In 2006, Council directed staff to study land use in the Old Lakeshore Road Precinct, which is bounded by Lakeshore Road on the north, Pearl Street along the west and Lake Ontario along the south. The Planning Department retained consultants BMI/Pace to provide analytical and urban design assistance, as well as to support consultation with the public and area landowners.

On November 29, 2006, the consultants and city planners held a landowners workshop to discuss the opportunities and constraints for the Old Lakeshore Road Precinct.

City staff held a workshop on January 30, 2007 to review feedback received from the landowners and to identify the key issues. The city held a second meeting with the landowners in February of the same year. A public meeting was held in March, 2007 at which residents and stakeholders were invited to a working session to review development options and provide input

In December 2007, Council adopted the Official Plan amendment that outlined land use policy changes for the precinct. To support the policy changes, the consultants developed detailed design guidelines for the precinct to help staff and Council evaluate future development proposals for the area and to provide assistance to landowners in preparing development proposals.

The city hosted a public information meeting on March 25, 2009 to present the guidelines to area residents and the general public.

The City of Burlington has demonstrated a commitment to making the city’s waterfront accessible to residents and visitors. The Burlington Official Plan recognizes the protection and enhancement of public access to the waterfront and the reasonable protection of views to the lake from public areas such as streets.

Working with Conservation Halton, the city will provide access to the waterfront at Old Lakeshore Road as it has in other city locations. In Burlington, 12 waterfront parks and trails totalling nearly 700,000 square metres are available for public use, from Burloak Waterfront Park in the east to LaSalle Park and Marina in the west.

Parks and trails on the waterfront include:

• Bayshore Park
• Beachway Park
• Burloak Waterfront Park
• LaSalle Park
• LaSalle Park & Marina
• Paletta Lakefront Park
• Port Nelson Park
• Sioux Lookout Park
• Spencer Smith Park
• Spring Garden Trail
• Walker's Line Lookout
• Wardley Park

Waterfront Trail Map

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Heritage in the Old Lakeshore Precinct

The City of Burlington recognizes the uniqueness of the Old Lakeshore Road Precinct and wishes to maintain the important heritage features of the neighbourhood. To date, 11 properties in the Old Lakeshore Road precinct have been identified as having cultural heritage value.

The city is committed to preserving its cultural heritage for the future and works to do so through committees of council, such as the Heritage Burlington Committee and the Heritage Umbrella Group that include members of the community.

Intensification

Like other municipalities across Ontario, the City of Burlington must respond to legislation created through the Ontario Places to Grow plan, or the Provincial Growth Plan). The impact of that legislation is that Halton Region must double in population and employment by 2031, and Burlington must accept a reasonable share of this growth.

The City of Burlington responded to the Places to Grow legislation by identifying where developers could build up, or intensify neighbourhoods. The impact of this will be more focused services for downtown residents and more green space for everyone to enjoy.

Burlington offers people a chance to live, work and play in its downtown, where developers must follow strict urban design guidelines to keep Burlington’s downtown a beautiful and livable place. Those guidelines are included in the city’s five-year Official Plan.