Developer takes a different approach to brand development: They want to be seen as more than just a developer

By Pepper Parr

June 29th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Creating the image and the message you want your market to have is an art more than it is a science.

In Burlington, many business operators will give a portion of their profits to a local charity. Car dealerships will loan a vehicle to an organization and have their name well displayed on the vehicle.

Alinea , the largest developable land owner in the Region, was formed when the Paletta brothers found that they didn’t see the world the way they used to when their father was alive and decided to distribute the significant assets between them and each go their own way.

Alinea now needs to grow their brand. Paletta as a developer was a little rough at the edges; Alinea wanted to move away from that image. How to tell the story ?.

They found a way to work with the Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation and has offered to match dollar for dollar in their You are more than just a business campaign. It isn’t clear whether the Hospital Foundation pitched the idea to Alinea or Alinea went to the hospital.

Anissa Hilborn, President & CEO of the Foundation has a very good reputation for coming up with innovative and interesting ideas.

Alinea, wants the public to know they are more than just a developer and wants local commercial interests to tell the public they are more than just a business. It’s an interesting approach and so far well executed.

The campaign reaches out to the business community and giving them an opportunity to show they are more than just a business.  For every dollar a local business raises Alinea will match it up to $100,000

Alinea is positioning themselves as a different kind of developer. As part of their working relationship with the hospital foundation they are getting their message out.
The sign in the photograph is being installed on the outside of the hospital – we aren’t quite sure where the sign is – we will dig that out.

They produced a video (Link here) telling the story

The message to the business community is: You’re a team of hard-working people who want to help our community thrive. You don’t just do business in Burlington; you live here, you raise your families here, and you know how important local healthcare is. So show your customers, employees and friends that you’re doing more for your community.

The objective is to raise $100K IN 100 DAYS!

This retailer wants her customers to know that she is supporting the hospital and invites you to join them

It’s an innovative approach, well executed so far. Look for the signs participating businesses get to put in their window or lobby.

It is your hospital – you want it to be there when you need it,

On a slightly negative note – the people of Burlington wanted some reaction to a feature article that ran four pages in the Spectator on problems at the hospital. Not a word in the way of response from Eric Vandewall · President & CEO at Joseph Brant Hospital who, apparently, has yet to learn that the way to handle a negative news story is to get in front of it.

Joseph Brant Hospital is more than just a hospital – it is the place you go to when you are seriously ill and you need help.  The public needs to trust you.

Related news stories:

Spectator does feature on problems at Joseph Brant Hospital

Alinea is a new name in the development field

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Future vision of the Waterfront Centre

By Pepper Parr

May 23, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Spencer Smith Park is over crowded – people have realized that for some time.

What to do?

Early in June Council will discuss Future vision of the Waterfront Centre and perhaps agree to:

Direct the Executive Director of Environment, Infrastructure and Community Services to retain a consultant to provide options for the capital renewal and/or replacement of the outdoor amenities at the Waterfront; and

Authorize the Chief Financial Officer to transfer $60,000 from the Waterfront Reserve Fund to fund a study

Inside Spencer’s on the Waterfront

Spencer Smith Park is a significant focal point and landmark on the Burlington waterfront, highly sought after by visitors year-round. During winter, the park attracts many visitors who come to the ice rink and the festival of lights. In the summer months, the park experiences a significant surge in visitors, drawn in by many events, walking trails, the spray pad, reflecting pond, and beach access. The Waterfront Centre opened in 2006 and is located within Spencer Smith Park. It is home to Spencer’s at the Waterfront. The facility also supports many park amenities, parking, the reflecting pond, ice rink, spray pad, and provides public access to gathering spaces and park washrooms.

The increase in visitors and users has put a strain on the infrastructure, and demand on the park washroom that exceeds its’ capacity. Over the past number of years we have experienced more precipitation and milder winters which have resulted in a rise in the number of closures to the ice rink.

Improvements and updates to the facility, including a roof replacement to both the observatory and the restaurant along with interior renovations of the observatory, restaurant, and the lower lobby have been completed in partnership with Spencer’s. In December 2019, there was a watermain break that occurred in the lower level which resulted in a full replacement of the pond and spray pad filtration equipment.

The ice plant refrigeration equipment is operated by R-22 (freon). Environment action plans removed R-22from production in 2020 and freon equipment will be removed by 2030 and as a result, the ice plant must be replaced.

A very popular place for parents and kids who just love running in and out of the splash pads.

The outdoor components of the spray pad, such as the concrete pad and jets, are also approaching end-of-life. The artificial turf and drainage system is being repaired this spring but will require a full replacement in spring of 2024, in advance of the larger spray pad renewal.

The need for facility renewal and replacement has provided staff with the opportunity to collectively review the overall services and amenities, including the ice rink, spray pad, and park washrooms, and to improve operational efficiency and community experience resulting in short- and long-term plans.

In the short term, staff will perform life cycle maintenance on the ice plant and repair the spray pad turf to extend their lifespan.

For the long term, staff plan to conduct a comprehensive review of services, amenities, and the operating model with the assistance of a consultant who will provide different design options and Class D costings for each.

The consultant will consider service levels and standards, environmental factors, and possible synergies with other projects, such as the Civic Square Renewal, Beachway Master Plan, Parks and Recreation, Cultural Assets Master Plan (PRCAMP), and Climate Resilient Burlington. Additionally, staff have received feedback over the years, both formally and informally, indicating the need for more seating, park washrooms, and shade structures to support the community’s needs at the Waterfront.

This is what childhood is all about!

The consultant will develop options with Class D cost estimates based on the following design considerations;

1. Minimize impacts to adjacent greenspace.
2. Materials and options will consider climate impacts.
3. Options will consider community needs.
4. Options will align with the overall downtown vision and partners at the Waterfront Centre.
5. Options will consider accessibility requirements.
6. Capital and operating costs.

In 2024, staff will complete the required renewal of the existing ice plant to extend its’ life cycle to 2028 as well as the repairs to the artificial turf and drainage system that supports the spray pad. With the timelines indicated below, staff will report back to council with consultant options along with the various estimated capital and operating costs for each option in Q1 of 2024.

Following a report to council with consultant options and estimated capital costs, staff will engage with the community. The focus of this engagement phase will be to gather input from the community on the renewal and replacement options provided by the consultant to improve user experience and the efficiencies of the spray pad, pond, and ice rink.

Subsequently, a secondary phase of engagement will occur in 2026 and 2027, prior to construction on the preferred concept design based on the information collected in the first phase of community engagement.

The proposed time line.

Staff have considered a full spray pad renewal in 2025 and a synthetic ice surface for the ice rink. The synthetic ice surfaces that are currently available in the market are not
a viable solution and do not provide the customer with a comparable experience to skating on real ice. The decision to renew the spray pad will be provisional based on the outcomes of the consultant’s report.

The Waterfront Centre and the outdoor amenities have operated under a net zero model since 2016, mirroring the operating models at Paletta Mansion and LaSalle Banquet Centre. The net zero operating model allows for an annual contribution to a reserve fund which represents the revenues collected through tenant agreements offset by the operating expenses to maintain the asset.

The reserve fund was designed to financially support any future capital replacements and renewals on a like for like basis. With the rising costs of goods and services along with an unplanned replacement of the freon ice plant system, this will impact the financial forecasts previously estimated.

It is anticipated that the cost for the consultant to complete the review of the renewal and replacement options described within this report is $60,000. The balance of the reserve fund is $286,287. The consultant will investigate the options presented and provide concept drawings with Class D costing. With the options and costing provided by the consultant, staff will review the capital renewal forecast along with the operating cost for each options provided to help determine the future operating model of the Waterfront Centre.  Depending on the renewal or replacement options recommended; there may be a need to adjust both the capital and operating models accordingly.

The plan to eliminate R-22 has been initiated in phases, the most recent of which occurred on January 1st, 2020, Currently R-22 is only available from recycled and stockpiled supplies, which is very costly. The final stage is to have a complete removal all R-22 by January 1st, 2030; at this time, the government will officially ban the remaining production and import of R-22. The renewal of the ice plant will support the environmental initiatives to protecting the ozone. Future options will consider environmentally friendly replacements of the R-22.

Once staff have options for renewal and replacement that will improve efficiencies of the spray pad, pond, and ice rink, the community and stakeholders will be engaged along with improved community experience. With the council approved options staff would complete phase 1 of community and stakeholder engagement in the summer and winter of 2024 to hear from the park visitors and amenity users.

With preferred options by the community and council, a phase 2 engagement will be completed prior to construction to select a preferred concept design.

Staff will also have meaningful conversations and engagement with the tenant to discuss synergies with facility renewals and lease renewal negotiations to align with any outdoor amenity’s construction.

Given the end-of-life assets and new legislative requirements for replacing the ice plant, there is an exciting opportunity to revitalize the outdoor space as part of the renewal process. After reviewing the considerations and guiding principles, staff are eager to provide options that offer the most promising opportunities for the community. As such, staff recommend the engagement of a consultant to provide guidance on effective operations and options, as well as cost estimates for construction and maintenance.

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Hospital Foundation gets a new lead partner - Alinea ponies up $100,000 for the business sector to match

By Staff

May 14th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation’s More Than Just a Business campaign has a new partner.

Alinea Group Holdings Inc. (formerly the Paletta Group of Companies) has once again joined and is the lead donor.

The Foundation’s goal to raise $100,000 in 100 days, Alinea will match all corporate donations made until July 31, and is challenging businesses across Burlington to be more than just a business.

“Inspired by the example of our parents, my brother Michael and I are delighted to help the Joseph Brant Hospital improve the health and wellbeing of Burlington’s residents. ” said Paul Paletta, CEO, Alinea Group Holdings Inc. “This donation is a powerful demonstration of that commitment and we urge other companies to join us in contributing to a healthier tomorrow.”

Along with the JBH Foundation, Alinea is inviting corporate Burlington to show their customers, employees and friends they are doing more for our community and recognizing those corporate partners who have joined the J.

visit jbhfoundation.ca/corporate-giving.

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Was whatever the deal was done at this point or was it a conversation about a golf game and who would play with who.

By Pepper Parr

May 2nd, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

When there is a public event that brings different interest groups together one has to watch carefully what is taking place in the room; who is talking to whom.

