Ward 2
Community Update
Lisa Kearns l Councillor l Burlington.ca/Ward2
April 27, 2021

Engagement Matters
Even though we can’t be together as usual, there are still many ways to connect:

Ward 2 Newsletter
Ensuring the Ward 2 newsletter is in your inbox well before decisions at Committee happen keeps you at the forefront of decision making at City Hall. This provides you the opportunity to review and comment on upcoming items ahead of Council's discussion and can make your position known.
Ward 2 Community Mailbox
Use your walks to observe the community and pass along your feedback with this contactless mailbox. The box is located at City Hall at the Brant Street entrance and is a way for you to share your thoughts on how to make our city even better.
Direct Contact
My office continues to work at full capacity. I can be reached through e-mail at Lisa.Kearns@Burlington.ca and appreciate every opportunity to hear what matters to you.

Feel free to share this newsletter with family and friends who can sign up directly as well.

Keep well & stay positive!

Lisa
In this Issue
COVID-19
  • Province - Stay-at-Home Order
  • Impact to City Services
  • COVID-19 Vaccine
  • Halton Region Vaccine Program
  • Support for Businesses
City Hall Council + Committee Meetings
  • Individual Committee Items Listed Below
  • How Can You Communicate with Council?
  • Watch Meetings Live
City Hall News
  • Cycling Plan
  • Housing Strategy
  • Lobbyist Registry
  • Telephone Town Hall - April 28
Ward 2 News
  • Ward 2 Community Update - June 17
  • Community Safety
  • Grow for Change Urban Farm
  • Civic Square Renewal
  • Parks Design and Construction Projects
Planning + Development
  • City of Burlington Official Plan - Appeals
  • Interim Control By-law
  • Region of Halton Official Plan
  • 2243, 2269 Fairview Street and 864 Drury Lane
  • Ward 2 Current Projects
Community + Community Partners
In Closing
COVID-19 Response
Province - Stay-at-Home Order
April 16 - The Province strengthens enforcement of the Stay-at-Home Order and imposes new restrictions until May 20 including:

  • Everyone must shelter in place except for specified purposes
  • Travel into Ontario from Manitoba and Quebec restricted
  • All outdoor social gatherings and organized public events prohibited
  • Non-essential workplaces in the construction sector closed
  • Retail capacity limits reduced to 25%
  • Outdoor recreational amenities closed
  • Okay to walk, cycle or jog through your neighbourhood park

April 17 – Province amendments to include re-opening playgrounds and refinement
of enforcement powers. Read more.
Impact to City Services
City Hall
Read the City's Media Release and view the listing of current city services and programs available while the City continues to operate under a State of Emergency. This list updated as at April 25, 2021 with new items highlighted in green.
COVID-19 Vaccine
Halton Region Vaccine Program
Halton is continuing to vaccinate priority groups identified by the Province.

Who is Eligible?
Know the Facts - It’s important to know the facts. If you have questions about vaccines or the vaccine program in Halton, look for information from trusted sources. Here’s where you can find the most up-to-date information:
Support for Businesses
Visit Services & Resources to Manage your Business during COVID-19 for a list of services and resources designed to support and inform our business community during this unprecedented challenging time. 
City Hall - Council + Committee Meetings
What will Council be talking about in May?
Visit the City's Calendar where you'll find May meeting dates and agendas for upcoming Meetings of Council.

For ease, I have highlighted and included a direct link for Agenda items which you may find of interest. I hope this helps as I know these large agendas can be discouraging to navigate.

Community Planning, Regulation and Mobility - Tuesday, May 4 at 9:30 a.m.

Corporate Services, Strategy, Risk & Accountability - Wednesday, May 5 at 9:30 a.m.
Confidential Items:
  • Confidential Advice Regarding Appeals to the City's New OP
  • Confidential Advice on a Committee of Adjustment Appeal
  • Confidential Litigation Update
  • Contingency Report as at March 31, 2021
  • Confidential Verbal Update from EcDev on Strategic Lands


Confidential Items:

Community Planning, Regulation and Mobility - Tuesday, May 11 at 6:30 p.m.
At time of writing, agenda not yet available.

Council Workshop - Monday, May 17 at 9:30 a.m.
At time of writing, agenda not yet available.

