Despite restrictions, Burlington mayor says Milton still trying to eliminate green space

Even though Halton regional council voted to stop urban sprawl into green space and farmland, Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward says the Town of Milton is still pushing to build on the protected land.

In an exclusive interview with Khaled Iwamura of insauga.com, Meed Ward confirmed Milton still wants to build on lands that have been identified as 8350 Esquesing Line and have asked for a site-specific amendment to the Regional Official Plan.

These lands, which are referred to in the amendment application as the ‘northern sliver’ lands, are located between the existing urban area designation and the greenbelt plan-protected countryside.

According to the plan, the purpose of adding these lands to the urban area is to permit development for employment uses.

Recently Halton regional councillors voted to protect green space by halting the spread of urban areas in the region until 2041. The move went against the wishes of both Milton and Halton Hills which has been looking to broaden its urban boundary due to growth.

“I didn’t realize how soon we would have to deal with this issue again,” said Meed Ward, adding that she will be alerting the community to confirm that the parcel of land in the expanded area was one they already said no to.

Following the Halton meeting on Feb. 16 where the decision was made, several Milton council members expressed their disappointment, including Councillor Mike Cluett.

“Disappointed that councillors from Oakville and some from Burlington ignored over 10 years of consultations with Milton residents on our vision,” he wrote on Twitter, adding that delaying an urban boundary expansion to 2041, will put Milton at risk financially.

Prior to the meeting, Milton Mayor Gordon Krantz sent a letter to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Steve Clark, to address the reason for seeking out an urban boundary expansion in order for the Town to prepare for future growth.

“It is critical for Milton – and indeed for the financial health of Halton Region – that an urban boundary expansion is contemplated,” Krantz wrote in the letter, noting that Milton is at a different stage of development from Burlington and Oakville, both of which were granted urban boundary expansions over a decade ago.

“Milton is seeking the same opportunity and consideration to grow in the right places, with the right uses. We have a strategic growth plan capable of responding to a variety of residential and employment market demands including and especially transit-oriented development,” added Krantz.

Originally, the growth plan by regional staff proposed to open up 2,120 hectares of mostly agricultural land for commercial and residential development.