There is a correction in this story. Please see edit note at end.
Increasing Motor Vehicle Parking Violation Fines, Including for Blocking Bike Lanes
Councillors will vote on increasing parking violation fines for infractions such as failing to pay at parking metres, parking in no parking zones, and stopping in bicycle lanes.
The proposed new penalties for not paying for parking on-street will increase to $30 from the present $25. The fine within city-owned parking lots will be $55 from the present $25. Obstructing a bicycle lane will be a $60 ticket, up from the current $33. (The City of Toronto charges $200 for this offence and has dedicated enforcement units.)
In 2023, approximately 143,000 parking penalties were issued in the City. It is estimated that $250,000 in additional parking penalty revenues may be generated.
1600 Upper James Street, Mixed-Use Development
City planning staff are recommending approval for a 20-storey (65.0 metre) mixed-use building at 1600 Upper James Street, occupying the northwest corner at Rymal Road West.
LJM Developments plans to construct 250 residential units, 3 of which will be “affordable rental units,” ground-level commercial, 177 vehicle parking spaces, 127 long-term bicycle spaces.
The unit mix is 52 studio units (21%), 154 one-bedroom units (62%), 34 two-bedroom units (14%), and 10 three-bedroom units (4%).
The three affordable rental units will be a one-bedroom unit, a two-bedroom unit, and a three-bedroom unit. The staff report to Council does not state who will administer the units.
The ‘Controversial’ 18 Townhouses on Dundas Street in Flamborough:
Ward 15 Councillor Ted McMeekin has been opposing infill intensification projects in recent months.
He voted against the affordable housing conversion at Lake Avenue South (the ‘Stoney Creek parking lots’), against infill rental housing at 399 Greenhill Avenue, and is now hoping to prevent in-fill housing on Dundas Street in Flamborough.
City planning staff are recommending approval of the project at 173 and 177 Dundas Street East, which will see two detached single homes on large lots replaced with an 18-unit townhouse condo community.
The project came to Council Planning Committee on August 13, and was tabled when the developer agreed to Councillor McMeekin’s request for another public meeting with neighbours.
This public meeting was held on September 5 at the Waterdown Seniors Centre, within the same building that houses the Waterdown library branch. Neighbours expressed continuing opposition to the project.
There are concerns about flooding in the area due to differences in elevation between the site and surrounding properties. A stormwater retention system is included in the development, which will decrease run-off compared to existing conditions.
Changes to City “pre-consultation” requirements under the Planning Act
The City is implementing changes to its planning policies for zoning amendment, official plan, and other Planning Act applications. The changes reflect requirements stemming from the provincial government passing Bill 185.
The changes more clearly detail what reports and studies must be submitted with a planning application to be deemed complete. When developers submit ‘complete’ applications, the clock begins ticking on their ability to file non-decision appeals to the Ontario Land Tribunal.
Hamilton’s official plans now list 103 different report types that may be required.
In sum, Bill 185’s removal of local discretion is not eliminating ‘red tape,’ instead, it has created new ‘red tape.’
Increasing Business Improvement Area Parking Revenue Share
City staff propose changing how BIA parking revenue is calculated and increasing the maximum parking revenue shared with business improvement areas to $250,000 annually from $167,280. The amount will increase by three percent each year after that.
Under the old formula, Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) are allocated up to ten percent of the Hamilton Municipal Parking System’s annual operating surplus, up to the maximum. Since 2020, Hamilton’s municipal parking profits have decreased. City Council has been funding the BIAs to the maximum amount using other budget lines.
The new formula will grant Hamilton’s 11 BIAs with paid parking a percentage of parking revenue generated within their boundaries. Funding for 10 of the 11 will increase by $3,198 to $10,053. The Locke Street BIA will receive $750 less.
Production Details v. 1.1.0 Published: September 16, 2024 Last updated: September 17, 2024 Author: Joey Coleman Update Record v. 1.0.0 original version v. 1.1.0 CORRECTION: The public meeting on the development occurred within the Seniors Centre, not the library portion of the Waterdown municipal building