Hamilton City Council voted in closed session – without any public announcement – to permit the owners of 2016 Regional Road 56 in Glanbrook to add an additional dwelling unit to the rural property despite an inadequate septic system to support the additional inhabitants.
The decision was made on January 14 and only became public this week when the Ontario Land Tribunal issued a notice stating that the City of Hamilton had withdrawn a staff appeal that sought to uphold Hamilton’s source water and environmental protection policies.
On September 10, 2024, Hamilton’s Committee of Adjustment chose to override the City’s source water and septic systems policies when approving the ADU.
City staff explained that the property is too small to accommodate the required septic tank size, which creates the risk of source water contamination. The property owner stated that they will conduct regular maintenance and emptying of the existing tank.
The property is too small to accommodate a backup septic tank in the event the present tank fails.
In the event of a future failure, the property owner is liable for the associated costs. However, in practice, municipalities often assume the costs.
If something goes wrong, it will be for a future City Council to deal with.
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Published: June 4, 2025
Last updated: June 4, 2025
Author: Joey Coleman
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