Search results: development

Towers on the lake? A train station in the park? We can do better

November 27, 2009 – 3:50 pm

A small turnout greeted the downtown councilor and city staff for a public meeting this week to discuss waterfront development and traffic issues. We know residents care about these issues – more than a 100 people have attended each of our last 2 meetings – so what gives? Two thoughts come to mind. First, the [...]

By Marianne Meed Ward | Posted in Waterfront development | Also tagged , , , , , , | Comments (16)

Towers on lake one step closer, but city prefers to shoot the messenger

October 15, 2009 – 12:53 pm

We’re one step closer to getting 10-storey buildings right along our shoreline, but instead of transparently presenting the facts about recent events and their own role in them, our elected representatives would prefer to shoot the messenger. You’re being “misled”, our downtown councilor, Peter Thoem, recently told one of our supporters, when she contacted him [...]

By Marianne Meed Ward | Posted in Waterfront development | Also tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments (16)

City’s waterfront info leaves you in the dark

August 26, 2009 – 9:22 am

Because you’ve made Burlington’s waterfront plan an issue, the campaign is starting to influence City Hall. The city issued a “Vision for Old Lakeshore Road” and a press release in which the downtown councillor calls highrise buildings that destroy heritage in the area – in exchange for a one-block waterfront path – “reasonable and careful” development.

But until they are more transparent about the plan’s details and implications, we have much to do.

By Marianne Meed Ward | Posted in Waterfront development | Also tagged , , , , , | Comments (16)

Council made waterfront mess – and must fix it

July 14, 2009 – 11:17 pm

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 [...]

By Marianne Meed Ward | Posted in Waterfront development | Also tagged , , , , , | Comments (2)

Towers are your fault

July 7, 2009 – 12:47 pm

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. Read More

By Marianne Meed Ward | Posted in Waterfront development | Also tagged , , , , , , | Comments (8)

Parkland Victory

June 29, 2009 – 11:28 am

Parks attached to schools in Burlington are one step closer to being protected thanks to years of efforts by local residents Amy Schnurr, Ken Woodruff and Kurt Koster. Those efforts culminated in a unanimous vote by city council in June to send a resolution to the Ministry of Education asking for changes in the rules [...]

By Marianne Meed Ward | Posted in Environment, General Brock Park Battle, Parkland | Also tagged , , | Comments (0)