Last week the Burlington Chamber of Commerce hosted an event on Red Tape Reduction. It wasn’t particularly well attended – a little over 100 people took part.

Lou Frapporti, second from the right is keeping a close eye on City Manager Tim Commisso, with his back to the camera. Frapporti is a Partner at Gowlings, a Hamilton law firm and corporate Counsel for Alinea. Dave Pitblado, second from the left is attentive. John Hutter is on the far left runs King Paving.

A decent number of people from City Hall attended: Mayor Meed Ward was on hand to chat people up, she wasn’t one of the speakers. City Manager Tim Commisso was on hand as well is as city Executive Director Jackie Johnson who is responsible for Communications and Engagement. Neither spoke

Three city councillors were on hand: Paul Sharman, Angelo Bentivegna and Kelvin Galbraith; he was one of the panel speakers.

A number of politicians did speak: provincial Minister of Red Tape Reduction Parm Gill whose riding includes parts of northern Burlington: he addressed the attendees,. Natalie Pierre who is the MPP for Burlington said a few words.

Lou Frapporti, a partner at law firm Gowlings, spoke and told the audience that he was corporate counsel for Alinea , an organization that had taken over Paletta International, the largest land holder in Halton Region.

After the formal part of the event people gathered in small groups to chat. One group of four caught my attention. Dave Pitblado of Alinea who does a lot of the stick handling for different Alinea developments. Two of the developments on the go are 1200 King Road and Bronte Meadows. Recent changes made by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing made changes to the Regional Official Plan that opened up the kind of development that would be permitted on those two properties.

Recently Burlington City Council went into a CLOSED session to discuss an Alinea property. There was no detail given when Council came out of the CLOSED session.

Dave Pitblado listens carefully to what City Manager Tim Commisso has to say. It was clear that Commisso was explaining something that was important to Pitblado and it wasn’t whether or not the Leafs were going to win the first round of the Stanley Cup finals. This was business – big business.

So, when we spotted City Manager Tim Commisso in discussion with Dave Pitblado, Lou Frapporti, Corporate counsel for Alinea and John Hutter of King Paving we wondered what that conversation was about.

Time to take some pictures.

The two that are part of this story offer one interpretation of what the conversation is about.

We expect City Council to get brought up to speed when they are next in a CLOSED session.

When the public will hear anything from the City Communications department is anyone’s guess.

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Red tape reduction gets a solid hearing but no one brought a pair of scissors - so nothing got changed

By Pepper Parr

April 30th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

It was billed is as a Symposium on Red Tape Reduction put on by the Burlington Chamber of Commerce with Alinea  as the main sponsor.

Attendance was thin – maybe 100 people. City Councillor Paul Sharman and Angelo Bentivegna were on hand; Mayor Meed Ward glad handed her way around the room;  Councillors Nisan and Kearns took a pass on the event – Councillor Stolte is out of action and on a leave of absence.

For some reason the photo op is a necessary part of these events

Milton MPP Parm Gil, Minister of Red Tape Reduction gave a pretty strong political speech which seemed to take too many pokes at the former Liberal government and far too much patting on the back for the Ford government – but this was a Chamber of Commerce crowd.

A banner at the front of the room with the statement ‘’’Business without boundaries” surprised me.  They wish.

My immediate thought was – have they never heard of Walkerton?

Parm Gil made mention of using robots to do inspection work – can you imagine how quickly that would spiral out of control.   Where public safety is the issue experienced eyes are required.  You can program a robot to do whatever you want it to do.

Deputy Mayor Kelvin Galbraith

Our interest in the event was to see how ward 1 Councillor Kelvin Galbraith handled himself.  He was positioned as both a small business owner and a Council member with a Deputy Mayor for Business and Red Tape Reduction portfolio on a panel of three people. That included John Romano  of Nickel Brook Brewery and Josie Tavares, Senior Development Planner/ Project Manager, CLV Group Developments Inc., a group that has significant rental properties in Burlington and is one of the partners involved with the Holland Park development on Fairview close to the GO station where seven towers are proposed.

Kelvin Galbraith getting a look from Josie Tavares during the panel discussion

Ms Tavares knew her stuff and talk with both confidence and experience about the problems – she didn’t appear to hold much hope for any real change in the way planning is done remarked that planning is getting to be a legal exercise.

She made some very good points; knew her brief and was able to point to situations where the developers were able to work with the planners.

John Romano, Co-founder, Nickel Brook Brewing Co. had some hard earned experience with the planning department.  When he moved from Drury Lane to Mainway his intention was to take the brewery operation with him – years later years later the brewing is now being done in Etobicoke and Romano has no idea when it will be on Mainway – if ever.

Galbraith didn’t have much in the way of experience as a business man with planning issues but as the Deputy Mayor for Business he was the guy getting the calls and the person who probably knows best where the problems are at city hall.  And that wasn’t something he was going to talk about in a public session.

He did mention the reduction in the length of time needed to get a development application through city hall and spoke as well of the “My File Portal” software that was due any day now that would let an applicant log in and see exactly where their application was and where the holdup was is as well.

John Romano – Nickel Brook Brewery – waiting for an application to get through city hall

Tavares and Romano appeared to agree that the problem in Burlington was at the Engineering level and that the number of retirements taking place has put a lot of younger people behind those desks now doing the work.

Did anything useful come out of the panel discussion ?  Could anything useful have come out of it ?

The province is introducing new legislation that is going to have a huge impact on the way development gets done.

Burlington is expected to have 29,000 new homes in place by 2031 – they signed a pledge saying they would deliver.

Some of the legislation cuts deeply into the amount of money from Development Charges and Community Benefit Charges the city would receive.

The municipalities don’t have the power to do very much – they are on the receiving end of everything except the cash needed to do the work that has to be done.

The federal government is bringing in close to half a million people every year to do the jobs that are part of a robust economy.

Growth is taking place at every turn with a public that is fine with the growth –“ just don’t put it where I live”.

Kelvin Galbraith responding to a question during a symposium on Red Tape reduction

Anyone expecting more from Galbraith would be disappointed – he just wasn’t able to make a presence. His hopes to at some point be the Mayor of Burlington didn’t advance much at this event.  This was a panel where the speakers were there to talk about planning problems – Galbraith didn’t have any.  However he has more in the way of planning issues to deal with in his ward.

Lou Frapporti, a partner with Gowlings in Hamilton said publicly that he was corporate counsel for Alinea, adding that Alinea  had taken over the Paletta International operations – which while true was just part of what was a messy corporate battle that ended up with Angelo Paletta leaving the firm and Paul Paletta taking the reins, forming a new corporate entity and doing his best to create a different, less abrasive approach to development.

Alinea  is the largest landowner in the Region and the holders of the three largest development properties in Burlington; Bronte Meadows in the east and 1200 King Road in the west.  Eagle Heights, in the north west, is outside the urban boundary where the infrastructure needs a lot of work.

Waterdown Road is undergoing some widening north of the 403.

It is in the southern part of Waterdown Road where all the action is taking place and where Galbraith has significant personal property holdings.

 

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Long term plan for recreation and culture: how to factor in climate change and major population growth

By Pepper Parr

March 28th, 2023

BURLINGTON, ON

 

It goes back to 2009, long time for a Master Plan to be developed and presented to Council. The document providing a 20-year strategic framework for the development and enhancement of parks, recreation and cultural facilities and services has been used to guide city capital budgets, development charge studies, and overall, to enhance our services and meet the needs of our growing and changing community.

The document is a solid look at where Parks, Recreation and Culture staff think has to be done.   Document is riddled with acronyms.

Excellent progress has been made in the implementation of the 2009 plan.
Notable projects completed over the last twelve years include:

The Skyway Arena in the east end of the city is under construction.

Recreation Facilities
Haber Community Centre
Mountainside Recreation Centre Revitalization
Angela Coughlan, Centennial and Aldershot Major Pool Renewals
Nelson Outdoor Pool and Splash Park Re-Build
Central Arena Renovations and Accessibility Upgrades
Skyway Community Centre and Arena Re-Build (in progress)
Mountainside Outdoor Pool Re-Build (in progress)
New Community Centre (former Bateman H.S. – in progress)

Parks

A first look at what was being proposed as a Beachway Master Plan. It meant a community would be destroyed and perfectly good houses demolished.

City View Park Development Phase 1
Sherwood Forest Park Renewal Phase 1
Norton Park and Alton Neighbourhood Park Developments
Burloak Park Re-development (ongoing)
Lowville Park Enhancements
New Splash Pads, Skateparks, Leash Free Parks and Community Gardens
Community Trails Strategy and Implementation
Beachway Park Master Plan
LaSalle Park Marina Wavebreak

Joseph Brant Museum: The house got lifted up and put on top of a little hill with the museum under the hill.

Cultural Facilities
New Haber Branch Library
Appleby Branch Library Relocation to new Community Centre (former Bateman H.S. – in progress)
Joseph Brant Museum Expansion
Cultural Action Plan
Public Art Initiatives

Strategy/process
Over the past year, staff have worked on the Parks Provisioning Master Plan which is now complete and tabled for Council’s consideration. The next important piece of work is the update of the 2009 PRCAMP. Both initiatives are critical in shaping the future of parks, recreation and cultural services. The table below explains the difference between the two master plans at a high level.

Initiative Focus Timeline
Parks Provisioning Master Plan (PPMP) Parkland service level (land base needs). Goal to ensure adequate public greenspace for future generations. Completed March 2023
PRCAMP Update Determine long term needs for new recreational facilities as well as revitalization and enhancement of existing assets. Q2 2023 to
Q2 2024

Overall, the goal of the PRCAMP update is:

To provide a 20-30 year strategic framework for the development and enhancement of city parks, recreation and leisure services that will contribute to the health, well-being and quality of life for all citizens of Burlington. The plan will be driven by existing and forecasted data, influenced by community needs, and informed by industry leading best practices.

Strategic Context for the PRCAMP Update
to re-evaluate community needs and priorities for parks, recreation and cultural services for the next 20-30 years. The biggest change is the projected growth: the city will grow to over 260,000 by 2051. In comparison, the 2009 PRCAMP was based on a build out population of under 200,000 by 2031 as per the Region’s “Best Planning Estimates” at the time. This projected growth will have a significant impact on parks, recreation and cultural services.

Other strategic factors that will be considered

Lawn Bowling Club is right beside the Seniors Centre.

