Burlington Sustainable Development Advisory Committee Meeting

Minutes

Meeting #:
Date:
Time:
-
Location:
Room 247, Level 2, City Hall

Carolyn Barnes, Jim Feilders, Susan Mattine, Dave Bourns, Mitchell French, Dave Rokosh, Sarah Burjaw, Tim Park, Chris Maynard, Mathew McAuley (7:30 pm) and Councillor Paul Sharman

Lynn Robichaud (staff)

Katie Rauscher, Peter Cookson, Michelina Longo, and Hashem Hosseini-Mousavi

Thomas Douglas, Planner, City Building Dept – Planning Division presented information on the process and issues to re-examine the downtown Official Plan policies. Two concepts are being developed to use for discussion and feedback purposes. This information will form the basis for a recommended concept to council in early 2020. Technical studies are underway including an environmental impact study, strategic transportation, servicing, heritage, archaeological, and market analysis, which will be published when completed.

A civic action lab is planned for next Wednesday where the two concepts will be shared and digital 3D modelling will be used. Details about the project are available on getinvolvedburlington.ca. SDC members can be involved as individual residents and as an advisory committee.  Question for the SDC:  What sustainability objectives should be reflected in the new policies that aren’t already included in the other OP sections mentioned by Thomas. 

Thomas noted that a Council workshop on this project is planned for December.  If the SDC can share comments after their November COW meeting, staff can incorporate them into the information for the workshop. 

All members have advised of their intention to continue on with the committee. Interviews will be scheduled either December or early January – pending a report from Clerks to the November COW meeting about the future of advisory committees.

SDC (Susan, Hashem and Mitchell) participated this well attended event where the weather cooperated

SDC participated (Susan, Dave B and Carolyn) at this event but the attendance was small compared to previous events.  

The Climate Action Plan is under development where key actions will focus on reducing fossil fuels in the community for buildings, transportation, and renewable energy, as well as waste, which is very small part of our carbon footprint. The open house on October 24th will be a drop-in event where people can provide feedback on implementation of key actions. 

Two budget business cases are moving forward from the Sustainability section to the council review process:  one is for the Climate Action Plan part 2 on adaptation and the second is for funding to support the Bay Area Climate Change Council for two years (2020 and 2021) after which the city’s participation in the partnership will be reviewed.

Tim advised that the review template has been shared with Suzanne to upload and use One Drive to share files.

Susan provided an update on the Climate Action library event on Nov 12th. The staff presenters are confirmed – Fleur (impacts of climate change), Tom (energy), Cary (stormwater management), Steve (forestry), and Lynn (Climate Action Plan).  Each presenter has an allotted time and a short question period following with more time for questions at the end. There will be door prizes with one related to mitigation and one on adaptation, such as a home owner flood assessment. Energy utilities have been asked to contribute items for the mitigation door prize.  A request for volunteers to attend to act as greeters and a time keeper – Jim and Dave B will attend; Tim will try to attend. Link for registration: https://attend.bpl.on.ca/event/3288329

The Jo Brant museum tour has been postponed to early 2019. Carolyn followed up with the West 5 net zero development in London about a tour. A discovery centre is open on weekends and a majority of SDC members at the meeting expressed interest in visiting it.  Action:  Carolyn to follow-up to confirm time and date.    

The Awareness committee is also planning for the Spring event which may be May 5 or 7 to invite Plug’n Drive (pending their availability) to host an electric car event.

A $3,300 budget request was approved (moved by Chris and seconded by Tim) for: 

  • ‘give away’ materials to use at special events such as reusable bags,
  • a home flood assessment door prize ($250) for the Nov. event and,
  • a $600 down-payment for Plug’n Drive if needed for the spring event.

Susan noted that Fleur still has some green Take Action T-shirts available if anyone is interested to wear at special events. Action:  Committee members to tell Susan if they would like one and Susan will follow up about sizes.

Information on the SDC’s web page needs to be updated, such as the objectives.  Awareness members will review and set a timeline to update. 

Guy is leading the Eagle Heights review and Mitchell is leading the one for 2085 Pine Street.

The Tyandaga Environment Coalition (TEC) asked through the Mayor’s office whether the SDC would review the proposed changes to the Aggregate Resources Act.  It was decided to wait until a report is made by the Region and discuss at a subsequent meeting. 

Carolyn is contacting the Georgian Court developer to ask for a response to the comments made in 2018 by the SDC.

A November staff report will outline new development review timelines which may impact how the SDC can review planning applications.

Mark Bales from Carriage Gate will be attending the next P&D meeting to talk about 421 Brant street.

P&D members have been discussing the issue of affordable housing.  Michelina has requested a staff rep from Halton region to attend a future meeting to participate in discussions. 

Updated provided above 8.3b)

Carolyn noted that the council is looking for funding to support staff including a program director and coordinator.  A public climate change forum is being planned in January.  Roundtables with experts on transportation and buildings are also being discussed and will be held in 2020. 

No additional updates other than the eco film event noted above.

No additional updates further to the youth conference that was mentioned at the September meeting. 

The committee had a discussion on the tree by-law report that was tabled by Forestry staff at the October COW meeting and will be considered by the COW (of council) on December 2nd. The staff report was prepared in response to a direction from Cllr Stolte looking for options to expand the existing pilot by-law beyond Roseland. There were questions on the timing of the staff report since the updated information on the existing canopy has not yet been completed.  There has been insufficient time for an effective assessment of the Roseland pilot tree by-law. Most of the applications to remove trees from Roseland were dying Ash trees that needed to be removed.  Lynn noted that there is additional funding proposed in the 2020 budget to support the Urban Forest Management Plan and a tree canopy assessment.

If the objective is to increase the canopy, would the funding be better applied to tree planting?  Is the Roseland community representative of other areas of Burlington? What is needed to prevent clear cutting prior to a development application (before the planning requirements for tree protection can be applied)?    

Action:  Councillor Sharman will provide a copy of the 2013 tree by-law report where staff concluded that it didn’t make sense to implement a private tree by-law.

Action:  P&D members will use the Awareness meeting date of November 13th to review the information for the Downtown OP project (if required) and the tree by-law report.    

Two options were suggested for the annual December holiday social - Beertown and QB’s (both located on Appleby Line).  It was agreed to keep the December 18th date for the social.  Action:  Lynn to follow up with the restaurants to see if they can accommodate the group and the options they can provide. 

(note that the Awareness Sub-committee meeting has been cancelled due to the November 12th event; however, the P&D sub-committee will use the time if necessary to review the downtown OP information and the tree by-law report).

Chair adjourned the meeting at 8:50 p.m.

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