Milton Council Meeting Summary

Milton council dealt with procedural items, development applications, development charges and community benefits charges, infrastructure and tax-related reports, and a motion on delayed street light installation on Fourth Line. Council also held statutory public meetings for applications at 1572 Cretchen Street and 7265 Number Five Side Road.

Topics Discussed

1. FOURTH LINE STREET LIGHTS

Council waived the rules to introduce and consider a notice of motion on Fourth Line street lights during the same meeting. The later motion responded to delays in installing street lights on Fourth Line between Britannia Road and Leslie Laurent Street. Councillor Best said, "The problem here is the delay it's incurred in getting that infrastructure up and running," adding that the town had spent "months and months on end" trying to get the developer to install the lights. In support of the motion, Best said, "This isn't about over complicating things. It's about making sure basic infrastructure is delivered when communities are built." Council approved a 10-day notice period and authority for the town to install the lights and recover the cost if the developer does not comply.

2. SHERLING HEIGHTS / 1572 CRETCHEN STREET

Council held a statutory public meeting on an official plan amendment application for 1572 Cretchen Street. The applicant said the revised proposal was intended "to achieve a mixed density node with a variety of housing options and a context appropriate intensification." The application would reduce the project from 412 units to 223 units and from 12 storeys to 7 storeys, while increasing the proportion of ground-related housing from 20% to 34%.

Councillors asked about affordability, open space, and environmental impacts. One speaker told council, "There has been a reduction in open space area... At this time, we are proposing 1300 square meters of outdoor area." Councillor Marshall asked whether there was "an opportunity to have mature trees from the start in this development" and what other environmental measures had been considered to reduce pollution.

3. HW TRANSPORTATION / 7265 NUMBER FIVE SIDE ROAD

Council also held a public meeting on official plan and zoning amendments for 7265 Number Five Side Road. The applicant's planner, Bill Outred, said the proposal followed an earlier approval and would expand permitted uses to allow truck sales in addition to truck leasing on a site already developed for transportation-related activity. He said, "Our client bought it and essentially as I said we came through last year with an application to expand the uses to allow truck sales in addition to truck leasing that was previously approved on the subject property."

Councillor Cher asked staff to review truck traffic in the area as industrial development continues, saying, "as this industrial area fills in, the truck traffic is also looking at alternatives." He urged staff to get ahead of the issue "rather than being reactive to it." Staff agreed to review the area.

4. DEVELOPMENT CHARGES AND COMMUNITY BENEFITS CHARGE

Council reviewed updates to the development charges bylaw and a new community benefits charge bylaw. Staff said Milton is planning for continued growth and needs funding tools to deliver infrastructure. One councillor said, "knowing that we've got continued growth in the range of that 145% growth in population, it's important to have the funding tools to provide the services as we grow."

Councillor Best argued against implementing the charges now, saying Ontario has "the highest development charges in Canada" and asking, "Is now the right time to implement new development charges and the additional community benefit charge? I say no." Councillor Khali took the opposite view, saying the proposed increases were reasonable because "if the developer doesn't pay for the capital infrastructure like parks, recreation, roads, other things, then that gets offset to the taxpayer during budget time through property taxes."

Council also considered a community benefits charge for high-density residential buildings at 4% of land value. Staff said the town would use Housing Accelerator Fund money to provide a transition rebate, explaining, "we'd be using funding that we've collected through the housing accelerator fund as a way to provide this transition opportunity."

5. FINANCIAL, TAX, AND OTHER APPROVALS

Council approved a staff report on Carton Road with an amendment to rename it Carton Lane. Councillor Cher said "it was always known as Carton Lane," and staff indicated there was no issue changing the suffix subject to coordination with Halton Hills.

Council also approved updates tied to a new tax system and a new financial system, including final tax levy processing and revised procurement and banking signing authority bylaws. In other business, council approved changes to the Halton-Hamilton Source Protection Plan for the Campbellville area and approved official plan and zoning amendments for Village Securities Limited at Derry Road and Fifth Line for light industrial, commercial, retail, tourism, and entertainment uses. Commissioner Jill Hogan said the amendment would "specifically establish a range of light industrial, commercial, retail and tourism and entertainment uses."

Motions

• Procedural Motion to Waive Rules for Item 9.8 Fourth Line Street Lights — Carried
• Fourth Line Street Lights Motion (Item 9.8) — Carried unanimously
• Staff report on Carton Road naming amendment to change to Carton Lane — Approved as amended
• Consent items 5.1 to 5.6 — Approved, with items 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, and 5.5 pulled for discussion
• Halton-Hamilton Source Protection Plan changes, Campbellville area (ES02726) — Carried unanimously
• Official Plan Amendment and Zoning Bylaw Amendment for Village Securities Limited / Remington North (DS03326 / DS-034-26) — Approved unanimously for adoption at a future meeting
• Amendment related to Development Charges Bylaw 04521 implementation timing — Approved
• Motion requesting the province maintain the current structure of regional council governance — Carried unanimously
• Open session staff reports CS0126, ES03126, and CO00426 — Approved
• Bylaws 0826-028-2026 through 00044-2026 — Passed

Attendees

The notes identify the following councillors or members as present or participating:

• Mayor
• Deputy Mayor
• Councillor Ali
• Councillor Cher
• Councillor Marshall
• Councillor Best
• Councillor Chner
• Councillor Khali
• Councillor Malbuff

Other officials identified in the meeting notes:

• Acting CEO Miss Scott
• CFO
• Commissioner Jill Hogan
• Anthony Wong