Shifting demographics and a desire for an age friendly and inclusive community
New trends and needs for recreation and leisure services
Impacts of new provincial legislation on funding for recreation services
Land availability for more facilities and services
Optimizing the capacity and functionality of existing assets and resources
Striving for accessible and affordable services
Achieving a balanced array of recreational opportunities and services
Financial pressure of maintaining existing assets while planning for new facilities
Changing attitudes on recreation participation due to pandemic and economic factors
Exploring partnerships and available community resources to meet community recreational needs
Establishing appropriate and achievable service levels to meet community needs and expectations
Assessing the involvement of the private sector in recreation service delivery
Alignment to other corporate policies and plans including the Framework for Community Recreation, Parks Provisioning Master Plan, Urban Forest Master Plan, Integrated Mobility Plan, Climate Action Plan, Asset Management Plan, Cycling Master Plan, Community Trails Strategy, Vision to Focus.
Provision of services in the Aldershot, Burlington and Appleby Major Transit Station Areas (MTSA’s). These new compact urban communities will account for a large portion of the city’s overall growth and will require creative new ways of integrating meaningful and accessible recreational services for residents and employees. Convenient access to high quality local parks and diverse recreational opportunities is a key attribute of the “complete and healthy community” concept which is our vision for the MTSA’s. This will be a significant focus for the PRCAMP Update.

PRCAMP Scope
The PRCAMP Update will determine the need for new city recreation and leisure facilities as well as revitalization of existing assets for a 20-30 year period. The facility types that will be reviewed as part of the master plan study are listed in the table below, however other needs may be identified.

Indoor Facilities Outdoor Facilities
Recreation:
Arenas/Ice Pads
Indoor Pools
Multi-Use Community Centres (gymnasiums and multi-purpose rooms)
Age-Specific Program Centres (Seniors and Youth Centres)

Culture:
Smaller Cultural Program Centres (Music Centre, Student Theatre)
Integrated cultural components & uses within multi-use community centres Parks:
Sports Fields
Playgrounds
Tennis Courts
Pickleball Courts
Basketball/Multi-Purpose Courts
Skate Parks (major and minor)
Splash Pads (major and minor)
Outdoor Pools

Outdoor Skating
Leash Free Dog Parks
Community Gardens
Bocce
Disc/Frisbee Sports
Fitness Equipment
Park Amenities (water fountains, shade, seating, washrooms, and park lighting)

Event/Festival spaces
Casual open spaces
Other emerging needs (Cricket)

Types of Recommendations
Service Level Targets (e.g., 1 ice pad per x thousand residents)
New Facility Needs (location, timing, cost, prioritization)
Major Renewal/Revitalization/Expansion (timing, cost, prioritization)
Facility Re-Purposing (timing, cost, prioritization)
Partnership Initiatives
Facility Consolidations (e.g., arena twinning, library/community centre mergers)
Facility Leases
Leveraging available community resources and assets
Strategic Acquisitions (land and facilities)
New policies, strategies, and standards

While the PRCAMP Update will be a comprehensive study, there are a number of items that will be out of scope since these items have their own focused planning and business processes.

Out of Scope:

The trail from Spencer Smith Park that leads to the canal is something every Burlington resident treasures.

Routine life cycle renewal (e.g., flooring, roof, mechanical components).
Trails – Community Trails Strategy will be refreshed in 2025.
Cycling – Cycling Master Plan recently approved.
Major Cultural Venues – The city is well served in this area through significant investments over the past 10-15 years.
Municipal Golf Course – Subject to specific business reviews
Heritage Buildings – E.g., LaSalle Pavilion, Paletta Mansion. Require focused business reviews.
Joint Ventures – These community driven initiatives accommodate specialized recreational interests and programming, over and above the City’s typical service provisions. Joint Venture initiatives are evaluated on a case- by-case basis. The City will be undertaking a broad governance accountability review of city-affiliated service organizations including Joint Ventures (JV) and Agencies, Boards and Commissions (ABC).

PRCAMP Work Plan
The following table provides a high level workplan for the PRCAMP Update.

Phase Work Activities
Project Planning
Q1 2023 o Data collection
Project Structure – Steering Committee, Project Team
RFP – Hire Planning Consultant

Situation Analysis
Q2 2023 o Review relevant policies and plans
Review current levels of service and benchmark with other municipalities
Assess non-municipal recreation services in the city
Assess functionality, capacity and utilization of existing city facilities
Review current demographic profile
Review development and population growth forecasts
Review trends in recreation and leisure participation and facility development
Understand partnership models that support service delivery

Phase Work Activities
Community Engagement
Q3 to Q4 2023 o Community and user group surveys
Stakeholder focus groups
Public Information Centres
Council interviews, workshop
Identification of key findings and strategic themes

Q4 2023 to Q2 2024 o Develop recommendations and strategies
Internal review and consultation
Prepare reports
Opportunity for public review and comment
Seek Council approval


As a head start to this project, work has already started on various tasks in the Situation Analysis Phase including data collection and an analysis of current service levels, capacity, utilization, and distribution of existing recreational assets.

Next Steps
Staff are in the process of retaining a multi-disciplinary consulting team to lead this project. The award of the contract is anticipated in early April. All data and background research work completed to date will be handed over to the new consultant.

Total Financial Impact
The will determine the need for new city recreation and leisure facilities and revitalization of existing facilities needs over a long-term horizon of 20-30 years.
The Master Plan team will come forward in 2024 with a prioritization of capital needs, associated costing, and timing.

Staff will be reporting back on the City’s multi-year community investment plan in Q4 2023 to include completed master plans to date:  Integrated Mobility Plan, Fire Master Plan, Transit Master Plan), and overview of funding options resulting from Health report, Bill 23 Impact Analysis, new park dedication by-law, CBC and DC updates, etc. The MCIP will provide a preliminary financing strategy to assist in meeting the objectives of the master plans completed to date and will set the stage for financing future master plans, such as the Parks, Recreation and Culture Master Plan which is scheduled for completion in 2024.

The MCIP will continue to be refined to encompass changes to investment opportunities subject to completion of master plans, funding opportunities and city priorities.

Source of Funding
The PRCAMP Update has an approved budget of $200,000 in capital account PR0205 (Parks and Open Space). Most of the budget will be used for consultant fees. Other minor expenses include advertising, mail-outs, printing, and meeting expenses.

Other Resource Impacts
The master plan will involve staff from many Departments on various committees and teams including:
Recreation, Community and Culture (*Lead Department)
Engineering Services (Parks Design and Construction, Asset Planning, Geomatics)
Finance
Roads, Parks and Forestry
Corporate Communications and Engagement
Community Planning

Climate Implications
New weather patterns are certainly affecting recreational services including more rain and extreme storms, heat waves, higher UV index, and milder winters.

The need for more shade and shelters, water fountains, water play features to cool off, better field drainage, more reliable playing surfaces like artificial turf, and refrigerated outdoor skating surfaces are potential responses to climate change.

Finally, the protection and enhancement of green spaces and vegetation is also critical in reducing the urban heat island effect, slowing stormwater runoff and erosion, improving air quality, supporting local biodiversity and urban wildlife.

Engagement Matters:
A robust community engagement program will be implemented to get the broadest community perspectives on sport, recreation and cultural service needs. The engagement program will be finalized once the successful consultant is selected.

A communication plan will be developed to support the engagement program and ensure a high level of community awareness of the master plan initiative and opportunities for getting involved.

Council will be made aware of all community engagement opportunities before the public is notified. The community engagement will also help to inform the programmatic direction, use and functional design of the former Bateman H.S. Community Centre, and ensure that it aligns with broader community needs for recreation, arts and cultural programs and services.

Conclusion:
Once completed, the updated master plan will inform our multi-year community investment plan, future capital budgets and development charge reviews.

The recommendation from the Standing Committee will go to Council April 18th

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ADI submits revised development application for the last part of the Station West site; asking for 14 more units

By Pepper Parr

March 17th, 2022

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Rendering of the revised development application

In an announcement from city hall today we learn that the ADI applications to amend the Official Plan and Zoning By-law to permit a mixed-use development comprising three tall buildings with retail uses at ground level and residential uses above in properties east of Waterdown Road and south of the GO railway tracks near the Aldershot GO station have been revised.

In the original proposal (2022):

Building A (northwest corner of site) was 36 storeys tall including a 4-storey podium.

Building B (southeast) was 26 storeys tall.

Building C (southwest) was 36 storeys tall. Buildings B and C shared a three-storey podium.

The proposed buildings contained a total of 1,139 residential units and 231m2 of ground-level retail at the corner of Masonry Court and Cooke Blvd. 1,031 parking spaces were proposed within five levels of underground parking.

In the revised proposal (2023):

Building A (northwest) is 33 storeys tall including a 12-storey podium.

Building B (southeast) is 29 storeys including a six-storey podium that steps down to three storeys on the north side.

Building C (southwest) is 31 storeys including a six-storey podium. The buildings are no longer connected to each other, and a plaza has been introduced at the ground level between Buildings B and C.

The total number of residential units has increased from 1,139 to 1,165.

The total amount of retail floor area has increased from 231m2 to 495m2.

The total number of parking spaces has increased from 1,031 to 1,145 spaces within 6 underground parking levels.

Those are the hard facts.

This is the eastern boundary of the property ADI has developed since it bought the land from Paletta International; a Paletta is said to now regret.

What is absolutely amazing is how this development has evolved and found a way to not even mention space for parks.

The patch of land, and it really isn’t much more than that, was originally going to have three building and some parkland space. ADI was prepared at one point to talk to the public about where parkland would be within the site.

This part of the development has to be seen in context with what has already been built. The pictures below tell that story.

Mid rise units are part of the development.

The problem with getting involvement from the public is that the community ADI has created hasn’t had a chance to come together and talk about what has happened. Covid19 kept people indoors and then when people were ready to be outside more there was no place for people to gather.

The overall neighbourhood has resigned themselves to the fact that everything north of Masonry road is high rise. This by the way was the part of the city where Marianne Meed Ward launched her 2018 campaign to become Mayor. While it was never her ward (she did run in the ward prior to 2010 and was soundly trounced) she hasn’t done much to help the people in that community.

Town houses are part of the mix in the very large development.

