Towers on the lake? A train station in the park? We can do better
A small turnout greeted the downtown councillor and city staff for a public meeting this week to discuss waterfront development and traffic issues. We know residents care about these issues, so what gives? Two thoughts come to mind. First, the meeting was poorly publicized at the last minute – a recurring theme at City Hall. Most of us only learned days before about the meeting, held Wed. Nov. 25, and a number of people heard about it from an email we circulated. Turnout would have been even lower without our efforts to spread the word. The city needs to do a better job. City Talks, But Doesn't Listen Second, and this is more likely, residents have heard thi

Towers on lake one step closer, but city prefers to shoot the messenger
Click to see new video about our shoreline We're one step closer to getting towers on our shoreline, thanks to recent decisions city council has made. A pivotal event is approaching.Tim Hortons, which owns the owns the vacant waterfront property beside Emma's Back Porch, is appealing a city bylaw limiting zoning in that area to 10-storeys or 31.5 metres. The hearing, before the Ontario Municipal Board, is Oct. 26, 10 am at City Hall. It is a public meeting and anyone can attend. Save Our Waterfront has participant status to speak against this proposed development. Click below to see the new

City Council removes shoreline protection
Most of us have assumed that the heritage buildings along Burlington's waterfront on the south side of Old Lakeshore Road are protected from destruction and development, because of shoreline setbacks, inside of which no development can take place. But we’re wrong. There’s no protection against development on our shoreline. Even worse, the owner of the empty lot beside Emma’s Back Porch is appealing just about all the limits on development in this area. Read More