Stop Work Order Could Be Lifted
Hamilton Spectator September 19, 2025:
A City of Burlington investigation of tree cutting at Millcroft Golf Club, in preparation for future housing development, is still in progress.
But the cease work order, issued by the city to the Millcroft Greens development on May 1, is expected to be lifted soon, according to a staff report to city councillors. No specific date was provided.
The stop work order was issued and an investigation begun by the city back in May after some tree cutting took place on parts of the golf course in preparation for future housing construction approved by the Ontario Land Tribunal.
Meanwhile, city staff have had at least four provincially-facilitated meetings with the owner of Millcroft Greens, and members of a community organization to build awareness about the golf course’s value for flood control.
In two information reports to Burlington’s committee of the whole and city council, city staff provided detailed summaries of the Millcroft Greens development background and current status.
As of Sept. 8, there had been four meetings, plus phone calls, between city staff, Millcroft Greens owner Argo Development Corporation, and the Office of Provincial Land and Development Facilitator.
Staff said the process has not included neighbourhood associations, and details of discussions are privileged — but said there has been some discussion about getting advance information of upcoming site work to the public.
According to the staff report, discussions have explored land-use options for the balance of the golf course not subject to the Ontario Land Tribunal’s June 2024 planning approvals for 90 family homes and 130 apartment units on five areas of the course.
Staff provided the expected order, but no dates, of upcoming preparation and construction activity on the golf course including:
Tree removals within areas approved for future construction
Preparing for construction by installing erosion control
Altering grading of the sites by adding and removing fill, grading and restoration of Appleby Creek (including draining the existing pond), construction of an off-line irrigation reservoir, alignment of Appleby Creek, removal of the existing weir
Construction of model homes
Installation of sewers, water mains, and utilities
Construction of a noise wall along Upper Middle Road
Street construction including curbs and sidewalks
Construction of remaining dwellings
Landscaping
Final asphalt paving
Daintry Klein, of Millcroft Greenspace Alliance, said the group has created a flyer to raise awareness of the Millcroft Golf Club site’s value for stormwater management and flood control for property owners downstream of the development sites.
“We have been distributing the flyers south of Fairview Street in the Appleby Creek watershed so far,” Klein stated in an email. “We will be creating awareness throughout the watershed as the creek flows south of Upper Middle Road, including through the commercial/industrial areas.”
The flyer calls Millcroft Golf Course “a stormwater management system” which impacts properties downstream.
Burlington city council previously passed a resolution stating the golf course weaving through a residential area provides vital storm water control.