The current ward councillor hasn’t done all that much either – other than to advise one of the better community activists that the ward Councillor’s office would no longer communicate with him.

There was a slight ray of sunshine on how the city distributed the news.  Changes in development applications don’t usually get include in what the city sends out.  Even though it came out during the afternoon of a Friday – it was at least more public than in the past.  Kudos to whoever made that decision.

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Sharp shooters in the Shore Acres Creek area looking for coyotes that have to be eliminated

The hunt is on.

A crew of at least two people armed with rifles are in the Shore Acres  area close to the Paletta Mansion out to kill the coyotes that are believed to have been terrorizing the community.

Police are in the area limiting access and ensuring the public is nowhere near.

The city has gotten serious – finally

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Running in ward 2 for that Council seat: Keith Demoe is at the least a contender

By Pepper Parr

September 13th, 2022

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Keith Demoe decided he wanted to sit on city council partly because he didn’t like the decisions they were making but more importantly to him was the way the decisions were being made.

Demoe come out of that part of the private sector that sees technology, particularly Information Technology, as the tool that is going to solve all our problems.

He spent 20 years with SAP – systems, applications, and products.

Keith Demoe takes a clear eyed view on just what the issues are.

He then, with a partner, went out on their own to market extensions to the SAP applications.

He prospered.

He first described himself as a progressive but didn’t expand on just what that meant.

Our meeting, which took up the best part of two hours started with Demoe telling me that he wanted to create a portal, an electronic address if you will, that ward 2 people could go to to find all the information they wanted.

Demoe was clearly not aware of the Service Burlington department in place to provide just that service.

Demoe believes people in Burlington have great ideas that are not being given the time and attention they deserve. Demoe isn’t going to get any argument for the significant number of people in the city who have given up on the idea of delegating – they don’t feel they are listened to.

In the 11 years the Gazette has been covering city council I cannot recall a single idea/project/initiative that was brought to council as a delegation that was then acted upon.

Demoe wants to be part of a city council that changes that.

He lives in the downtown core – in a condominium.

He has taken a leave of absence from his consulting/application development work and will phase himself out of that job should he be elected.

Once one gets past that first awkward stage with Keith Demoe he get animated.

Like anyone running for public office in Burlington he has views on the intensification that few are very happy about. The facts are what Demoe focuses on – “Burlington is going to have to grow up and not out because there is no more land for new traditional single family residential structures that have been built in the city since the end of WWII.

He looks at the farming sector and wants to know who owns the land and if it isn’t farmers who want to work the fields – then who is it and what do they want to do with the land longer term ?
What bothers Demoe is this: the public is not being given the facts.

The issues as Demoe sets them out on his web site.

Expanding the urban boundary which stops at Hwy 5 and the 407, is a huge concern for many. The moment you move that boundary as much as a foot north it will be very hard to stop it going further – the only immediate impediment is that the land is not serviced – which would result in more estate type housing.

Keith Demoe: his thinking does focus on the real problems.

At this point Demoe has no problem pointing to what he sees as the huge problem: the different interests between those who want affordable housing so they can actually live in Burlington and those who want to protect their equity.

Protecting their equity means having property values that are sky high that make it possible for people to sell and bank a considerable capital gain on the house they bought 20 years ago and those who at this point in time can’t get past the inability to come up with the required down payment.

While his views do not appear to be cast in stone his thinking does focus on the real problem. Demoe wants facts on the table so that voters can make informed decisions

Where is the Demoe campaign funding coming from? Keith is using his own money to cover his campaign costs – any money from outside the immediate family would be small donations from people he knows.

The Paletta interests have reached out to him – he hasn’t met with anyone yet

Demoe intends to make heavy use of video – I got the sense it would be along the lines of what Marianne Meed Ward did in her 2010 election.

Right now the campaign is a boots on the ground, knocking on doors operation where he is listening and taking notes.

Keith Demoe is at the least a contender.

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Citizen committee sends recommendations to city on coyote problem - no response. Does a child have to be mauled before any action is taken?

By Staff

August 26th, 2022

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The Gazette published a report yesterday on recommendations a citizens committee gave to Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward and City Manager Tim Commisso.

Within the report were a number of recommendations that we think were important enough to be made public.  They are set out below; they amount to a consultants report that didn’t cost the city a dime.

 

Those recommendations are set out below

1.     Conduct an impact analysis by neighbourhoods to identify various controls that should be implemented to safeguard residents, children and pets from coyote attacks.

 BOCM has identified several “hot spot” neighbourhoods in both Oakville and Burlington which have shown an unusually high number of coyote sightings and incidents. These neighbourhoods are as follows:

  • Samuel Curtis Estates in West Oakville;
  • Wilmot Creek Park in West Oakville/East Burlington;
  • Lakeshore Woods in West Oakville;
  • Sheldon Creek Trail system bordering Samuel Curtis Estates & Lakeshore Woods in West Oakville;
  • Shell Park in West Oakville;
  • South Shel Park & Beach Trails in West Oakville;
  • Burloak Waterfront Park in West Oakville/East Burlington;
  • Mohawk Gardens/St. Patrick’s R.C. School in East Burlington;
  • Bromley Park in East Burlington;
  • Sherwood Forest Park in East Burlington;
  • Pineland Public School in East Burlington;
  • Paletta Estates in Burlington;
  • Nelson Park in Burlington (including Shoreacres Road);
  • John Tuck Public School in

Many of these areas are adjacent to woodlots. The proximity of playgrounds to woodlots which is where coyotes den is particularly problematic. Many young children play in these areas, and the potential for interactions between coyotes and young people is extremely high. In all of West Oakville there are no coyote warning signs whatsoever.

SIGN AT ENTRANCE TO SHELDON CREEK TRAIL, THE SITE OF SEVERAL COYOTE ATTACKS. THIS IS A HEAVILY UTILIZED TRAIL AND CHILDREN’S PLAYGROUND IMMEDIATELY NEXT TO TRAIL ENTRANCE. COYOTES KNOWN TO USE THIS ENTRANCE TO LEAVE THE TRAIL SYSTEM AS THEY MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE LAKE VIA WILMOT ROAD AND STEVENSON ROAD.

2.     Improve both the quantity and quality of signage relating to coyotes, and ensure it offers meaningful information on what to do in the event of sightings.

 There are absolutely no coyote warning signs in Bronte and West Oakville, and the level of coyote signage currently in use in Burlington is vague and offers little in the way of useful information. BOCM believes that much more comprehensive and detailed signage is required that includes the following:

  • Warning signs on the prevalence of coyotes;
  • Encourage park visitors to call 911 in cases of emergencies or attacks;
  • Clear prohibitions aimed at discouraging the feeding wildlife;
  • Specific directions on what to do if a coyote stalks someone;
  • Advice on how to properly haze

Suffice to say that a picture of a coyote may provide a warning but it offers no viable information as to what to do when one is sighted or attacks. Oakville/Burlington need to follow the lead of Mississauga and install billboards, or at the least temporary mobile signs warning people of coyotes in hotspots and what to do.

 

Appendix A includes a cross-section of different pictures taken recently throughout Oakville and Burlington that clearly demonstrates either the lack of proper signage or a lack of relevant information.

3.     Current municipal by-laws should be amended to permit the laying of charges and assessment of fines for persons who feed coyotes.

Current direction from civic officials places an onus upon residents not to feed wildlife. Unfortunately, this advice is not reinforced with appropriate fines that act as a significant deterrent.

It is our understanding that the City of Burlington By-Law 083-2015 enacted September 28th,2015 provides for a fine of $100 for any resident found feeding wildlife. In the case of the Town of Oakville we examined By-Law 2018-006 and were unable to find any fine for feeding wildlife. The fine in the City of Toronto is $365.

BOCM maintains that a $500 fine should be imposed upon any resident or person who is identified feeding wildlife. We believe that a similar fine should be assessed in cases where residents carelessly discard food waste and scraps that become a food source for coyotes, raccoons, etc.

4.     Provide appropriate coyote management education in schools and parks that border creeks.

 We believe that more prescriptive and defined education messages should be used to communicate the potential threat caused by coyotes. We believe that By- Law Officers should be routinely tasked with visiting schools in “hot spot” neighbourhoods to educate teachers, students and administrators about the threats posed by coyotes.

As coyotes are no longer afraid of us hazing must be taught to residents and children. Furthermore, flyers must be sent to every household in high density coyote areas instructing what to do, how to haze, and what to carry as a deterrent.

5.     Change municipal by-laws to permit residents to increase fence heights in order to deter coyotes from entering residents’ properties.

 Our review indicates that in the City of Burlington the maximum fence height is 2 metres. In the case of the Town of Oakville there is a similar provision, although in certain circumstances it can extend to 2.2 metres.

BOCM believes the current height restriction on fences is inadequate to protect residents from coyotes entering the backyards. We have several reports where residents’ pets in fenced backyards have been attacked by coyotes that have scaled wooden and wire fences.

We believe that in cases where properties are adjacent to “hot spot” areas an exception should be made, and that fence heights should be changed to 3 metres. This would provide a strong deterrent to coyotes from entering properties adjacent to parks while providing protection to homeowners whose pets are in enclosed areas.

6.     Permit residents’ whose properties back onto wooded areas to place an awning structure at the top of their fence to prevent coyote jumps.

 As was noted in point #5 above, coyotes have the ability to scale fences up to nine feet high. We believe residents whose properties are adjacent to “hot spot” locations should have the ability to erect awnings at the top of their fences to prevent coyote jumps.

7.     Request more frequent and nightly bylaw officer visits to wooded areas known to have coyote dens.

 BOCM maintains that Animal Control By-Law Officers have a low visibility and profile in the community. We believe that greater efforts should be made to provide nightly patrols in “hot spot” areas where coyotes pose a significant hazard and risk. Increased visibility will reinforce public safety and demonstrate concern for the needs of residents. In particular, better training for animal control and bylaw officers on how to be more empathetic and understanding when dealing with distraught pet owners reporting attacks and killing of their pets would be helpful.

As well, it is important to clearly articulate to residents who to contact in the event of an attack, kill or sighting. Residents are currently confused.

Several schools in Oakville and Burlington have woods that are adjacent to known coyote dens. Below are pictures taken at St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic School on Kenwood Drive, and Pineland Public School on Meadowhill Drive. In these photographs you can clearly see that playgrounds and soccer fields are within close proximity to wooded areas and ravines.

