Communities, Environment Canada up at arms as development begins in Millcroft area

People living in Burlington are up in arms after giant forestry trucks rolled through the neighbourhood Wednesday, and cut down more than 400 trees for a new development.

It’s the latest in a long plan to build new housing in the Millcroft area, and now Environment Canada has begun an investigation.

Residents say that their ears are ringing as heavy machinery is being used to chip hundreds of trees that were chopped down for development.

“I suffer from asthma and just recovered from double pneumonia, and my three air filters are on ‘angry mode’ right now,” said Cynthia Shanahan, a member of the Millcroft Against Bad Development group. “Not only are residents suffering from dust, but the noise is horrendous – I recorded it at 90 decibels yesterday.”

Dust can be found only feet away from where the construction is taking place, covering parts of the Millcroft golf course, and in residential backyards.

More than 400 mature trees have been chopped down this spring along the golf course, making room for the construction of 90 detached homes and a six-storey apartment building.

The City of Burlington tried to fight the development, but the Ontario Land Tribunal sided with developers Millcroft Greens.

CHCH News reached out to the company for a comment, but have not heard back.

“We don’t believe that this is where housing should go,” said Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward. “But until and unless the province steps in, they have the right to start developing this area.”

“Part of that includes the tree removals. The city was concerned about how that was done, and have issued a work stop order and are investigating,” said Ward.

The Burlington mayor said that the work stop order will prevent the company from taking down more trees, but it also allows them to remove the ones they have already cut.

Environment and Climate Change Canada has also launched a separate investigation to see if the clear-cutting violated an environmental act that protects birds during nesting season.

In a statement to CHCH News, Environment Canada wrote, “officers collected information during an on-site inspection. This information is currently being reviewed to determine whether there has been any non-compliance with the Migratory Birds Convention Act and the Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022.”

Residents are also looking for the province to step in, saying the development doesn’t make sense here.

“What you’re looking at here is hole #6, which is an official flood plain, and they’re trying to squeeze in 3,000 to 5,000 square foot non-affordable homes into this area, right up against that flood plain,” said Dennis Parass, a member of Millcroft Against Bad Development.

Millcroft Greens said construction is expected to start in spring of 2026.

WATCH MORE: Burlington residents worried about Millcroft neighbourhood’s future