I respectfully oppose the…

I respectfully oppose the requested Minister's Zoning Order (MZO) for Phase 2 of the Millcroft Greens development in Burlington.

I recognize the Province's commitment to increasing Ontario's housing supply, and I support responsible growth where it is appropriate. However, I do not believe this proposal represents the right location or the right planning process.

Phase 1 of the Millcroft redevelopment has already been approved through the Ontario Land Tribunal process, and development is proceeding. My comments relate only to the remaining Phase 2 lands, which are the subject of this MZO request.

These lands are currently designated as Major Parks and Open Space in the City of Burlington's Official Plan, with portions designated as Natural Heritage System and Key Natural Features, and are zoned Open Space under the City's Zoning By-law. While they currently operate as part of the Millcroft Golf Course, these planning designations recognize the broader public value of the lands. They contribute to Burlington's green infrastructure, support wildlife habitat and mature tree canopy, assist with stormwater management, and provide valuable open space within an established urban neighbourhood.

The developer has already submitted Official Plan Amendment and subdivision applications, which are proceeding through Burlington's established planning process. That process allows for comprehensive technical review, environmental assessment, public consultation, and informed decision-making. In my view, there is no compelling reason to bypass that process through a Minister's Zoning Order, particularly while the City's review is ongoing.

Burlington City Council has publicly and unanimously opposed the requested MZO for Phase 2 and has asked the Province to preserve the remaining Millcroft lands as open space. While I appreciate that the Province must make its own decision, I believe the unanimous position of the municipality and its elected representatives should carry significant weight.

Approving this MZO would set a concerning precedent by allowing lands that are currently designated and zoned as open space to be rezoned through an extraordinary provincial planning tool while the municipal planning process is still underway. It would weaken confidence in the integrity of municipal planning and diminish the certainty that Official Plans and municipal zoning are intended to provide.

I am also concerned about the potential impacts on stormwater management, environmental resilience, urban tree canopy, and the ecological functions these lands currently provide. These matters deserve thorough consideration through the established planning process.

For these reasons, I respectfully ask the Province to deny the requested Minister's Zoning Order for Phase 2 and allow Burlington's planning process to continue. Doing so would respect local planning, maintain public confidence in Ontario's planning system, and ensure that any decision about these lands is made through a transparent, evidence-based review.

Thank you for considering my comments.

Resident of the Millcroft community.