8.     Scientifically measure the size of the coyote population in West Oakville, Bronte and Burlington.

 Much has been made about the fact that the coyote population is threatened by urbanization. While this may be true, at no time has scientific data been adduced to confirm the actual size of the coyote population in this area.

Until the 1800’s coyotes lived only in the southern prairies of North America, and the southern United States to Mexico. By the late 1800’s they expanded west to the Pacific Ocean, and by the 1900s they had advanced to the Maritimes, the eastern seaboard in the United States, and north to Alaska. Their rapid population growth is a testament to their hardiness and adaptability.

BOCM believes that making unsubstantiated claims that a species is at risk without corroborating evidence to substantiate it is both misleading and untrue. The natural predator of coyotes are humans, but if there are controls on hunting and trapping then the species reproduces unimpeded. Empirically, the number of sightings and interactions with coyotes would infer that the coyote population has migrated south towards the Lake Ontario shoreline and along adjacent creeks. This would suggest that a larger number of them are living in a confined area and in closer proximity to residents.

We believe that a scientific count of the coyote population would be helpful in identifying dens and imposing reasonable controls that would restrict the number of negative interactions with residents and their pets. Recently, attempts have been made in the City of Chicago using radio tracking to determine the size of the coyote population. Estimates suggest that the population in that City is somewhere between 2,000 to 4,000 animals.

BOCM believes that similar activities should be undertaken by bylaw officers using radio control technology. Scientific evidence, not assumptions, are needed in order to develop proactive evidence-based solutions to the coyote population.

9.     Institute a program of coyote contraception to limit the size of the coyote population.

 Once an assessment has been made of the size of the coyote population BOCM believes that measures should be instituted to control the size of this species.

It should be noted that in addition to the obvious threat presented by bites and attacks coyotes are also known carriers of parasites including mange and, in some instances, rabies. Sarcoptic mange is highly contagious to both dogs and humans, and there are cases where it can be passed from human to human. Rabies is a deadly virus that spreads from the saliva of infected animals. Treatment involves a series of painful shots that eliminate the infection.

Wildlife contraception is not new. It has been applied successfully in various jurisdictions in the United States to control wildlife including deer:

10. Initiate a program of aggressive hazing to instill fear in coyotes.

 The concept of aversive conditioning has been pioneered by Collen Cassady St. Clair at the University of Alberta who has been working with the Edmonton Coyote Urban Project. This program is based on the concept of teaching wild animals to mistrust humans and fear people in order to lessen interactions that may result in adverse close contacts or attacks. Certain areas of that City, particularly playgrounds, are considered “no-go” zones, and coyotes seen in these areas are aggressively hazed. One approach that is being utilized involves deploying service dogs to find coyotes, then shooting them with chalk balls fired from paintball guns. Residents are also encouraged to haze coyotes by throwing tennis balls at them.

Because coyotes are no longer afraid of people, we need to teach residents aversive conditioning, and providing this information both on the website and in flyers distributed to households.

  1. Institute a program of regular pesticide spraying of rats and other vermin consumed by Coyotes in our trail areas and known den areas.

 If the food sources for coyotes disappears, so will the coyotes. They will move to other more food abundant areas.

This will become increasingly necessary as urban development to the north of Burlington and Oakville proceeds quickly over the next few years. We will need to have plans in place well in advance to control and manage the coyote population. We all know that the coyotes will move south from Milton and Halton Hills to south Oakville and Burlington so they can be close to Lake Ontario where there is an abundance of shoreline and trail system wildlife.

SUMMARY

 BOCM maintains that previous coyote management efforts by civic officials have been both inadequate and a substantive public policy failure. Too much onus has been placed on local residents to manage this problem through appeals to refrain from feeding wildlife. While BOCM supports this measure in principle, it is our contention that this measure alone is inadequate. We strongly contend that the time has come for much more proactive control initiatives.

Related news story:

Report om controlling coyote problem gets the brush off from city hall

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Eleven new firefighters graduate - a lot of proud faces in the class photo

By Pepper Parr

August 18th, 2022

BURLINGTON, ON

 

You have to have fought a fire and realized at some point that as a fire fighter you are truly in danger.

You have to have fought a tough blaze and learned when it was over that everyone didn’t make it out of the burning building.

That is what Fire Chief Karen Roche was talking about yesterday when she welcomed 11 new graduates to the Burlington Fire department.

She put it this way at the graduation event: “Our graduation event is always a great source of pride for everyone in the Fire Department. The new recruits have put in a lot of hard work to graduate and become full time firefighters, to serve the Burlington community and keep everyone safe. On behalf of everyone within the Burlington Fire Department, I welcome them to the family and am looking forward to working with them.”

Each recruit class is named for a fallen Burlington firefighter. This year’s class is proudly named the Tim Catterall Recruit Class of 2022.

Back row from left to right: Victor Paletta, Dan Prinsen, Tom Poliziani, Peter Dionisio, Alex Guptill, Caleb Cooze, Mike Moffat Front row from left to right: Stuart Buchanan, Matthew Manning, Lexis Ross, Zachary Tait

Why the ‘fish eye’ lens was used to take the class photo wasn’t clear – that is not what a fire engine looks like

Tim Catterall proudly served the citizens of Burlington for 29 years. He was a caring and capable firefighter that gave his all on every call, and ultimately gave everything he had to the Citizens of Burlington until his passing in 2018 with his recruitment classmates at his bedside. The presence of his fellow firefighters at his bedside exemplifies the tight bond that he developed with all he worked with and the bond that all firefighters share. 

Tim’s compassion for his fellow firefighters, and fellow human beings shined through by his creation of the FACE (Firefighters Against Cancer’s Existence) foundation which raised thousands of dollars for the fight against cancer, as well as raising awareness and support for firefighters suffering this disease.

Tim would have been immensely proud to know that a class of Firefighters was named after him.

The new firefighters will be placed at various fire stations across Burlington.

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Car show on Brant Street draws hundreds

By Denis Gibbons

July 10th, 2022

BURLINGTON, ON

 

In May of 1937 King George VI was crowned in Westminster Abbey and rode down the Mall with his wife Queen Elizabeth in a blue Rolls Royce.  A similar vehicle was featured Saturday at the Burlington Car Show in the downtown area, complete with a tea set in the trunk and a Coronation flag mounted on the spare tire on the passenger side.

Tea set in the truck of an antique Rolls Royce

Anastasia Karpenko serves herself from an old A & W car tray.

The Karpenko family, which recently arrived in the Bay Area from war-torn Ukraine, was very impressed with the bright yellow 1955 Ford belonging to Randy Matthews. It was built in Dallas, Texas.

The Karpenkos hail from the city of Kryvyi Rih, which amazingly is 122 kilometres long and is the longest city in Europe.

Positioned on the driver’s side window of the car is an A & W root beer tray, harkening back to the days when waitresses used to deliver food to drivers on roller skates.

An 1897 Fossmobile was Canada’s first gasoline car.

Ron Foss of Burlington drew a lot of attention with a Fossmobile, which was invented by his grandfather George Foote Foss of Sherbrooke, Quebec, as the first successful gasoline engine automobile in 1897.

This young fellow is just loving being behind the wheel.

Tommy Gun’s Original Barbershop, at the corner of New Street and Appleby Line, got a lot of free advertising when owner Jamie Delaye Quong showed off a black 1939 Chevy Master Deluxe.

Tommy Gun’s Original Barbershop, at the corner of New Street and Appleby Line, got a lot of free advertising when owner Jamie Delaye Quong showed off a black 1939 Chevy Master Deluxe.

The sixth annual car show, which attracted hundreds of spectators, was presented by Angelo Paletta and TNG Exotics to raise money for Joseph Brant Hospital.

 

This qualifies as a people jam with the cars sitting quietly at the side of the street.

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Car show on Brant - Saturday 10 am to 5 pm

By Staff

July 8th, 2022

BURLINGTON, ON

 

The Burlington Car Show is back and will dominate Brant Street in downtown Burlington on Saturday.
.
This streetfest showcases 200 antique, classic, cruiser, muscle, exotic and iconic examples of the history of the automobile.

Pure muscle.

What: Burlington Car Show
Car show/streetfest on Brant Street in downtown Burlington Ontario. Over 200 cars on display
Red carpet exotic car display, specialty cars, museum cars, vendors and music Free admission

Where: Brant Street Burlington – Caroline Street to Lakeshore Road

When: Saturday July 9th, 2022 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

The Burlington Car Show is sponsored by Angelo Paletta and TNC Exotics as a fund raiser for the Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation. A part of the sponsorship an exotic car procession will travel along Lakeshore Road from Joseph Brant Hospital, at approximately 10:00 am, to join the show in a red carpet presentation of exotic automobiles.

Also on display will be the first electric GMC Hummer in Canada, presented by the Leggat Group.
As well, we are delighted to present an authentic replica of the Fossmobile, Canada’s first gas powered vehicle

There will be over 200 vehicles in total for people to view. The show footprint includes Brant Street from Caroline Street to Lakeshore Road. Open to the general public from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

 

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Ward 1 Councillor meets with his constituents - virtually with 12 in the room

By Pepper Parr

May 17th, 2022

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Kelvin Galbraith is now embracing the world of retail politics.

Kelvin Galbraith with Aldershot residents shortly after he was elected

In the retail world – you reach out to your customers, listen to them carefully and adjust your plans and approach to meet the needs the customer are bringing to your attention.

In a phrase – you service them – or as my Newfoundland friends would say – you kill them with kindness.

Galbraith held his first community meeting in a long time.  It was a hybrid event with about 12 people in the room and an unknown number taking part virtually.

When things run smoothly – Kelvin Galbraith is a happy man.

Galbraith knows his brief – he has a firm grip on what is taking place in terms of development in the ward and has a vision that is a little hazy but in time it will become clearer.

That vision, and his focus on a second term if he is elected, is Eagle Heights and the Paletta lands on the south side of 403 between King Road and basically the Aldershot GO station.

The property is zoned Employment lands – in the real estate world the money is in residential.  If you’re in the downtown core and close to the lake – there is real money to be made.

The Paletta’s are working with the 2030 Commonwealth Games committee with a plan to use the King Road property as one of the venues.

