Transcript Document
Burlington Beach Waterfront
Park Master Plan Review
Public Meeting
Waterfront Hotel
Lakeshore Road, Burlington
November 29, 2011
Agenda
Welcome and introductions
Session overview
Presentation
Public comments
Informal discussions and walk around
Discussion Questions
What key questions or issues would you like the Master Plan update to answer or
address?
What do you see as the key Burlington Beach related challenges and/or
opportunities?
What are your aspirations for Burlington Beach Waterfront Park? What do you
want it to look like in 10-20 years?
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
Canal & bridge, 1823
Railway line, 1876
Beach resort area, late 1800’s
Hydro towers, 1908
Conversion of cottages to
permanent residences, 1920’s
Transportation, utility &
institutional uses, 1960-70’s
Burlington Beach Flooding Events
Flooding events in the area trigger initiation
of the Halton Wentworth Waterfront Plan
(mid 1970’s)
Recommends long-term acquisition of all
privately held Beach properties to remove
flood risk and create public open space
Provides basis for Waterfront Parks Program
in the Halton Region Official Plan (1980’s)
Property Ownership
Burlington Beach Planning
Hamilton/Halton Conservation
Authorities undertake Beach Property
Acquisition Program with Provincial
support (1976)
Properties are purchased as they become
available on the market
Conservation Halton takes ownership of
the CN right-of-way and assumes cottage
leases
Burlington Beach Ownership Today
129 properties purchased
including leased and freehold
31 remaining in private
ownership
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:
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
Background
Technical Information
Master Plan
short and long term recommendations
Implementation and Phasing Plan
budget and timing
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]
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
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
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:
Estimated level of erosion/ accretion on the beach
Extent of flooding zone in accordance with o. Reg. 162/06 (100 year flood limit, wave up-rush
limit; and other water related hazards)
Limits of the dynamic beach
This is based on:
Airphoto analysis
Digital orthophotography
Topographic survey of the study area at 1:500 scale with 0.25 meter contours
Computer modeling of flooding hazard
Bathymetric survey
Implementation of Regulatory Conditions
East of Lakeshore Road:
Lands are susceptible to flooding hazard as well as
dynamic beach
No development on dynamic beach is permitted
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
November 29, 2011 South Halton Public Meeting
January 2012 North Halton Public Meeting
Design Charrette, February 2012
Continued consultation with stakeholders
Report to Council for direction to proceed
Draft Master Plan
Additional Public Meetings to present Draft Master Plan
Final Master Plan approval
Thank you