Nice precedent for Glen Abbey.This is an urban course, facing drainage issues, a really vocal community group and a City opposed.
Nimby's lose.
Time to fire up Glen Abbey again.
OLT DECISION IN FAVOUR OF MILLCROFT GREENS
It is with great disappointment that the OLT has decided in favour of the Millcroft Greens development. In all areas, the OLT sided with the Millcroft Greens experts over any of the experts from the City of Burlington, MAD or MGA. The final order will be done by the OLT once Millcroft Greens has addressed with the City of Burlington, Conservation Halton and Region of Halton the open points on the application that were provided to Millcroft Greens before the start of the Hearing. The OLT provided a deadline of January 31, 2025.
Over the next couple of weeks, the MAD team will meet with their advisors as well the City to determine next steps. We will communicate to everyone shortly after this.
Approval has been given to build homes on a Burlington golf course.
The Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) has ruled that developers are within their rights to proceed with the project that would create about 90 homes and a small apartment building on the grounds of Millcroft Golf Club. The OLT is the body that rules on land disputes in Ontario and has the authority to grant the zoning changes necessary to allow homebuilding at Millcroft to take place.
Residents who live in the Millcroft community have long been opposed to the development, citing environmental concerns.
“We are greatly disappointed by this but the fight is not over,” said Kirk Robinson, one of the leaders of the citizens’ group Millcroft Against Bad Development (MAD). “We are weighing our options on how to proceed but we will continue with our advocacy to halt this project.”
He said MAD intends to press the provincial government to step in and overrule the OLT.
Argo Development Corporation, the Burlington-based builder behind the housing project, has yet to respond to the decision.
MAD and other community groups have argued that a positive ruling for the developer will take away local public control over land that may be considered environmentally sensitive. They say that replacing greenspace with more homes will affect flood management, kill off wildlife and create traffic problems in their neighbourhoods.
The City of Burlington and Halton Region have also been opposed to most of the development at the site.
Residents are also concerned that the ruling will set a precedent to allow builders to develop on protected greenspace.
Argo has said the housing plan meets the needs of the community as required by Queen’s Park and is suitable for the site. They say the golf course will remain but on a smaller scale.
Robinson said MAD still has the option to appeal the OLT decision but hopes the advocacy efforts with politicians will work.
“We are meeting with our legal team and our experts to decide what to do next,” Robinson said. “We may have not received a favourable decision now but we are not giving up the fight.”
“We are deeply disappointed with the Ontario Land Tribunal’s decision to approve the Millcroft Greens development.
The project is not needed to meet our housing targets, will not provide affordable housing, and develops essential greenspace. We need more parks and open space for our growing community, not less. This project does not align with our community’s needs or our vision for sustainable growth.
The City of #BurlON is committed to a housing strategy that focuses on environmentally sustainable, inclusive and community-focused developments.”