Transcript Document

Burlington Beach Waterfront
Park Master Plan Review
Public Meeting
Waterfront Hotel
Lakeshore Road, Burlington
November 29, 2011
Agenda
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Welcome and introductions
Session overview
Presentation
Public comments
Informal discussions and walk around
Discussion Questions
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What key questions or issues would you like the Master Plan update to answer or
address?
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What do you see as the key Burlington Beach related challenges and/or
opportunities?
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What are your aspirations for Burlington Beach Waterfront Park? What do you
want it to look like in 10-20 years?
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If the updated Master Plan did only a few things to enhance and secure the future
of the Park, what would you like them to be?
Burlington Beach Waterfront Park
Master Plan Review
Ingrid Vanderbrug, City of Burlington
Stirling Todd, Region of Halton
Charles Mulay, City of Burlington
Bob Edmondson, Conservation Halton
History of the Burlington
Beach Area
Burlington Beach
Regional Waterfront
Park
Spencer Smith
Park
Burlington
 One of three Regional
Waterfront Parks in Halton
Beachway
Park
Lake
Ontario
 Includes both Beachway Park
and Spencer Smith Park City
Parks
N
Hamilton
Burlington Beach
 Significant natural pure sand
baymouth bar feature
Burlington
Bay
 Spans Hamilton and Burlington
Burlington
Lake
Ontario
 Uniquely situated in the City
N
Hamilton
Burlington Beach Development
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Canal & bridge, 1823
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Railway line, 1876
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Beach resort area, late 1800’s
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Hydro towers, 1908
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Conversion of cottages to
permanent residences, 1920’s
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Transportation, utility &
institutional uses, 1960-70’s
Burlington Beach Flooding Events
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Flooding events in the area trigger initiation
of the Halton Wentworth Waterfront Plan
(mid 1970’s)
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Recommends long-term acquisition of all
privately held Beach properties to remove
flood risk and create public open space
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Provides basis for Waterfront Parks Program
in the Halton Region Official Plan (1980’s)
Property Ownership
Burlington Beach Planning
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Hamilton/Halton Conservation
Authorities undertake Beach Property
Acquisition Program with Provincial
support (1976)
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Properties are purchased as they become
available on the market
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Conservation Halton takes ownership of
the CN right-of-way and assumes cottage
leases
Burlington Beach Ownership Today
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129 properties purchased
including leased and freehold
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31 remaining in private
ownership
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Today, less than 3.5% of the
Regional Park area is in private
ownership
Lake
Ontario
Burlington Beach Ownership Today
 Public landowners within the
Regional Park include:
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Provincial and Federal Agencies
Region of Halton
Conservation Halton
City of Burlington
CCIW
Master Plans
Prior Master Plans
 Completed in 1987 by Halton Waterfront Working Group
 Long-term vision for the Beach area as public open space
 Updated in 1994 by Halton Region, in partnership with the City of
Burlington and Conservation Halton
 Maintained long-term vision for the Beach area as public open
space
Burlington Beach Waterfront Park Today
Spencer Smith Park
 Promenade, Discovery Landing, Waterjet
Plaza and Playground, Open Space for
Festivals/ Events
Beachway Park
 Trail, Dune Crossing, Pavilion, Dunes,
Playground, Beach
 Activities: walking, biking,
boating, swimming, special
events
Burlington Beach Master Plan Review
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Background
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Technical Information
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Master Plan
 short and long term recommendations
Implementation and Phasing Plan
 budget and timing
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Policies and Regulations
Halton Region Official Plan
Regional Perspective on Waterfront Parks
 How it all started
 Why was the program
initiated?
 Number of Waterfront Parks
Regional Waterfront Parks
Where are the three Regional
Waterfront Parks?
 Burlington Beach
 Burloak
 Bronte Harbour
Region of Halton Official Plan [2006]
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Official Plan Direction
Regional Objectives/ Priorities
Permitted Uses
Coordinating Park Planning and
Implementation
 Environmental Considerations
City of Burlington Official Plan
Official Plan (2008)
West of Lakeshore Road
Business Corridor:
 Recognizes sewage treatment facility
 Provides for prestige office, industrial and employment
uses
Low Density Residential:
 Recognizes existing residential neighbourhood west of
Lakeshore Road
Major Parks and Open Space:
 Recognizes existing open space south of residential
neighbourhood
Official Plan – West and
East of Lakeshore Road (Schedule E)
Waterfront West/Public Lands Precinct:
 Identifies waterfront and open space system
within Downtown
Objectives:
 Public access, recreation and waterfront
linkages
Permitted Uses:
 Existing uses, government, institutional,
parkland, recreation, hotel/conference
centre (MTO lands only)
Zoning By-Law
PC – Community Park
 Permitted uses: parks, recreation facilities, cultural uses
 Does not permit residential uses – existing deemed legal
non-conforming and can only be maintained within existing
footprint, not expanded
R3.4 – Low Density Residential
 Recognizes existing lots and buildings, any changes must
comply with zoning
 Challenging due to small lot sizes and limited and
substandard septic systems
Other Zoning
 Downtown Institutional (DI) Utility Services (S)
Conservation Halton Regulations
Importance of the Dune Environment
 Beach and primary dune are the most
sensitive areas to development
 Special precautions must be taken
to protect dunes
 Rehabilitation opportunities
Flora and Fauna
 Small remnant areas which support native dune and
shoreline plant species
 Total of 236 plants (44% native)
 11 regionally rare, 13 regionally uncommon plant
species, and 3 species provincially imperiled or
vulnerable
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 Sand Dropseed
 Smooth Scouring-Rush
 Cyperus (Cyperus schweinitzii)
 Rush (Juncus balticus)
 Seaside Spurge
Important for migratory birds
Regulatory Conditions Ont. Reg. 162/06
 Conservation Halton regulates shoreline hazardous lands and
dynamic beaches
 Objectives - minimize risk to life, property damage, social
disruption and adverse environmental impacts
Regulatory Conditions Ont. Reg. 162/06
 Regulated Shoreline Area for Burlington Beach consists of flooding
hazard and dynamic beach allowance
Flooding
 Flooding events in April 1993 caused significant damage to the dune
and beach area properties
2011 Regulatory Conditions Update
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Conservation Halton has led a study to assess the flooding hazard and to confirm the limits of the
dynamic beach. This study will determine and map:
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Estimated level of erosion/ accretion on the beach
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Extent of flooding zone in accordance with o. Reg. 162/06 (100 year flood limit, wave up-rush
limit; and other water related hazards)
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Limits of the dynamic beach
This is based on:
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Airphoto analysis
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Digital orthophotography
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Topographic survey of the study area at 1:500 scale with 0.25 meter contours
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Computer modeling of flooding hazard
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Bathymetric survey
Implementation of Regulatory Conditions
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East of Lakeshore Road:
 Lands are susceptible to flooding hazard as well as
dynamic beach
 No development on dynamic beach is permitted
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West of Lakeshore Road:
 Lands subject to the flooding hazard only
 Potential for ponding
 Development can only be considered and evaluated
subject to mitigation of the flooding hazard
Next Steps
Master Plan Timeline
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November 29, 2011 South Halton Public Meeting
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January 2012 North Halton Public Meeting
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Design Charrette, February 2012
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Continued consultation with stakeholders
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Report to Council for direction to proceed
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Draft Master Plan
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Additional Public Meetings to present Draft Master Plan
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Final Master Plan approval
Thank you