Search results: Places to Grow

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)

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)

Save our waterfront

July 2, 2009 – 11:39 pm

Do you want Burlington’s waterfront turned into tower alley? If no, join the campaign to Save our Waterfront. Click herel 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 [...]

By Marianne Meed Ward | Posted in Waterfront development | Also tagged , , , , , , , | Comments (29)

Halton’s grow-op a work in progress

May 31, 2009 – 10:01 pm

(originally published in the Toronto Sun) How do you curb sprawl when your population is growing like wildfire? That’s the question before residents, politicians and planners in the Golden Horseshoe. The short answer is to put more people in less space, and build on already developed areas rather than on greenfields. That was the intent [...]

By Marianne Meed Ward | Posted in Sprawl | Also tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Citizens increasingly feel left out

April 5, 2009 – 10:28 pm

(originally published in the Toronto Sun) Last week’s column on how community members often feel shut out of political decision-making hit a nerve. Many of you are telling me: “Been there; seen that.” Heck, even some politicians are feeling shut out — witness the “raucous caucus” Premier Dalton McGuinty faced over his plans to harmonize [...]

By Marianne Meed Ward | Posted in Community Engagement | Also tagged , , , | Comments (1)

Trying not to repeat T.O.’s lakefront mistakes

March 29, 2009 – 10:31 pm

(originally published in the Toronto Sun) When us 905ers think about waterfront development, we consider downtown Toronto an example of what not to do (recent improvements notwithstanding). The criticisms centre on three things: Big buildings that block lakeviews; Some butt-ugly buildings that distract from the nicer ones; and Lack of continuous public access. The waterfront [...]

By Marianne Meed Ward | Posted in Downtown, Waterfront development | Also tagged , , , | Comments (0)