Part of the issue for many Burlingtonians is that you look east to Humber Shores and say UGH. There must be a better way. Part of the issue is transport and transit through the downtown core, which developers love to rave about, but in real life, given the increasing traffic volumes, is much less then satisfactory. And although we may sigh, and although the restricted traffic problems will only worsen, I am not sure the cities request for a parking allowance of 1.25 was unrealistic (in this town).
Part of the issue is that the previous admin was perceived to simply roll over to developers whims. Part of the issue is that the 2020 official plan allows for much in the way of redevelopment, but restricts building heights in this area relative to the previous plan. There is diversity in heights but heritage residential areas immediately surrounding the main access routes restrict the spread of higher density newer housing and influence building heights in the areas of the downtown urban plan closest to the lake. Having said that more then a few heritage buildings have been lost in the downtown urban planning area.
As you move further away from the lake and closer to the GO Transit nodes, these restrictions ease and there are some notably development proposals in those areas.
I think the area in question for this proposal was covered in the new plan as follows: OLD LAKESHORE ROAD PRECINCT The Old Lakeshore Road Precinct will provide for mixed-use mid-rise buildings consisting primarily of residential uses which are pedestrian-oriented and transit supportive while also achieving a high standard of design. Modest tall buildings which transition downward from the adjacent Lakeshore Precinct towards the waterfront may be accommodated where such development achieves strategic public and city building objectives, including the provision of public waterfront access and the creation of new uninterrupted view corridors to Lake Ontario, among others.
However, how you define a "Modest Tall Building' is a bit of a puzzle to me.
I think the city and its residents have legitimate concerns about the development of the city as left in the developers hands. You only have access to the lake once and after the wall of towers goes up we'll see how that plays out longer term.