BURLINGTON HIGH-RISE: City councillors reject revised plan for 26-storey condo at Lakeshore Drive
Hamilton Spectator By Teviah Moro 13 Oct 2016
BURLINGTON — City councillors have rejected a revised plan for a 26-storey condo tower across from the lakefront, setting the stage for an Ontario Municipal Board battle one called "the scary part."
"In my 10 years on council, I do not remember a development application proceeding in this manner," Mayor Rick Goldring said Wednesday.
"This is extremely unusual and it's not the way we have been doing business in the past, but we've been thrust into this particular situation."
Adi Development Group wants to build its 240-unit Nautique on a small lot at the corner of Lakeshore Road and Martha Street.
The city has rejected making the official plan and zoning amendments that would allow the developer to build to the desired height and density.
Burlington's official plan allows for a maximum of eight storeys where Adi wants to build.
In March 2015, the developer appealed its original application — 28 storeys and 226 units — to the OMB because council hadn't made a decision within the 180-day limit set by provincial legislation.
A year later, Adi was granted time to revise his plan to incorporate a recently purchased parcel next to the parking lot eyed for the tower.
The OMB also ordered the city to review Adi's revamped plan — 26 storeys and 240 units — and hold a public meeting on the matter by mid-October.
A staff report calls the new application "overdevelopment" and not "good planning."
CEO Tariq Adi defends his proposal, arguing it will breathe more life into downtown by bringing in younger condo owners who will spend money in the core.
The Nautique's "world-class design" also has ample parking with its 241 spaces on six underground levels, Adi says.
But the developer also points to a 22-storey luxury condo complex, the Bridgewater, and hotel that New Horizon is already building just across the street on the lakeshore as a measure of the city's hypocrisy.
But Adi's plan has been met with considerable backlash with residents worrying about the traffic congestion, parking problems and looming presence it could pose for the area.
"The waterfront is no place for tall buildings," Deedee Davies told councillors at Thursday's development and infrastructure meeting.
Building height should start low at the waterfront and rise as Burlington slopes into the escarpment, she said. "That way everyone gets to share our beautiful waterfront."
The 22-storey Bridgewater is "already a bad precedent," and Adi's Nautique will "open the floodgates," Davies warned.
Coun. Marianne Meed Ward agreed: "Tall buildings tend to lead to more tall buildings."
But the Ward 2 councillor said the Bridgewater comes with public shoreline access.
"So what are we getting with the Adi development? Just a tall building and I think the community loses."
Adi has argued the chance to discuss benefits is "out the window" with his application before the OMB.
A failure to hash out a "reasonable solution" with Adi puts the city in a bad spot, Coun. Blair Lancaster suggested.
"So now we're into the scary part. This is the risky part … We're now handing over our decision to the OMB."
Council must give a final endorsement of the planning staff report that rejects Adi's revised proposal on Oct. 24.
An OMB pre-hearing is scheduled for Oct. 27 with a full hearing set for Feb. 21. 2017.
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