The Parkway Belt West Plan…

The Parkway Belt West Plan includes lands within the City of Burlington. The City commends the Province for considering an opportunity to examine the revocation of the Parkway Belt West Plan. The posting background provides good context (historical and geographical) for the creation and evolution of a less understood long-standing Provincial Plan.

Echoing feedback provided by the Region of Halton, the removal of this additional layer of Provincial planning policy that applies in Burlington is supported in principle. It is recommended that the Province set up a clear process in partnership with municipalities, the Niagara Escarpment Commission and other stakeholders to determine the approach to revocation, to ensure that:
- the revocation does not undermine the people, goods, energy and information objectives of the
plan; and,
- that no gaps in local planning documents are created.

This exercise should likely be undertaken alongside other transportation and infrastructure agencies or stakeholders to ensure a holistic analysis. This is particularly important as it relates to the four key goals of the Provincial Plan as set out in 1978. Staff agree that the revocation exercise can be accomplished in tandem with any changes required at a local level. Working collaboratively will ensure that the revocation does not introduce any gaps or undermine long term, inter-regional planning from a transportation and infrastructure perspective.

Staff support the posting detail that notes the importance of considering the existing remaining MZOs in Burlington. The posting acknowledges that those MZOs would need to be revoked or deemed as local zoning by-laws through a separate process. Staff recommend that these MZOs be considered in tandem with the broader revocation discussion.