Regular Meeting of Council - Tuesday, May 18 at 1 p.m.
How Can You Communicate with Council?
Watch Meetings Live
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, all City meetings continue to be held virtually. Residents are encouraged to visit the City Calendar to:
  • Watch a live web cast of all city meetings
  • Find links to view a copy of the agenda items being discussed at city meetings
  • View video recordings of previous meetings
City Hall News
Cycling Plan
The Cycling Plan was approved at the Mar. 23 Council Meeting. The Cycling Plan Report affirms the community’s vision of a connected city where cycling is a viable and convenient mobility option, and presents the recommended future cycling network for our City.

The Cycling Plan is foundational to the Integrated Mobility Plan (IMP) and will be incorporated, along with a prioritization and implementation plan, as part of the overall planning direction and multi-modal recommendations of the IMP.
Housing Strategy
Housing plays an important role in the lives of our residents. Individuals and families move back and forth along the housing continuum, depending on changes that affect their personal circumstances.
Housing is a top priority in the City of Burlington. The City is doing a Housing Strategy to give current and future residents more housing options across our city. In January 2021, City Council endorsed the Burlington Housing Strategy Terms of Reference, directing staff to start work on the Housing Strategy.
The Housing Strategy is an opportunity to develop creative and innovative solutions for housing issues in Burlington that will build on and support the Region’s Housing Strategy.
Ways to have your say

Next steps? May/June 2021
  • Members will be appointed to the Housing Strategy Working Group
  • Finalize and post the Draft Engagement Plan and Working Group Guidelines
Lobbyist Registry
You have a right to know who your elected officials are speaking to. In order to maintain transparency, since the start of my term on Council I have kept a public Ward 2 Business Meeting Registry.

In August 2020, I received unanimous Council support for my motion to Direct the City Clerk to bring forward a staff report to implement a Lobbyist Registry for the City of Burlington, in accordance with the Municipal Act Section 223.9.

At the May 5th Corporate Services, Strategy, Risk & Accountability Meeting (item highlighted above in City Hall - Council + Committee Meetings section), Council will be discussing staff Report CL-15-21 'Lobbyist Registry' which includes four options for the regulation of lobbying activities in Burlington.
Telephone Town Hall
On April 28, the City is hosting a Telephone Town Hall to share information and answer resident questions related to COVID-19, the province-wide shutdown, and ongoing impacts on city programs and services. Learn more including how to participate.

Ward 2 News
Ward 2 Community Update Meeting
I appreciate all residents who attended the April Ward 2 Community Update Meeting. Thank you for the thoughtful and informed questions. We covered many topics from COVID to Construction and Community Events to Civic Engagement.
We also spent some time on the city's budget and the challenge for planning during the Pandemic. Through the budget process, choices are made to ensure the appropriate balance between affordability, service levels and financial sustainability is maintained. In a year where the city has fewer options for how to spend its money, community feedback about the services that matter most to you is more important than ever. I encourage all residents to start providing me feedback on next year's City Budget, for example:

  • Where can we do better?
  • What services should be expanded?
  • What services can we do without?
Mark your calendar for the next Ward 2 Community Update planned for Thursday, June 17 at 7 p.m. Stay tuned.
Community Safety

Your safety is always a priority.

Brant Street Pedestrian Crossings (PXOs)
Upcoming improvements to the Brant Street PXOs include:
  • Surface enhancements (Pavement markings) to be completed in May
  • Lane separators to be installed to help increase awareness of the PXOs 
Speed Limit Installation - 40 km/hr
Over the past year, I have been working closely with the City's Transportation Team to investigate the speed limits on downtown's residential streets with a view to create consistency with existing sections of road in the neighbourhood posted at 40 km/h. Many residents had voiced concerns about inconsistent speed limits that encouraged increased speed on the ward's heavily used south/west neighbourhood streets.

In response, at the May 4th Community Planning, Regulation & Mobility Committee Meeting Council will be discussing staff Report TS-06-21 'Speed Limit Area and Speed Limit Policy Update' which includes a recommendation for a 40 km/h speed limit for all streets within the area bordered by Lakeshore Road, Brant Street, Baldwin Street and Maple Avenue as shown in the map below:
Grow for Change Urban Farm
New Things Soon to Be Growing in Ward 2
A temporary Urban Farm is currently underway, located on the northwest corner of Brant St. and Ghent Ave. This is a two-year volunteer project with support from the Molinaro Group.

Goal: Showcase a multi-purpose educational and
productive green space that expands community
connections and promotes health.