Galbraith loves the idea – he wants to see the South Service Road extended further west and if the Commonwealth games initiative will do that – fine by Galbraith.

He is basically on top of all the developments taking place in the ward.

He likes what King Paving is doing with the property on the west side of Waterdown – opposite Station West.  They are looking at moving their operation to what was once the municipal dump on the North Service Road.  That location is right beside the Mercedes Benz dealership – dust issues might become a major hurdle King Paving has to get over.

Despite a lot of effort Galbraith has not been able to get all that much for the community from the Vrancorp people who own Solid Gold. The best he might be able to get is a Starbucks franchise and a tiny park space.

There is nothing new – or positive on the development planned for the Solid Gold site.

The mess at the marina has Galbraith stepping very carefully – he needs to keep that membership happy.

The city manager is reported to have told a resident that he does not want to find the city running a marina operation – outsourcing the operation was the word that seemed to convey what the city manager would like to see.

Convincing Galbraith to take part in the Red Carpet Red Tape Task Force may not prove to be all that beneficial to him.

The Mayor finds herself trying to play with a very sticky wicket.  That raid on the hydro reserves to pay for the wave break that was essential if the marina was to remain viable has come back to haunt her politically.

Galbraith was asked by the Mayor during the early months of the current term of office to partner with her on the Red Carpet Red Tape Task Force.  The result was someone with good business credentials working with the Mayor and shoring up one of her weaker skill sets.

Galbraith is now paying a price for that early exposure.  He needs to put some space between himself and the Mayor.

The way in which Galbraith took part in the process that resulted in ward 4 Councillor being sanctioned by the Integrity Commissioner didn’t do anything for the Galbraith reputation.  That sorry situation is not over yet – there is a report due in June that will determine if Stolte decides to run for re-election

As part of a city council that voted to declare a climate emergency in the city, Galbraith still chooses to drive a gas guzzling pick up truck.  The optics on that one are terrible.

Galbraith is one of the few members of council facing a challenge to the seat he holds.  During an interview Galbraith said – anyone who decides to run against me doesn’t have a chance.

It is hubris like that that loses elections

 

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Mulholland will retire from Burlington Foundation at the end of the year

By Pepper Parr

March 31st, 2022

BURLINGTON, ON

 

After 11 years of exemplary leadership, Colleen Mulholland, President & CEO of Burlington Foundation, has advised the Board that she will retire at the end of December 2022.

Colleen Mulholland: worked tirelessly during the 2014 flood relief effort.

In making the announcement the Foundation Board said: “when Colleen stepped into the role of President & CEO in 2011, she greatly improved the Foundations ability to achieve their mission through the evolution of the leadership and presence within our civic, business, charitable, and philanthropic communities.

“Under Colleen’s vision and direction, Foundation assets have grown substantially from $5 million in 2011 to over $24 million in assets today.

“In 2014, Colleen was instrumental in leading and managing the Burlington Flood Disaster Relief Program on behalf of the City of Burlington. Alongside Ron Foxcroft, Chair of the Relief Committee, the Foundation raised a combined total of $2.7 million in a 100-day campaign to support flood victims most in need through the generosity of the community, local businesses, and the provincial government.

“Since the onslaught of the pandemic in 2019, Colleen led Foundation efforts to rapidly launch fundraising initiatives and manage several phases and programs of Covid-19 relief funding totaling over $1.3 million to help support our most vulnerable community members.

At a fund raising gala with Angelo Paletta.

“Under Colleen’s leadership, in 2014 Burlington Foundation was the first Not-For- Profit organization to be honoured with a Business Excellence Award by the Burlington Chamber of Commerce.

“During her tenure Colleen has received several awards recognizing her tireless commitment to supporting community. In 2015, Colleen received an Outstanding Community Service Award from the City of Burlington and the Province of Ontario for her leadership in successfully managing the Flood Disaster Relief Program. And in 2017, Colleen received an Ontario 150 Award in honour of the substantial contributions she has made in our community and in the province.”

“Most recently, Colleen was awarded the 2021 YWCA Women of Distinction Lifetime Achievement Award for Hamilton/Halton for her over 30 years commitment to supporting community and for improving the quality of life for so many.

“Over the past decade, Burlington Foundation has become a strategic community foundation able to work effectively in a complex and ever-changing landscape, as well as a learning organization that embraces reflection and refinement. We are deliberate and focused on how best to improve the lives of those most vulnerable in our community. We are nimble when it comes to opportunities. We are constantly improving. The Board of Directors collectively embraces these attributes. And that will not change with the coming leadership transition.

“We are very fortunate to have worked alongside a leader with Colleen’s passion, creativity, and drive to establish good productive partnerships. And in that regard, I am pleased to share that Colleen will assist the Board with the recruitment of a new generational leader to join Burlington Foundation prior to her departure.”

 

 

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Well - there goes the neighbourhood! Draft housing report suggests not protecting 'character' of neighbourhoods and permit 4 storey apartments anywhere

By Staff

January 26th, 2022

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Marcello Alaimo, operator of Exquisite Living released some comment on the draft of the Housing Task Force that is expected to release the report and its 58 recommendation at the end of the month.

The task force that was asked to find ways to make Ontario housing more affordable wants to do away with rules that entrench single-family homes as the main option in many residential neighbourhoods, according to a draft report.

The nine-member Housing Affordability Task Force, chaired by Scotiabank CEO Jake Lawrence, wants to “create a more permissive land use, planning, and approvals systems” and throw out rules that stifle change or growth — including ones that protect the “character” of neighbourhoods across the province.

The wide-ranging 31-page draft report, which is making the rounds in municipal planning circles and could look much different when it’s officially released Jan. 31, makes 58 recommendations.

Zoned commercial, spitting distance to the QEW, minutes from downtown – owner wants to rezone and make it residential.

It includes discussions on speeding up approval processes, waiving development charges for infill projects, allowing vacant commercial property owners to transition to residential units, and letting urban boundaries expand “efficiently and effectively.”

It also calls for all municipalities — and building code regulations — not to make it just easier for homeowners to add secondary suites, garden homes, and laneway houses to their properties, but also to increase height, size and density along “all major and minor arterials and transit corridors” in the form of condo and apartment towers.

© Kate Porter/CBC One of the task force’s recommendations is to create rules that would bypass community opposition to adding density in existing neighbourhoods. 4-storey complexes in all neighbourhoods.

But perhaps the most controversial recommendation is the one to virtually do away with so-called exclusionary zoning, which allows only a single-family detached home to be built on a property.

Built by the ADI Group – this four storey could be placed anywhere in the city if the Housing Task Force makes it through the legislature.

Instead, the task force recommends that in municipalities with a population of more than 100,000, the province should “allow any type of residential housing up to four storeys and four units on a single residential lot,” subject to urban design guidance that’s yet to be defined.

According to the report, Ontario lags behind many other G7 countries when it comes to the number of dwellings per capita. And housing advocates have long argued that more modest-projects — duplexes, triplexes, tiny homes and townhouses — are needed in established neighbourhoods, especially if the environmental and infrastructure costs of sprawl are to be avoided.

But neighbourhood infill and intensification is often a hard political sell.
“While everyone might agree that we have a housing crisis, that we have a climate emergency, nobody wants to see their neighbourhoods change,” said Coun. Glen Gower, who co-chairs Ottawa’s planning committee. “So that’s really the challenge that we’re dealing with in Ottawa and in Ontario.”

After last week’s housing summit with Ontario’s big city mayors, reporters repeatedly asked Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Steve Clark if he supported doing away with zoning for single-detached homes, as other jurisdictions like Edmonton and major New Zealand cities have done.

Clark said he’d heard the idea but did not give a direct answer one way or the other.
© CBC Coun. Glen Gower is the co-chair of Ottawa council’s planning committee. He welcomes the discussion about housing affordability in the task force report, but concedes that allowing four-storey, four-unit dwellings in every neighbourhood could be a hard sell.

Reduce construction barriers, approval requirements
Many of the recommendations revolve around making it easier and faster for builders to construct homes.

According to the draft report, not only would a streamlined process allow dwellings to get on the market faster, but reducing approval times would also save developers money which, in theory, could be passed onto residents.

The report cites an Ontario Association of Architects study from 2018 showing that costs for a 100-unit condo building increase by $193,000 for every month the project is delayed.
That’s why, for example, the task force is recommending that any “underutilized or redundant commercial properties” be allowed to be converted to residential units without municipal approvals.

The draft report also calls for quasi-automatic approval for projects up to 10 units that conform to existing official plans and zoning, and goes so far to recommend that municipalities “disallow public consultations” for these applications.

The report speaks to reducing what the task force characterizes as “NIMBY” factors in planning decisions, recommending the province set Ontario-wide standards for specifics like setbacks, shadow rules and front doors, while excluding details like exterior colour and building materials from the approval process.

The task force would even eliminate minimum parking requirements for new projects.
Politicians say more than just supply needed

The report touches on a number of subjects it believes unnecessarily delay the building of new homes, including how plans approved by city councils can be appealed.

It recommends the province restore the right of developers to appeal official plans — a power that was removed by the previous Liberal government.

And in an effort to eliminate what it calls “nuisance” appeals, the task force recommends that the fee a third party — such as a community group — pays to appeal projects to the Ontario Land Tribunal should be increased from the current $400 to $10,000.

© CBC NDP housing critic Jessica Bell supports doing away with exclusionary zoning, but says many more measures, including building more affordable homes, are needed.

That doesn’t sit well with NDP MPP Jessica Bell, the party’s housing critic. who said “My initial take is that any attempt to make the land tribunal even more difficult for residents to access is concerning,” said Bell, adding the NDP is asking stakeholders and community members for feedback.

The tribunal can overturn a municipal council’s “democratically decided law,” she said, “and I would be pretty concerned if it costs $10,000 for a third party to go to the land tribunal and bring up some valid evidence.”

While she was pleased to see the task force address zoning reform to encourage the construction of town homes, duplexes and triplexes in existing neighbourhoods — the so-called “missing middle” between single-family homes and condo towers — Bell said increasing supply is not enough to improve housing for all Ontarians.

“We need government investment in affordable housing,” she said. “We need better protections for renters, and we need measures to clamp down on speculation in the housing market … We need a more holistic and comprehensive approach than what we are seeing in this draft report right now.”

