the Wal Mart is built where it is logical to build a large building. It’s ugly, but it doesn’t block the lake view for anyone.

    • Nancy Beiman or ruin are park space behind the hotel. Also I wanna know how emergency is getting down there if they are taking out that whole section.

  9. Love to city to make more green space by the water. With the city growth it is becoming more and more crowded in theses spaces.Alao, with these high rises proposed the average citizen won’t even see the lake.

    • Well that’s a government of Ontario problem!! It’s just disgusting, the condo beside it will be finished first!

    • It’s mind boggling that this has gone on for so long. We were promised this would b finished in early 2017 and here we r today. Construction, confusion and frustration. Heather you’re right, the condo next door will b completed and occupied before the station is fully operational.

  10. Looks like the options are high high highrises. If those are the objectives then Burlington’s official plan has no teeth. Let’s just run amuk over the city- especially our valuable waterfront

  11. Also Marianne can you tell us what is being built on Brant St and across from Starbucks and on the corner of Hager and Brant St. Thanks!!

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