TREMAINE DUNDAS SECONDARY PLAN: GETTING IT RIGHT

NRU
July 5, 2017
Dominik Matusik

On one of Burlington’s last remaining pieces of developable greenfield land, planners are striving to ensure the site is built out in a sustainable manner that complements its natural features, while adding residential density and employment lands.

In 2012, ARGO Land Development proposed to build the Evergreen Community on its 67-ha site, which comprises nearly all the developable land in the Tremaine Dundas Secondary Plan. The 150-ha study  area is bordered by Highway 407 on the north, Tremaine Road and the Town of Oakville) on the east, Dundas Street on the south, and Bronte Creek watershed on the west. Council’s decision on ARGO’s proposal is pending completion of the secondary plan.

ARGO proposes to build a minimum of 907 residential units and create 1,326 jobs, through a mix of office and retail uses at a density of 73 people and jobs per hectare. Additionally, ARGO proposes to build 2 ha of parkland and retain 19.6 ha of natural heritage features.

Ward 6 councillor Blair Lancaster told NRU that the site’s greatest asset is its natural beauty and she would like to see development that leverages this feature.

“It’s a very unique site in that it’s self-contained,” Lancaster told NRU. “And while we always talk about our communities now—about making them walkable, and having all your amenities right there—I don’t believe all residents want that. Some residents like to have privacy, to be a little bit removed from the hustle bustle. And this site, for me, ticked off a couple of areas in that it has beautiful natural heritage features, which will allow you to have the feeling of being in the country.”

Lancaster said that there have been challenges stemming from the portion of the site that borders Oakville. These have necessitated detailed discussions with the town. Ultimately, though, she is optimistic about the site’s development.

“I’m glad that this project is moving forward,” she says. “It’s been in the works for quite a few years. It has been extremely challenging for everyone.”

Burlington senior planner Lola Emberson said, in an email to NRU, that the city’s priorities lie in developing a “healthy green community” on the site.

“The preliminary draft policies promote such features as renewable energy sources, green or cool roofs, rainwater harvesting for re-use, bioswales, infiltration galleries, porous pavements, rain gardens and grassed swales... They provide for the protection of significant environmental features located within the secondary plan area, which include Bronte Creek valleylands, wetlands, streams and significant woodlands.

“One of the unique features with the plan provides for the incorporation of a special eco-passage road to provide a linkage for wildlife movements between Bronte Creek valleylands, pond wetlands, and a significant woodland feature located within the secondary plan area.”

However, the secondary plan will also include employment lands, as well as commercial, and medium-density residential uses. Staff’s goal is to provide a medium-density buffer along Tremaine Road----consisting of two-storey commercial buildings– between the residential community and the heavier employment uses permitted by the adjacent North Oakville West Secondary Plan.

The final secondary plan will be considered by council this fall.