Controversial downtown Burlington tower project rejected by city planners

A downtown high-rise project that has already met with community resistance is now getting a negative reaction at Burlington City Hall.

The project at 2030 Caroline calls for a 28-storey residential tower on the site where an eight-storey medical building was originally intended.

The project has come under heavy scrutiny lately following a public meeting where those who live in the surrounding area objected to the new plan.

Going back 14 years, the site originally called for a 17-storey residential building, a six-storey parking garage and an eight-storey medical building.

However, only the 17-storey structure appeared with much of the site remaining vacant and used as a parking lot as plans were revised.

At the public meeting held this past summer, the new plans showed that instead of the medical building, the builders now called for a 28-storey building with 302 residential units along with the parking garage.

Several residents at the meeting lamented the loss of the medical building that was supposed to be home to doctor offices and clinics to serve the downtown population as well as create jobs for the community. Some also said the additional traffic caused by all the new residents would clog local streets while others complained the new height would cast large shadows on neighbouring homes.

The builders, Inaria Burlington Inc., have said the market has changed since the original concept for the site was designed and that the addition of more living units is needed to help Burlington meet its future growth expectations.

Now, the City of Burlington planning department has weighed in recommending that the project not be approved for construction.

A planning department report that has just been released urges city councillors to reject the project on the grounds that the building could cause future flooding in the area, that it has too much residential intensification on the site, and that there is not enough parking, among other concerns.

The full report, which will be presented to councillors next week, can be found here.

Mayor Marianne Meed Ward said she supports the planning department position and agrees that the building application should be denied.

“The application sits within a floodway and lacks safe access; it fails to achieve our downtown vision of meaningful mixed-use residential and commercial spaces, with only 382 square meters of non-residential space; it doesn’t adequately address impacts on parking and traffic in an already busy part of the city; and it fails to meet the obligations related to public parking or the green roof set out in existing agreements and the restrictive covenants registered on title, the mayor said.