Vision: A large charity-focused vegetable garden grown in straw bales and an L-shaped pollinator garden and other smaller gardens over time.

My comments: “Food security is a very real issue in Ward 2, and this progressive approach will help provide nutrition to our most vulnerable. I welcome the collaboration between a private development group and a local volunteer group to strengthen the bonds of community. A truly great opportunity to get involved in a safe and purposeful way,”


Interested in volunteering or sponsorship? E-mail grow4changes@gmail.com
Follow progress via FB @i.will.grow.for.change and Twitter @G4C_UrbanFarm
Civic Square Renewal
With support from the Federal and Provincial Governments, Civic Square will undergo a renewal to include:
  • Replacement of existing pavement and stairs with new fully-accessible and barrier-free surface
  • Existing fountain to be replaced with a new water feature
  • Planting of trees to provide a healthy canopy
Design/Engagement in late 2022/ 2023, detailed design 2024, construction 2025.
Parks Design and Construction Projects  
Spencer Smith Park
Electrical improvements now complete and include:
  • New lighting system on the Pier Beacon, can change colours with your phone
  • New portable transformers to support events
  • New electrical cabinets (renewal)

Civic Square/King Edward Fountain
  • Repair of the King Edward Fountain beside the Cenotaph
  • Work will be done in partnership with Historical Society and Heritage Burlington
Elgin Promenade
  • Construction of Phase 4 (Martha Street to Pearl Street) this year
  • Work includes Pedestrian crossovers (PXOs) at Elizabeth, Pearl and Martha Streets
  • Status: Tender closed, contracts executed, construction schedule to follow

Maple Park
  • Rebuilding outdoor maintenance compound this spring
  • Contract includes small repair to the community garden

Optimist Park
  • Upcoming renewal for replacement of playground, multi-use court, ball diamond 

Port Nelson Park
Storm Water Engineering - Spencer Smith Park
  • In fall 2021 an Oil Grit Separator will be installed on the storm sewer at the western limits of Spencer Smith Park
  • The outfall receives drainage from along Maple Avenue to the north and westerly side streets
  • Objective: to prevent algae growth, control turbidity and odour which will help reduce beach closures and have a positive impact on our waterfront and beaches
Planning + Development
2243, 2269 Fairview Street and 864 Drury Lane
CLV Group Developments

Thank you to the community for a great turnout at a recent Ward 2 Public Information Meeting. View the PowerPoint Presentation and stay tuned for a live recording of the event.

As indicated, this project is proceeding. This is one of the rare sites in the City of Burlington where the applicant intends to comply with the Zoning By-law, the site is zoned MXT. This means that a development application proceeds straight to Site Plan - which it now has - and does not follow the process many are familiar with.

In contrast, when a Zoning By-law Amendment is requested, the proponent will go through community meetings, a statutory public meeting, and receive a planning recommendation report for Council to vote on. None of these steps are required for applications that are in compliance with the regulations of the Zoning By-law - as is the case for the lands known as "Holland Park".
Project:
  • 7 residential towers on top of 4 mixed use podiums
  • Heights ranging between 29 and 37 storeys
  • Podium heights ranging from 2, 5 and 6 storeys
  • Total of 2,494 residential units of mixed type and tenure
  • 3993 m2 of commercial space
  • 41, 821 m2 of shared amenity space
  • 5 levels of underground parking with a
  • 4 storey parking structure, will be integrated with residential units
  • Pedestrian connections to surrounding neighbourhood, Burlington GO
  • Publicly-accessible park connected to Fairview St offering various outdoor amenities
Status:
  • The Site Plan application is currently under review by various internal staff and external agencies
  • An Information Report was presented to the January 14, 2021 Community Planning, Regulation and Mobility Committee
  • The subject property is within the Interim Control By-Law (ICBL) area. No planning decisions are being made until appeals associated with the ICBL are resolved

For more information contact:

Applicant: Fairview LP
c/o Dana Anderson, Partner, MHBC Planning, Urban Design & Landscape
Phone: 905 639-8686, x226 or Email: Danderson@mhbcplan.com
 
City of Burlington: Andreas Houlios, Planner on File
Phone: 905 335-7600, x7634 or Email: Andreas.Houlios@Burlington.ca
 
Ward 2: Councillor Lisa Kearns
Phone:  289 962-2679 or Email: Lisa.Kearns@Burlington.ca 
City of Burlington Official Plan - Appeals
After significant work and engagement, Burlington’s new Official Plan was approved by Halton Region on Nov. 30, 2020. This was followed by a 20-day appeal period, during which 48 appeals were filed. The first LPAT Case Management Conference (CMC) is scheduled for June 11, 2021.

