Executive summary
- The purpose of this staff report is to seek Council’s endorsement, in principle, of the recommended Preferred Precinct Plans in order to proceed with the preparation of Area-Specific Plans for Burlington’s MTSAs by June 2022.
- This report will:
- Provide an overview of the MTSA Area-Specific Planning Project as completed to date
- Share Dillon Consulting Limited’s Interim Report for the MTSA Area-Specific Plan Project
- Present a high-level overview of the various inputs that have influenced the preparation of the Recommended Preferred Precinct Plans
- Share a summary of the Fall 2021 Engagement Period
- Provide an update on the Technical Studies completed to date and outline how they and the remaining technical studies have or will inform the project in its various stages
- Describe the next steps in the project and the importance of the project timeline
Climate implications
- In accordance with the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (2019), planning in Burlington must have as a guiding principle the need to “integrate climate change considerations into planning and managing growth such as planning for more resilient communities and infrastructure – that are adaptive to the impacts of a changing climate – and moving towards environmentally sustainable communities by incorporating approaches to reduce greenhouse gas emissions” (Growth Plan 2019, s.1.2.1).
- This report recommends a land use vision and policy directions which will shape the physical environment of the MTSAs their full build out potential. The recommended Preferred Precinct Plans propose a more sustainable form of development including:
- Higher densities that make more efficient use of land and resources including infrastructure and community services
- Transportation network improvements that will support transit usage and active transportation (including walking and cycling) as alternative modes of travel to reduce reliance on private motor vehicles and reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- A mix of land uses that will provide increased opportunities for people to live, work, shop, and play within the MTSA areas and beyond, reducing residents’ need to travel long distances on a daily basis
- Opportunities for increased and enhanced green spaces and parks will help to mitigate the urban heat island effect and improve climate resiliency
- Intensification within the Primary Growth areas protects rural Greenbelt lands from urban sprawl by directing growth to existing built-up areas of the City.
- In addition to the transit and active transportation focus of the MTSA areas, consideration will be given to other ways that future development of this MTSA could address climate change including encouraging building energy efficient, urban design policies to address heat and tree cover, and opportunities to consider district energy.
- Please refer to Chapter 6.1.2 of Dillon’s Interim Report which outlines how climate change and sustainability will be the over-arching focus of the ASPs.