(While the task force was directed by the province to focus on increasing the housing supply through private builders, it acknowledges in the report that “Ontario’s affordable housing shortfall was raised in almost every conversation” with stakeholders.)

© CBCGreen Party of Ontario Leader Mike Schreiner says he’s opposed to the task force’s recommendation to allow urban boundaries to expand.

Expanding urban boundaries another concern
From his first reading of the report, Ontario Green Party leader Mike Schreiner agreed with the zoning recommendations but said streamlined processes need to be balanced with maintaining public consultations and heritage designations.  “One of my concerns with my very quick read of the draft report is that it talks about expanding urban boundaries … and I’m opposed to that,” he told CBC.

Everything to the left of the red line along Hwy 407 and Dundas are part of the rural boundary.

“We simply can’t keep paving over the farmland that feeds us, the wetlands that clean our drinking water [and] protect us from flooding, especially when we already have about 88,000 acres within existing urban boundaries in southern Ontario available for development,” he said.

Schreiner said he’s also “deeply concerned” that the report discusses aligning housing development with the province’s plan for Highway 413 in the GTA.   “I simply don’t think we can spend over $10 billion to build a highway that will supercharge climate pollution, supercharge sprawl, making life less affordable for people and paving over 2,000 acres of farmland

 

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Staff shortages might limit what the city can deliver in the way of services

By Pepper Parr

January 11th, 2022

BURLINGTON, ON

After spending three quarters of the day on Monday in Closed sessions dealing with legal matters Council got down to issues that impact how we live our day to day lives.

City Manager Tim Commisso told Councillors that a total of 150 staff members have been “impacted” by Covid19 – that the number represented 8% of the total staff.

Service levels are being threatened by staff unable to report for work due to Covid19

The bigger concern was what the number of people who cannot report for work is going to have on the city’s ability to deliver services.

Will there be enough people available to remove the snow from roads and sidewalks?

Will there be enough fire fighters on hand to man the equipment should there be a fire?

The GO train service has had to cut back on the number of trains running due to staff shortages.  The Toronto Transit service has had to cut back on the number of streetcars and busses in service.

City Manager Tim Commisso has alerted Council to some potential staff problems.

With the city in a State of Emergency the day to day operations are worked out by the Emergency Control Group (ECG) that meets three times a week – on an hour’s notice if that is what is required, to revise what can be delivered in the way of services.

People in Burlington might want to begin thinking about how they are going to cope with any changes that are required.

Things could get bumpy.  On the upside there are some very smart people sitting on that ECG committee.  They have shown an impressive ability to pivot and then pivot again before the first pivot was completed.

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What could a Commonwealth Games in Burlington look like? eSports is getting a close look

By Pepper Parr

December 26th, 2021

BURLINGTON, ON

Part 3 of a 3 part feature on bringing the Commonwealth Games to the area.

Antonio Gomez Palacio was part of a delegation to a city Standing committee where the plans for bringing the 2030 Commonwealth Games were set out for public discussion.

Previously Louis Frapporti and Paul Paletta who is now President of Penta properties, owners of the land much of the Games activity would take place on, delegated.  Links to their  participation are set out below.

 

Thank you very much, Lou, (Louis Frapporti – Chair of Games Bid committee) and thanks to everybody.

We come into this very much from the perspective and the true belief that there is a tremendous opportunity through everything that we do to meaningfully improve the well being of community.

And as Lou described, this sense of greater purpose is what aligns the initiative that brings us all together, but ultimately is the guiding post that we’re using as we continue to move forward.

In doing this, we’ve also partnered with the Conference Board of Canada and building on a foundation of research that they’ve been doing for many, many years that culminated in 2018 on the publication of the community well-being framework, but has continued to be a huge part of the research, and has developed a series of evidence based indicators around how we can design and plan communities and environments and parks.

In a way that truly and meaningfully improves the well being of communities. The Conference Board through the Commonwealth Games will continue to be involved and refine and nuance with city input and from your own staff and your own community.

The indicators that we will be using so that we can continue to bring evidence into the entire planning and design process. And of course, City of Burlington already has a tremendous amount of really good thinking that we’re keenly aware of and we want to make sure is brought forward in everything that we’re doing. Your newly minted Official Plan and the work that is being done around major transit station areas and many of the initiatives the city are bringing forward and many of the priorities that you’re bringing forward.

So through the Commonwealth Games, we’re currently in the process of starting to identify and elicit interest in all of the different opportunities that may exist for specific sites, then use interventions, programming, all these kinds of things, which is where the very excitingly opportunities exist.

There’s an enormous amount here to unpack and we have no hope of having you fully understand the opportunity on a call of this length. So we’d be delighted to make ourselves available for independent or other discussions with you to explain further what it is that we have in mind. But the one point I would make is as you’re trying to understand what this means, is that we’re talking about a specific development site as part of a Commonwealth Games. In the very early stages of our work it was made very clear to us that bids had failed principally for a couple of reasons.

One, there was really insufficient private sector support. And number two, you had a small group of bid proponents or enthusiasts who created a bid without really consulting with the broader community and simply asked the broader community to accept or support their bid. What we felt in consultation with the Commonwealth Games Foundation (CGF) was that a way to differentiate the bid is not to start with what the bid people want, but to identify with communities that would be impacted by the bid want, and then to make that the bid and the way to do that and activate that necessarily depends on private sector,  land owners, private sector developers and other organizations to step up,

And there are three catalyst projects of which the King Road site would be one. The other is the downtown Hamilton redevelopment project and the third is a large redevelopment project in the city of Brampton.

Highway 403 was mistakenly labelled Highway 401.

So the question then becomes what is it we would wish to have here at present. The CGF has not finalized its sports program and very helpfully, they’ve indicated to us that they have considerable flexibility around the sports that are included.

We had initially thought that Burlington would be the site and home of lawn bowling in the initial bid relating to 2030. We’ve since moved profoundly beyond simply having lawn bowling in the city of Burlington to explore with you a variety of different opportunities that relate to sports and recreation, infrastructure and facilities.

Both discussions have already involved partnerships with post secondary institutions around the site. We’ve discussed and are having consultations with leading advanced manufacturing innovators who might be interested in being a part of this catalyst project. Of course, as Paul alluded to, we’re very focused on integrating innovative, thoughtful level affordable housing initiatives into the site and beyond as part of the accommodation programming for the games. But in creating housing inventory, that would be available as of 2030, and very notably creating really an internationally significant and thoughtful blending of the natural heritage in the region, to the development, recreation and sport. assets that we hope to create

Burlington as an International Centre for Gymnastics Excellence?

Among the opportunities open to us are discussions that I’m currently having with respect to a number of sport organizations, track and field in athletics is searching for new Canadian national home. And as Canada is interested in international home, there were a variety of organizations that would be very interested in gymnastics, for example, in creating a centre of excellence for facilities in the city of Burlington, both projects would absolutely require the support of the private sector in the support of senior levels of government, and should any of those projects be of interest to the city of Burlington, being potentially located in the King Road site or otherwise?

We’d be delighted to advance those conversations on your behalf with you with those sport organizations and senior levels of government as an element of the big but at all events. We’re not prescribing that you do anything in the city of Burlington we’re looking to commence a process that we call the framework in that exploring what might make most sense for the citizens in the community.

One of the most exciting opportunities that we have that we’ve been working on now with with Paul and others for the better part of a year and a half, is in partnership with academic institutions creating a new and innovative ecosystem in the digital economy centered on gaming, and all elements of gaming, graphic design, coding and  programming.

eSports is well entrenched amongst students – many parents have yet ti hear about it – including Burlington’s Mayor

And rather than creating a facility around the gaming, creating an ecosystem that collides all of the capacities, experiential learning, technical skills, training and private sector partners, as part of the development project at King road in the coming months.  Having engaged Deloitte and their national gaming practice consultancy practice, to provide us with modeling around this. We really look forward to carrying on that conversation with you and what might you say. Does eSports have anything to do with the Commonwealth Games?  The Commonwealth Games has announced its desire to integrate eSports and gaming into the Commonwealth Games as an element of those games as all of the major gaming properties are doing.

And we’ve decided to embrace this given what it means from a skills training and economic perspective as a key element of our work here around the 2030 bid.  And we see Burlington potentially as incredibly significant place that combine young people skills training experiential learning and economic investment in digital media or digital gaming as a potential element of this development.

So to conclude, we see the games is focused on sustainable development, wellness and well being as providing all of us with an opportunity to collaborate on attacking some of the biggest challenges of our time and doing it on the world stage, giving the city of Burlington  an opportunity to be seen by over 70 countries a billion and a half people and not just in 2030, but in the years leading up to it as the centre of activity around the delivery of something that’s internationally innovative in its approach to combining private sector development, a variety of new and different stakeholders to the return of the games 100 years after their birth.

 

Related news stories:

Burlington learns about plans for bringing Commonwealth Games to Hamilton/Burlington.

Paul Paletta now President of Penta Properties

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City invited to be a participant in the bid to hold the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Burlington

By Pepper Parr

December 10th, 2021

BURLINGTON, ON

 

This is a multi part story.  The first part is about what the Hamilton Commonwealth Games Bid Committee is setting out to do and the part they think Burlington can play .

The second part is about what they are planning on putting together in terms of both a site location and how other stakeholders will be involved.

The third part is the discussion that took place with members of Council and the Bid Committee.

All three parts are very enlightening.  Commonwealth Games are not Olympic Games but they aren’t all that much different.  This is a big deal

 

Get ready to hear a lot about the Commonwealth Games – there are plans in the works to have them take place in Hamilton in 2030 which will mark the 100th anniversary of the games – which first took place in Hamilton in 1930

City Manager Tim Commisso met informally with the group preparing the bid.

At the December 9th Standing Committee  there was a delegation from Hamilton 2030 Commonwealth Games Bid committee which city manager Tim Commisso introduced and set up why they were talking to Council.

Commisso provided a bit of a context and a more in depth look at an opportunity and that is potential participation in the Commonwealth Games bid which would actually be centered in Burlington on the Paletta King Road property that fronts on Highway 401.

Louis Frapporti  is the chair of the committee that Commisso and senior staff have had some informal discussions adding that at this point “we want to bring it forward to council to formalize a direction with respect to looking at this further by the end of March 2022 which is a relatively short turnaround.”

