Re-cap: Presentation at Millcroft Greens’ Pre-Application Meeting on September 21st, 2020

We are happy to share our presentation in text form for those who may have missed the virtual meeting. We will also share the video when it becomes available.

Good evening!

We would like to thank the City planning staff and officials for enabling this meeting and their interest.  Also, we appreciate the insights gained through the presentation by Millcroft Greens.  

We Love Millcroft is a group of concerned Burlington residents of the Millcroft neighbourhood, some of whom are the original homeowners.  We care deeply about our community and are actively engaged in understanding the proposed developments and the short and long term impact.

Millcroft is a planned community, developed in 1987.  It is an established neighbourhood designed with 18 golf holes interwoven throughout the existing 3500 homes and townhomes. Around 700 of the residences border on the existing course. The current Millcroft community is unique and adds positively to the diversification of housing choices available in Burlington.

As residents, we are wondering how one can justify these proposed developments on land zoned as Major Parks Open space. This zoning is consistent as a part of a larger area including Uptown which is established in the City’s Official Plan to become a higher density area. In our view, none of the four specific areas of City’s Strategic Plan fit with this proposal.  This is not really a discussion about proposed homes on golf holes, but rather preservation of an existing major park which contributes to the overall liveability of the area and the City of Burlington.

 We are not aware of any other development where individual golf course holes are infilled with paving and homes. Other golf courses that have been developed such as Richview and Saw Whet, previously owned by the Liptay family, consisted of an entire block of land with relatively few homes on the perimeter. Even Glen Abbey is the same where there are about 40 homes surrounding the proposed golf course development.

Going forward, as residents of Burlington, we look to find a resolution that will ensure the long term viability of the existing golf course and perhaps enhanced utilization throughout the year. This could include a neighbourhood ice rink near the club house that would allow the neighbours to gather in the winter, skate, and enjoy a snack or dinner at the clubhouse. The golf paths could become walking trails in the winter that encourage healthy lifestyles. We have looked into the model of Tyandaga golf course with interest and it is our passion that the existing Millcroft Golf Course be maintained as a recreational hub for the City.  We note that it is a part of the official plan that the City will work with other orders of government to coordinate strategies and funding opportunities to acquire and preserve parks and open space. We would hope the City would consider doing this with respect to the existing Millcroft Golf Course.  

Burlington’s approved strategic and the official plans commit to four strategic directions. 

A City that Grows.  The first objective of the plan comments on long-term protection of the City’s established neighbourhoods.  We note that Millcroft Greens even referred to the long term protection of the proposed 20 foot buffer, since it would be classified in the Official plan as Natural Heritage system, major Parks and Open space. If you followed the premise that Millcroft Greens put forward, in respect of why no development would occur on the buffer zone, there would be no infill of the golf course at all since it is currently classified as Major Parks and Open space in the Burlington Official Plan.

Second, a City that Moves.   The proposed development will add traffic to existing local streets that have already been studied and equipped with traffic calming measures.  Four of the proposed parcels are not located on roads that provide routine Burlington transit service and two parcels in particular will add 75 homes adjacent to one of the busiest intersections within our Millcroft neighbourhood.  Serious traffic accidents with ambulance attending have occurred here. 

Third, A Healthy and Greener City. Removal of over 400 mature, 35 + year old trees, realignment of a creek and reconfiguration of a pond not to mention paving and building homes on open green space doesn’t seem to us to fit.  It is of note that the Appleby Creek tributary which is up for discussion is part of a regulated flood plain. 

Finally, an Engaging City. It is defined to be one that encourages the building of active and creative communities.  Millcroft as an established neighbourhood fits this description.  The presentation by Millcroft Greens provided an interesting angle on the golf course design.  We couldn’t help noticing the suggestions of wider fairways, additional trees and reconfigured bunkers.  We don’t see any additional land being added to the course for wider fairways, under the current ownership, we have seen many trees cut but many fewer replanted and we don’t understand why bunkers couldn’t have been reconfigured.  Let’s be honest. People who buy homes on the golf course understand the risk and most are golfers. As for errant balls, broken windows and complaints, perhaps it is that the homeowners are now required to follow-up with the individual golfers to cover damages if they so choose.  When Monarch owned the golf course, $1 from each green fee was accumulated to cover property damage.  This made it easy for the homeowners to resolve any issues we had. While Millcroft Greens would like us to believe that homeowners are unhappy, the turnover of property ownership, including the “areas of spray” tell a very different story.   

 We want to share the following comments received from Tom McBroom who is the original golf course designer and is a renowned Canadian golf course architect. Twelve -  of Tom’s courses are rated in the top 100 of Canada’s golf courses, by Score Magazine.

And I quote:

“Looking back over time it occurs to me that Millcroft has been an extraordinarily successful development both from the golf and residential perspectives.‎ The community was well planned and executed by Monarch, the original developer.

 The golf course was envisioned as the primary recreational amenity within the community, and thus would form the recreational hub of the overall development. It was the heart of the community recreationally, socially and environmentally.

Interesting to note as well that the golf course was also cleverly designed to aid in the overall storm water detention from the entire community. There were a number of high-quality engineering and design professionals involved at the time. It was state of the art.

Millcroft is not a long championship, destination type of golf course but rather a short regulation length layout of some 5700 yards and a par of 71. It was well designed for the needs of the community, kids, family, seniors’ et al.  From what I understand of the development application, the design intent is to shorten the course and reduce its overall par value. In my mind this devalues the golf course and reduces its stature as a full-length course. Its appeal could lessen and thus its viability as a Club could be threatened.

It would be an utter shame to begin to dismember a fine and cherished community asset in an era where green and recreational space is quickly disappearing.”    

End of Quote

In conclusion, discussions with members and more casual golfers of the Millcroft golf course, confirm the view that the proposed changes will only ensure the demise of golf in our neighbourhood.  We do not believe the Burlington official plan should allow a change in zoning of this parkland as it does not meet any of the four strategic directions underpinning the plan.  In our opinion, it is not in the best interests of the present or future residents of Burlington nor the residents of Millcroft.