Ward 12 Councillor Craig Cassar’s creative attempt to block the building of a self-storage facility near Golf Links Road and the Lincoln Alexander Parkway has been overturned by the Ontario Land Tribunal.
In one of the quicker OLT decisions in recent years, the Tribunal overturned Cassar’s blocking of a self-storage use at 1225 Old Golf Links Road.
“Overall, the proposed use will allow for the urbanization of Old Golf Links Road, an organized efficient use of a vacant property in an energy-efficient building and promotes economic growth,” ruled OLT Member Jackie Denyes in a 97-paragraph ruling released last week.
Background
The owners of 1225 Old Golf Links Road in Ancaster applied for planning amendments to permit the construction of a five-story self-storage facility on a property that borders a Hydro One power transmission line corridor.
City planning staff recommended approval for the project, and prepared the enacting bylaw for Council approval.
Clr Cassar moved approval of a bylaw changing the zoning to what the developer requested, with one key amendment – removing the permission to operate a self-storage facility.
In effect, Council denied the application.
Cassar says permitting self-storage facilities undermines the City’s climate goals.
“In 2019, this Council declared a climate emergency … a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions can not be accomplished by business as usual,” Cassar stated in November 2023 when the application was before City Council’s Planning Committee.”
“Consumerism continues to accelerate the consumption of the planet’s resources,” Cassar continued. “Encouraging more storage just encourages more consumerism and sends a signal that the city is not really serious about the climate emergency.”
OLT Decision
On November 22, 2023, Council approved Cassar’s creative application denial in a 15-1 vote.
The developer, Ancaster Space Station Inc., owned by Steve Grzenda, filed their OLT appeal.
At the hearing, City of Hamilton Senior Planner Johnpaul Loiacono testified under summons. Loiacono confirmed that City staff recommended approval of the application, including the self-storage use, and remained of the professional assessment that the use represented good planning and use of the lands.
“He indicated he would consider the proposal to be intensive use of this property and that is why he recommended its approval,” writes OLT Member Denyes.
Member Denyes noted the developer ‘will be required to upgrade Old Golf Links Road with curbs, sidewalks, streetlights and may be required to extend municipal services through an agreement with the City before there is construction.’
The City hired an outside planning and law use expert in an attempt to argue for Cassar’s position.
They were trapped by the fact Council approved the intensity of the proposed five-storey building and all other aspects of the application – except for permitting self-storage.
The City’s expert had to concede that 1225 Old Golf Links Road cannot be developed for residential or more sensitive commercial uses.
The OLT ruling notes, “the site has an expressway to the north and the eastern half is encumbered with a Hydro Easement and natural features to the south making it undevelopable.”
Production Details v. 1.0.0 Published: September 23, 2024 Last updated: September 23, 2024 Author: Joey Coleman Update Record v. 1.0.0 original version
Thanks Joey, for keeping us in the loops. Much appreciated!
Klaas Detmar
Unless he’s recently moved, this is a bit hypocritical considering the size of his house, and when and where it was built.
Councillor is too funny.
We really don’t want self storage in Ancaster because it’ll encourage vehicle traffic using an accessibly challenged parcel of land.
But yes, we need to build something in a laneway in Stoney Creek because that little old lady doesn’t really need to park to attend the medical building.
Comedy of errors.
a counclior wasting taxpayer money simply because he didn’t like the proposed project. The City had to pay for external consultants to argue their case!