It should be expected that following any new Official Plan, appeals are customarily filed for major planning matters. The reason for appeals must include how the appeal:
  • Relates to how a municipal or approval authority decision is inconsistent with the Provincial Policy Statement
  • Does not conform or conflicts with provincial plans
  • Does not conform with an applicable official plan

Read more including which are Ward 2 appeals and if you are curious, I've compiled a consolidated list for Ward 2 with the Legal Representation / Resident appeal party information. Click to enlarge.
Interim Control By-law (ICBL)
ICBL remains in place. On Jan. 19, 2021 LPAT held its first CMC regarding appeals to the Official Plan Amendment 119 and Zoning By-law 2020.418, the instruments arising out of the ICBL study of the downtown and lands around the Burlington GO station. Next CMC scheduled to occur Apr. 26, 2021.
Region of Halton - Official Plan Review
Work and public engagement continues. These concepts are important as decisions today will directly affect how our communities grow tomorrow.

Status:
  • Regional Official Plan Amendments (ROPA 48) circulated to the Province for comments
  • ROPA 48 includes adjusted boundary of the Downtown Urban Growth Centre and removal of the MTSA designation around the John Street terminal
  • When receive Provincial comments, Halton Region will provide further public engagement opportunities
  • As indicated in staff Report PL-20-21 being discussed at the May 4 Community Planning, Regulation & Mobility Committee Meeting, staff are supportive of ROPA 48 and the expeditious approval of the amendment will position the City to move forward on MTSA area-specific plans at Aldershot GO, Downtown Burlington UGC / MTSA, and at Appleby GO 
Ward 2 Current Projects
To find out more about Planning applications and development projects underway in Ward 2, visit Ward 2 Current Projects. Project pages include details, timelines and contact information.

Questions about a current construction project underway? Visit Construction in Your Neighbourhood.
Community
Downtown Shops & Restaurants
For available Takeout and Delivery Options, visit Burlington Downtown

Random Acts of Community
The City is encouraging residents to share stories of what makes you proud to be Canadian and a Burlington resident, and how we come together as a City. Tell us about how you or someone you know has made a difference or has brought people together through random acts of community; moments of kindness or through small acts that may have made a bigger impact in your life or those around you.
Neighbourhood Community Matching Fund
The Neighbourhood Community Matching Fund is accepting applications for community-led projects that will help make our city a better place to live and play. Your project could receive up to $10,000.
Spring into Health
Join in the City's 14 days of fun Spring into Health challenge from May 16 to May 29. Complete daily tasks for a chance to win some great prizes.
Virtual Sakura Festival
This year’s virtual Sakura Festival commemorates our city’s 32-year twin-city friendship with Itabashi, Japan and features a live photo stream of the progress of the Japanese cherry blossoms on the Sakura trees in Spencer Smith Park as they get ready to burst into bloom over the coming weeks.

Community Partners
BurlingtonGreen
Community Clean Up Green Up
BurlingtonGreen's annual Clean Up Green Up has been postphoned until the Province lifts the Emergency Order.
Visit BurlingtonGreen for Green Up activities you can do at home.
Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS)
Two recent community initiatives:

  • 529 Garage Bike Registry - HRPS has partnered with 529 Garage, a Community Watch Program for your bike with the aim to help reduce bike theft. Using the 529 Garage App, a bike owner is able to register their bike.
In Closing
If you are in need of support, there is a comprehensive list on the City's website.

If you or someone you know is struggling as a result of COVID-19, please know that you are not alone and there is help available. You can call #311 or #211 to be immediately connected to services.

Thank you to everyone for staying in this together, following the public health recommendations and for being kind and respectful of one another.

Lisa Kearns
Ward 2 Councillor
City of Burlington & Region of Halton
E-mail: Lisa.Kearns@burlington.ca

DIRECT CELL PHONE: 289-962-2679
COVID-19 Resource Links
Links & Resources:
Please check these frequently. Information changes quickly so these trusted online sources are the best ways to get the most up-to-date information:

Mental Health Support: