Rachel Murphy is appalled that a housing development is being considered at Millcroft Golf Club.
“It's quite saddening to even have to be here at all. As a young person in the community, I'm appalled that this development is even being considered. It's so important now more than ever to preserve any green space that we can. And to think that the health of my community and the preservation of ecosystems and plant life at Millcroft will be put at risk so that someone can make profit off of that land is truly disgusting.”
Following numerous presentations by community members, Burlington council unanimously agreed Tuesday to ask the province to declare a provincial interest in Millcroft Greens.
Last December, council unanimously declared its opposition to the proposed residential development of the Millcroft Golf Club.
At that meeting, Mayor Marianne Meed Ward was directed to work with Ward 6 councillor Angelo Bentivegna and the Deputy Mayor for housing Shawna Stolte to bring a resolution to Burlington City Council and Regional Council seeking provincial interest be declared.
Millcroft Greens Corporation has appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) council’s decision to oppoe the development that seeks to build 90 detached homes and a six-storey apartment building on five parcels of land around the existing Millcroft Golf Club, which would be redeveloped. The appeal is scheduled to be heard March 5-29, 2024.
Council approved one parcel of land, on Dundas Street, for the apartment building development on lands currently used for a parking lot and storage shed.
During Tuesday’s meeting, Burlington’s Sonia Robinson provided a video presentation showing some of the wildlife spotted in the proposed development area. She said they’ve identified 53 different species: painted turtles, frogs, beavers, trumpeter swans, heron, Cooper hawks… ”we have everything. We stand to lose all this, if this development goes through.”
Paul Petit, another presenter, said the challenge in Burlington is trying to build affordable housing, and the Millcroft proposal does not do that. In fact, he said, the only reason for building homes there is greed.
“You can challenge my numbers, but it’s still one hell of a lot of windfall profit. Ed Liberty and Paul Buck – they’re the names behind this. Why are they doing this? It’s for money; it’s for greed. It's called the 98 per cent solution: The OLT (Ontario Land Tribunal). That's how they vote, 98 per cent in favour of developers. They don't care because they’ve got a 98 per cent chance of winning. That's not a bad poker table.”
Daintry Klein, president of Millcroft Greenspace Alliance, said Burlington needs the green space for trees.
“This is why I supported the preservation of the green space in Millcroft because it benefits our whole city,” she said.
Murphy, in her earlier presentation said, “I'm so sick of the future of our planet and the health and well-being of its inhabitants being put on the chopping block so that people can make money. Growing up and realizing the true reality of the world that we live in has been shocking and terrifying. So please, I ask you to be part of the reason that we can have faith in our government and hope for our future. Please don't let this development get approved.”
She added, “I don't think I'll ever be able to afford those houses.”
On Wednesday, Meed Ward, Bentivegna and Stolte released a statement indicating that the city and council are committed to accommodating its share of growth and has unanimously signed on to the Municipal Housing Pledge for 29,000 homes by 2031.
"The proposed development on the golf course is not needed to meet or exceed this housing pledge, ample land is available to accommodate new growth within our urban area around GO stations, aging retail plazas and major transportation corridors that don’t compromise existing greens pace; and The Millcroft Golf Club golf course is part of a stable residential neighbourhood known as the Millcroft Community, and Millcroft Golf Club can continue to operate the golf course on the subject lands and benefit from existing uses," they noted.
The joint statement also thanked residents for their efforts.
Specifically, council’s resolution requests the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, MPP Paul Calandra, to, among other things:
- advise the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) that a matter of provincial interest is, or is likely to be, adversely affected by the amendments in respect of which the appeals are made regarding Millcroft Greens Corporation’s proposed Official Plan and Zoning By-law amendments and related plan of subdivision
- attend the OLT hearing in support of the City of Burlington’s position;
- use all resources and tools at its disposal to confirm the Province’s interest in the Millcroft Golf Club golf course, including introducing legislation and preparing a development plan
- issue a Minister’s Zoning Order (MZO) to facilitate appropriate residential development in Area E and ensure the protection of the greenspace and natural areas
In February, Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward said, “Council supports growth in the right place, at the right scale. Development on green space, in a floodplain is not the right place for development — and it’s not needed, given we have adequate urban land identified in our Official Plan to accommodate Burlington’s share of growth identified by the Province. Council opposed the proposed Millcroft Greens development application for its golf course. It is green space and designed around a floodplain."
