Council made waterfront mess – and must fix it

Council made waterfront mess – and must fix it

⋅ Uncategorized ⋅ No comments

Those of us protesting towers up to 15 storeys on our waterfront have been led to believe our city council’s hands are tied – those heights are already allowed in the Official Plan. We’re also told provincial Places to Grow legislation mandates “intensification” in urban growth centres, which includes the downtown.

So imagine my surprise when I learned that our current city councilors were the ones who passed the most recent Official Plan, and actually increased the allowed height of buildings in that area from 7 storeys to up to 15.

In 2008, our current council passed a revised Official Plan for the Old Lakeshore Road precinct on the waterfront. Under the old plan, the maximum height was 22 metres – 7-8 storeys. Under the new plan, described in the guidelines that many of us protested last week, the maximum heights increased to 10 storeys in the west section (6 in the east), with the option to go to 15 storeys (8 in the east).

Towers are your fault

Towers are your fault

⋅ Uncategorized ⋅ No comments

Apparently, the potential towers on the waterfront are your fault. That was the message coming through at last night’s city council meeting, where Burlington councillors unanimously voted to pass urban design guidelines for the Old Lakeshore Road precinct.

The guidelines are the final step in a long process that started years ago with the Official Plan and zoning bylaws which permit 6-15 storey towers along Old Lakeshore Road. Weren’t around then? Didn’t know this was happening? Your bad.

Councillors blamed the official plan, the zoning bylaws, previous councils, residents for not knowing more, and even the media for not covering this better – essentially everyone but themselves for the situation we now find ourselves in.

About Save our Waterfront

⋅ Waterfront ⋅ No comments

The Official Plan for the Old Lakeshore district, quietly changed by city council, allows up to four 8 to 15 storey towers.

Add these towers to the ones already built on the North side of Lakeshore Road, and the three towers ranging from 7-22 storeys on the South side of Lakeshore, just to the right of the 15-storey building above. The end result will be an ugly canyon of towers along Burlington’s waterfront, adding congestion and obstructing the lake.

Residents are saying loud and clear “we can do better.”

Save our Waterfront

⋅ Community Engagement, Waterfront ⋅ No comments

The city’s official plan allows for two development options in the Old Lakeshore Road precinct, between Pearl and Torrance: those options are for 6-10 storey towers, or even worse, 8-15 storey towers. The area currently has 1-2 storey buildings, including 11 heritage properties – all but one of which would be lost under the second option.