Investigative Work
Inside Halton August 26, 2024
Drilling on part of the planned Millcroft Greens housing development last week was for a natural gas pipeline site investigation, and was not limited by the stop work order issued for the property in June.
Drilling near the 16th hole of Millcroft Golf Club, in the area of 2155 Country Club Dr., was reported by neighbours on Monday, Aug. 18 and Tuesday, Aug. 19.
City of Burlington staff confirmed, in a notice sent to area residents, the nearly four-month old stop work order remains in place for “development related activities” including tree removals and construction, but does not apply to the “investigative work” underway last week.
The notice stated city staff were on site to ensure any work prohibited by the stop work order was not taking place.
“The city is aware of pipeline site investigation work in one of the development areas. These investigations are not development-specific work and do not require city approvals or development agreements,” a city spokesperson stated in an email. “Site investigations can be carried out by any property owner on their private land. They are used to determine site conditions ahead of any future construction.”
Further details about the work done last week were not available by publication deadline for this article.
“The city has also requested that Millcroft Greens provide the community with advance notice of future site activities, including schedules and potential impacts such as noise,” the notice stated.
Representatives of Millcroft Greens did not respond to requests for comment by publication deadline for this article.
In June, Ontario’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Rob Flack asked the Provincial Land and Development Facilitator, City of Burlington and developer to “explore how housing and an integrated parks and open space system can be delivered on the Millcroft Golf Course lands for the benefit of current and future residents.”
The Office of the Provincial Land and Development Facilitator is an agency that helps municipalities, developers and community groups resolve land use and growth management issues with facilitation and mediation.
City staff did not respond by deadline to a request for any scheduled meetings with the provincial facilitator and Millcroft Greens.
Some tree cutting took place on parts of Millcroft Golf Club on May 1, in preparation for future construction of 90 homes approved by the Ontario Land Tribunal.
The city issued a stop work order shortly after the cutting began and opened an investigation under its private tree bylaw. An update on that investigation was not available by deadline.
Environment and Climate Change Canada opened a separate investigation to review whether tree cutting violated any provisions of the Migratory Birds Act, which limits removal or destruction of nests.
A spokesperson for the federal department said on Monday, Aug. 25, based on information collected by ECCC, there is no reason to suspect noncompliance with the act and no enforcement action has been taken.
