The Ontario Land Tribunal held its first case management conference for a rental development appeal at 399 Greenhill Avenue in East Hamilton.
A contested hearing for the planned mixed-use redevelopment will begin on March 24, 2025.
Medallion Developments is seeking permission to build two 12-storey rental apartment buildings with ground-level commercial, and two blocks of townhouses.
Ward 5 Councillor Matt Francis opposes the development.
Francis opposed the project due to concerns expressed by nearby residents regarding density, height, and traffic.
399 Greenhill Avenue occupies 1.45 hectares of land, and is located on the northeast corner at Mount Albion Road. The lands are metres from an access to the Red Hill Valley Parkway.
The commercial plaza on the site is mostly vacant. When grocery stores were smaller a few decades ago, Fortinos operated in the plaza.
Additionally, Francis wants a full-sized grocery store included in the development – something municipalities cannot require and that market conditions do not support.
The neighbouring condominium corporation of two 12-storey buildings, opposed the project due to its the proposed same height as their buildings, and concerns about blocked views towards the escarpment.
On June 26, 2024, Council voted 8-8 on the staff recommendation to approve the project. The tied vote meant Council denied the applications.
Following the vote, Ward 1 Councillor Maureen Wilson opined that once the application made it to the Ontario Land Tribunal, it would be the ‘quickest approval ever.’
City Council Hiring Consultants to Testify at OLT
Council authorized the hiring of planning and urban design consultants to argue against the proposal at the OLT.
Hamilton City Council’s policy is to bundle OLT costs into a legal budget account, and not disclose how much is spent on each case.
Medallion will summon City of Hamilton planning and urban design staff to provide evidence regarding why they recommended Council approve the project.
Council’s Denial Criticized by Federal Conservatives
A few weeks after the vote, Federal Conservative shadow critic for housing MP Scott Aitchison visited the site and recorded a social media video criticizing City Council’s vote, blaming Prime Minister Justin Trudeau [who had no role in the decision], and saying a Conservative government will require municipalities to approve these kinds of project if they wish to receive federal Housing Accelerator Fund funding.
The conservative councillors on Council had voted against the project.
Neighbouring Condo Corp Granted Participant Status, No Mediation Expected
OLT Member Steven Dixon conducted today’s CMC hearing. He granted participant status to Wentworth Condo Corp 76.
Dixon asked lawyers for the City and Medallion if they wished OLT support for mediation talks.
City lawyer Peter Krysiak stated he did not have instructions from Council.
Medallion lawyer Brendan Ruddick stated his client is open to mediation, but considering Council’s opposition to the development, he said “I do not know if it is a good use of time at this point.”
The hearing is scheduled to take seven days, beginning on March 24 and ending on April 1, 2025.
Production Details v. 1.0.0 Published: October 23, 2024 Last updated: October 23, 2024 Author: Joey Coleman Update Record v. 1.0.0 original version