The provincial government orders Hamilton to expand its urban boundaries, despite a 2021 city council decision and a massive show of public support for hold the limit.
The province’s decision was released Friday evening and approves an expansion of 2,200 hectares – even more than the 1,310 hectares proposed by the city in its Ambitious density scenario during the expansion debate last year.
It also removes the city’s proposed 30-story height limit for buildings and allows taller buildings in community areas like Ancaster.
“The approved Official Plan Amendments outline new policies and mapping to guide the growth and development of the city through 2051,” the decision summary reads.
And in a separate but related move, the province also released plans on Friday to remove 7,400 acres in 15 different areas of the province’s greenbelt, including Hamilton and Niagara, in order to “adapt. .. to growth and to support the construction of more homes.”
The Ford government had previously said it would not touch the Greenbelt.
These areas are near White Church Road East and Upper James Street on the Mountain, Barton Street and Fifty Road, and Oakes Road North and Main Street West.
The Greenbelt was created in 2005 to protect agricultural and ecologically sensitive land in the Greater Golden Horseshoe from development.
‘A betrayal of public trust’: adviser
In the case of the Greenbelt, the province is seeking comments over the next 30 days on its proposal.
However, for the Hamilton urban boundary, it indicates that 80 comments were received during a previous comment period and the decision can no longer be appealed.
It is unclear if or how the current city council can oppose the move. The new council is sworn in on November 15.
However, the mayor-elect and other officials – many of whom shared their support for maintaining the border during the recent election campaign – have been making their thoughts clear since the announcement.
“Today’s decisions are very concerning. Cities work well when they are meant to be whole communities,” Mayor-elect Andrea Horwath told CBC Hamilton in an emailed statement on Friday.
“This includes making sure essential infrastructure and amenities like libraries, good roads, parks and community centers are part of the plan. I will work closely with council and city staff to chart the best path forward for Hamiltonians.
Ward 1 County Maureen Wilson called it “a betrayal of the public trust and a disregard for the people of Hamilton.”
“Poor planning, fiscally irresponsible and environmentally disastrous. Our City Council must use every tool available to impede its implementation,” she wrote.
“The Council’s decision to stop the sprawl expansion was the most important decision of all [Hamilton] Advice for taxpayers, for local food and farmers, for clean air, flood protection and climate change, for the economy, for a future that improves the quality of life for all residents,” Ward 8 Councilor John-Paul Danko said Saturday.
“We can and we will resist,” he added, writing “Growth cannot continue without servicing. I see no reason for the Board to approve servicing funding for any of these lands. [And, Hamilton] has 829 acres of surplus land through 2031 – there is no immediate need to build beyond the current boundaries. »
Council’s decision to halt sprawl expansion was the most important decision of all [Hamilton] advice.– Ward 8 county. John Paul Danko
Environment Hamilton, one of several local advocacy groups that have promoted freezing city borders, called the move “devastating”.
“[It] signals an intention not only to undo the firm urban boundary, but to blow beyond the white belt into Ontario’s greenbelt! Hamiltonians stood up for an inclusive and climate-resilient city! Who wins with this provincial direction?
Expansion needed to meet provincial goals, city staff said in 2021
Not everyone opposes the decision.
The Hamilton-based West End Home Builders’ Association (WEHBA) said in a statement that it “fully supports” the decision.
“Our concern has always been that as the housing shortage worsens, it will drive up home prices in Hamilton, excluding current residents and forcing talented newcomers to move elsewhere,” the statement read. Associations emailed to CBC Hamilton.
“For the sake of Hamilton’s continued growth, WEHBA firmly believes it is time to remove politics from local planning.”
During the urban growth debate last year, city staff said expansion was necessary to meet the province’s density goals and to accommodate a projected population increase of 236,000 over the next few years. next 30 years, for a total population of 820,000 by 2051.
Meanwhile, a proposed expansion plan indicated that the city will need to grow by 110,000 additional housing units and 122,000 additional jobs.
The Council voted 13 to 3 on November 19, 2021, after more than nine hours of discussion and many months of consultation, to maintain the border.
Some cited climate change as a reason to freeze the border, others the desire to have housing built along the light rail line, while others said they did not want to gobble up valuable land for grow food.
Results of a postal survey conducted by the city saw 16,636 people vote to maintain the border and only 1,088 vote to expand it. There were 663 people with other suggestions.
“It’s not a no-grow option. It’s a where do we grow option. And in my view, that where do we grow option should exist within the current urban limits,” Mayor Fred Eisenberger said. at the time.
According to the city, the province’s expansion cannot proceed until “secondary planning work is completed”.
On Friday, the city said planning staff were now let’s look at the details of the province’s changes and will report to city council on Nov. 29 “to provide details on implementation.”
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