Hamilton’s Director of Planning and Chief Planner Steve Robichaud is becoming Burlington’s new Planning Commissioner.
Robichaud has been Hamilton’s Chief Planner since 2012, overseeing a significant overhaul of Hamilton’s planning and zoning. His most significant achievement is the completion of a new city-wide residential and commercial zoning bylaw to replace the six different zoning bylaws of the former municipalities of Hamilton, Stoney Creek, Glanbrook, Ancaster, Dundas, and Flamborough.
His last day will be September 1.
“The decision has not been easy, but after thoughtful consideration over the last few weeks I have decided that now is the right time to embark on a new journey and explore new opportunities,” Robichaud wrote in a statement.
“It has been an honour to serve as Hamilton’s first Chief Planner and to lead the Planning Division (and the Planning and Economic Development Department).
In recent years, Robichaud has overseen responses to nearly continuous changes to the Ontario Planning Act, the Provincial Policy Statement (now Provincial Planning Statement), and the changes from the Ontario Municipal Board to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal and from the LPAT to the Ontario Land Tribunal.
Robichaud was Interim General Manager of Planning and Economic Development following the departure in March 2024 of Jason Thorne. Robichaud served as Interim GM for over a year. New GM Arvin Prasad began in the role on June 16, 2025.
Robichaud’s departure was not unexpected. It was widely known that recruiting firms were seeking him to apply for top roles in various municipalities.
“I am wishing Steve the best,” said GM Prasad. “He’s been a very important player in terms of guiding growth and development in the city for a very long time.”
“I wish him continued success.”
Robichaud resides in Burlington.
Production Details
v. 1.1.
Published: August 14, 2025
Last updated: August 14, 2025
Author: Joey Coleman
Update Record
v. 1.0.0 original version
v. 1.1.0 added comments by Prasad and Robichaude.
He didn’t finish the by-law.
This is technically correct. The vast majority of the residential work is complete.
The city-wide commercial and mixed-use zoning is complete.