The team that is driving the Hamilton bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games

Frapporti then took Council  through a detailed presentation during which the small lead group was introduced.  It was at this point that the public learned that Paul Paletta had been made President of Penta Properties and that the Penta holdings on King Road would be the local site of the Games.

Palleta, now the President of Penta Properties spoke at length about their role in the initiative.

The King Road site was once the focus of an initiative to build a stadium for the Hamilton Tiger Cats.  That idea didn’t go very far – Burlington City Council did a quick scan of what it would cost and moved away from the idea real quick.  Link to that story set out below.

Antonio Gomez -Palacio CEO of Dialogue design took part in the presentation. He was engaged by the Commonwealth Games bid effort to act as the lead design curator around concept planning for infrastructure for the games. Antonio was also engaged by Penta in relation to the planning around the King Road. site.

The Hamilton Commonwealth Games Bid Committee (HCGBC) has been working on bringing back the games to Ontario for over three years.  The Commonwealth Games authority in Canada and the CGF in the UK, have selected and approved our community bid in relation to 2030 for international submission.

The process began years ago with 16 Canadian communities showing an interest; that was whittled down to the Hamilton bid that is now a regional bid which includes a number of municipalities.

The stakeholder group that is advancing the bid isn’t just a municipal stakeholder group; It is comprised of a variety of different types of stakeholders, including two First Nations, the Mississauga as of the Credit and Six Nations in Brampton as well as a significant array of educational institutions, Not for Profit groups, charities, private sector leaders and others who feel that this these games with their focus on social impact would be a fitting way of marking the centenary of the return of the games to Ontario  and leaving a lasting legacy for the region.

The Hamilton Bid Committee is heading into the final stages of the creation of an international submission and was before Council to explain its relevance to the city of Burlington.  They are working with a number of regional municipalities including the province of Ontario and the federal government to finalize this process.

“The uniqueness of this bid, said Frapporti  “is an attempt at really redesigning multi sport events to make them more relevant to their communities generally and to avoid some of the challenges and concerns regarding costs, and to accelerate their impact in the region so that the citizens of Burlington and all of the adjoining regions that are part of the games bid catchment area can enjoy the benefit of its impacts immediately.

“That’s going to be done in this case by an unusual and very innovative effort to combine private sector partners into the creation and the funding of the games bid upfront, which is an innovation that we have been working to bring to the games. “

“First of all, we’re not proposing, and this is very unique in the history of games in Canada, that any municipality be obligated to provide any funding for any aspect of games infrastructure. One of the innovative elements in our effort is that private sector partners are invited and incented to work with the partner municipalities around delivery of assets that can be used by the games at private sector expense. What we’d like to do, and this is a commitment we’ve made with every municipality, and as a function of our discussions with the province and federal government is to actually use the games to advance your municipal priorities.

The site has a lot going for it – access to the site by GO services. Interestingly the Bid Committee has yet to have a conversation with Metrolinx.

“We’ve had the opportunity to review your strategic planning priorities and over the course of the next few months, if we’re fortunate enough to work with you in Penta properties around the King Road site, we would look to be very deliberate in our approach to using this opportunity to address a variety of your current strategic priorities. And notably, and this again is the real innovation in efforts around bids, is to bring P3 or private sector partners into these opportunities from a development perspective, so that development opportunities can get activated immediately inspired by the games, but not dependent upon the award of the games.

“One of the things that we would have you understand in the uniqueness of the Commonwealth Games beyond their having been born in Canada in 1930, is that their value and mission statement is the beginning of  building or creating  peaceful, sustainable and prosperous communities.

“When I got into this effort, I began to appreciate that this wasn’t primarily about a sporting event. It was about a vision and a set of values that the Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth nations propound that we want to integrate in every aspect of the work that we’re doing. It’s, traditionally, at a very high level, the economic assessments of the games themselves as an event; please understand that this is about the event specifically, rather than the work leading up to the event, which we hope to commence with the private sector in a variety of municipalities almost immediately: Insofar as the event is concerned, the measurable impacts from the games have historically produced about one and a half billion dollars in regional GDP between 15,000 to 23,000 hours in full time equivalent jobs.

“There are and will be much in excess of 10,000 volunteers trained in a variety of disciplines for the purposes of conducting the games. The games themselves for a variety of reasons become critical magnet for attracting incremental funding. And this is important from not only senior levels of government, but the private sector. To what extent can we use the game’s opportunity with private sector partners to incent them to make commitments and investments.

“There is a timeline and critical path for the games. We’ve been at this for a number of years, the beginning of the completion of the International things is a bid and at the moment we’re working with the province and federal government and other municipalities to finalize a concept plan, which the province and federal government will then use to determine whether they wish to commence what is referred to as multi party agreement negotiations for the finalization of the bid.

“This process will take the next eight to 12 months.

Time line at this point.

“We hope to have that done by the fall of this year immediately after the 2022 Birmingham games. The announcement of the 2030 host city is expected to be made in November of 2023.

“Appreciate that the work  we’re doing, which is very novel, is intended to activate private sector development.

“The big concepts for our bid are not what you might expect –  they don’t primarily relate to sports or sporting events. In our case consistent with the CGS priority and focus on building prosperous, sustainable and healthy communities. We are using the UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals as our design rubric.

“As Antonio will explain, are working with Dialogue and the Conference Board of Canada to integrate specific initiatives centered on sustainability and wellness as the focus of our efforts in designing the bid and we hope to activate these sustainability priorities.

“As part of all of the private sector development projects that will be part of the game’s footprint.

“As a result of two years of work looking to redesign the approach to games we came up with a number of core concepts that are important for you to understand. First of all, we acknowledge the concern by many internationally that games are overly reliant on government funding. And so we worked very hard to create a structure that prioritize private sector funding for infrastructure in relation to the games further, we created a structure which anticipates that there is no demand or expectation of prescribed municipal financial support for infrastructure. It’s not that we’re precluding municipalities from making commitments or adding value to specific initiatives that are primarily funded by the private sector.

“But we’re not mandating them as part of the bids.

“This is part of a process that we see unfolding when disability in discussions with a private sector partner work to create something in relation to a development project that would be used as a site for the games that makes sense. But there is no requirement.  Notably, in all of this work, and in the inclusion of private sector partners around specific development projects, we wanted to get away from the idea of the games as an event in time that is something that happens every four years, but to create a movement that in this case, is centered on healthy, sustainable and prosperous communities.

“And in doing that to create a framework by which all of the stakeholders including municipalities, First Nations, private sector partners, educational institutions, and so on, continue to consult and work together, not just in the completion of the bid, but in all the subsequent years from the delivery of the projects and sites and the creation of the programming related to the effort actually important to understand that this is not a single city that not only is it not a municipal baby, it’s not even a local bed.

The catchment area is wide – if the Games take place they will be a huge draw.

“What we have done is to expand very significantly the catchment area for the games, in consultation with the province of Ontario and federal government to make the games regional. This adds value to the games expands the impact area for the games, it differentiates the games internationally, it reduces and mitigates the risks of the game to sitting on or being primarily related to one community because we are really focused on expanding the the experience of these impacts and their measurement over time.

“Expanding the games to all of these municipalities has been the work that we’ve been engaged in over the course of the last three years, which has accelerated meaningfully recently. The question of the City of Burlington involvement will be entirely a function of your interest in the interest of private sector partners like Penta and your willingness in the next few months to come up with an approach as to what opportunities the city would like to engage in and have them included.

“So I’m going to turn it over to Antonio here to explain his role and to speak to you from his perspective.”

Part 2 will be Antionio Gomez -Palacio explaining what he will be doing and why.

City Manager Commisso said the time frame given to prepare a response was tight but he felt it could be done.

The promise.

Related news stories:

Moving the Tiger Cats to the Paletta King Road site

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Ward Councillor sees a North Burlington solution differently than Regional Planners

News 100 green

By Pepper Parr

May 18th, 2021

BURLINGTON, ON

 

In one of the four public meetings, albeit as virtual events, the Regional government has done a superb job of engaging the public as they explained what the issues were and listened to what the public had in the way of responses and solutions.

Regional planning staff were open and transparent and offered to take calls during office hours to answer questions for those who wanted more detail.

rural - urban - NA

North Aldershot is treated as a separate area with different development rules.

The land in the North Aldershot area was described as not the best place for urban development. The topography and the creek systems made urban development problematic and suggested that there were other locations in the Region that were better options for urban development.

Tom Muir is an Aldershot resident who has followed plans to develop in the North Aldershot community.

He wanted to know why the “Minutes of Settlement” that were signed in the 1990’s  were not being discussed.

Minutes of Settlement are an agreement between a government and a developer setting out what is permitted in the way of development for a specific location. The Minutes are very detailed.

Regional Staff seemed to feel that those minutes could be set aside. That will be something that will get worked out going forward.

Ward 1 Councillor Kelvin Galbraith took a different view on development potential saying “I completely understand the Region’s position in that they act as an upper tier government for the four municipalities and when it comes to growth, they look to the most efficient areas in terms of servicing.

North aldershot boundary

Boundary of North Aldershot

“I think the North Aldershot area is beautiful and would make a very nice community development of low density residential housing that is in such high demand at the moment. It would be very similar topography to the Tyandaga community which includes lots of valley lands and water features and mature trees. They mentioned that it is very complicated in that the elevation difference between the 403 highway and Waterdown is 100 meters and we know that water does not run up hill naturally.”

Galbraith at King Paving

Ward 1 Councillor Kelvin Galbraith standing just south of the Waterdown Road bridge over the 403.

Instead of this type of community on beautiful valley lands, the Region has opted to take another easy farm field in the north areas of Milton and Halton Hills and recommend servicing there.

“Where would you rather live as a resident? The choice is easy for me.”

Eagle Heights may very well be that community and that would be it for North Aldershot. Tom Muir asked a good question tonight but the Region did not want to speak to site-specific lands. What complicates their recommendations is that they need to recognize the approvals that Eagle Heights already has.

Eagle Heights is a development that the Paletta interests have an Ontario Municipal Board (now known as LPAT)  approval to proceed, however the Regional government has to service the area – putting in water and sewage infrastructure in place.

“This means that the region is obligated to at least service the OMB approvals. If Paletta decides to proceed with his approvals then the next North Aldershot review will be different as the boundary opening will need to be considered.”

 

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