Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath says talks between the City of Hamilton and CN Rail regarding the Jamesville social housing redevelopment are “yielding results.”
The comments came in response to TPR asking the Mayor about yesterday’s CityHousing Hamilton Board closed session discussion on settlement talks, and next week’s scheduled Council Planning Committee closed session discussion.
To the question, “How are you feeling right now on this file?”
Mayor Horwath responded:
“I think that bringing CN to the table is something that has never been done before in the city. I’m proud of having done that. And I think that that effort is, yielding results. Let’s put it that way.”
Settlement Talks Ongoing
Settlement talks have been ongoing for nearly two years.
In mid-2022, the past term City Council approved zoning and official plan amendments that significantly increased the permitted density at the 405 James Street North site.
CN’s Stuart Street shutting yard is approximately 230 metres west of the Jamesville site, and the main CN line runs directly south of the property.
CN objected to the design and noise mitigation requirements, stating they are inadequate to address safety, odour, vibration, and noise concerns. They appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal.
Since then, the City, CN, CityHousing Hamilton (the City’s subsidiary public housing body) and developers Jamesville Development LP (who the City is selling the lands to for the private redevelopment) have met for OLT-assisted confidential mediation.
If mediation is unsuccessful, the sides will argue their cases during a scheduled 10-day contested hearing beginning on February 18, 2025.
Upcoming Events
December 3: City Council’s Planning Committee will discuss the Jamesville matter in closed session.
December 11: City Council regular ratification meeting will ratify any decision that is made at the Planning Committee meeting.
December: the parties will file an Agreed Statement of Facts.
Recent Updates
Yesterday, November 26, the CityHousing Hamilton Board discussed the OLT appeal in a closed session meeting. No public updates were issued.
Experts for all parties met on October 18. There have been other undisclosed settlement negotiation meetings.
On October 16, City Council met in closed session and approved confidential instructions to its negotiators.
More on the Jamesville OLT appeal here.
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Published: November 27, 2024
Last updated: November 27, 2024
Author: Joey Coleman
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