The OLT is conducting a three week hearing regarding Hamilton’s growth plan and lands need assessment. Developers say the studies prove urban boundary expansion is needed, City says it can meet growth by intensification.
Today was the first day of the hearing. Following opening statements, during which the City stated an “in the alternative” position if the OLT quashes Hamilton’s urban boundary freeze, the City’s first expert witness took the virtual stand to provide an overview of how Hamilton determined its population growth land needs, and ultimately how the City is responding to growth requirements within the Council voted mandate of an urban boundary freeze.
Three developer groups are challenging the urban boundary freeze.
The following are the live posts published by me (Joey Coleman) on Bluesky during today’s hearing.
Liveposts:
April 13, 2026, 10:00 AM: Good morning, The most important OLT hearing in years about to get underway – Phase 1 of the Hamilton Urban Boundary Expansion hearings. Over 4 weeks, OLT will hear arguments from developers to overrule Hamilton’s urban boundary, and from the City defending it. Live posts follow #yhmcc
April 13, 2026, 10:01 AM: More recent background story here: https://thepublicrecord.ca/2025/12/olt-consolidates-three-hamilton-urban-boundary-appeals-common-issues-to-avoid-contradictory-rulings/
April 13, 2026, 10:11 AM: Lawyers for this Phase I hearing are: City of Hamilton (represented by): David Germain, Kim Mullin, Jalkaran Goraya Upper West Side Landowners Group: Sarah Kagan, Ira Kagan Elfrida Landowners: Joe Hoffman, Robert Howe, Patrick Harrington (1/2)
April 13, 2026, 10:11 AM: Whitechurch Landowners: Jasmine Fraser, Matthew Helfand DiCenzo Golf Club: Russell Cheeseman, Stephanie Fleming (2/2)
April 13, 2026, 10:12 AM: Presiding OLT Member for this hearing is Eric Crowe. OLT bio here: https://www.pas.gov.on.ca/Home/AgencyBios/660?appointmentId=13503
April 13, 2026, 10:18 AM: Lawyers are sorting out / discussing procedural matters.
April 13, 2026, 10:31 AM: City of Hamilton lawyer says City wants OLT to uphold urban boundary freeze. “In the alternative, if the OLT decides land needs to be added, then it should only be to the amount the City calculates. 1060 hectares is warranted.” #yhmcc
April 13, 2026, 10:34 AM: There will be five land economists presenting evidence, each with a different opinions, over the course of this hearing.
April 13, 2026, 10:37 AM: City lawyers are arguing the City can grow by intensification and in-fill. (At the same time, in numerous other OLT hearings, Hamilton City Council is on the record opposing numerous intensification projects on Main Street, Upper Wellington, and other main roads. This will come up later)
April 13, 2026, 10:44 AM: Lawyers for developers making their opening submission – Hamilton needs to provide for a range of housing options [including single detached] – Hamilton cannot meet 2051 growth targets solely be intensification – Hamilton needs more land for growth.
April 13, 2026, 10:46 AM: Lawyers for developers: City needs to have ground-related housing to meet housing demands of forecast population. [Semi- Single-detached and townhouses]
April 13, 2026, 10:47 AM: Lawyers for developers: City’s own experts stated the City needs to expand its urban boundary.
April 13, 2026, 10:56 AM: There are around 60 people in this Ontario Land Tribunal video conference today. The number fluctuates, I saw a peak of 64 people. A few attendees will be duplicate. #yhmcc
April 13, 2026, 11:03 AM: Robert Howe, lawyer for Elfrida land owners, asks the OLT to decided Hamilton needs to expand urban boundary, and when doing so, not remit it back to the City for a decision of where. “Past experience does not inspire confidence that the City of Hamilton will make the responsible decision”
April 13, 2026, 11:05 AM: The first expert witness, called by the City of Hamilton, is Paddy Kennedy of Dillon Consulting. https://www.dillon.ca/people/kennedy-paddy/
April 13, 2026, 12:17 PM: The timeline and background of Hamilton’s land needs and population growth assessments have been the topic of discussion for the past hour. #yhmcc
April 13, 2026, 12:45 PM: OLT will take a one-hour lunch recess, returning at 1:45 p.m. I except the rest of the day to be background / establishing the evidence record needed for the hearing. #yhmcc
April 13, 2026, 1:49 PM: The Ontario Land Tribunal has resumed after the lunch recess. Paddy Kennedy remains on the stand, land use and planning expert for the City of Hamilton, providing background and history on Hamilton’s municipal comprehensive review. https://www.dillon.ca/people/kennedy-paddy/
April 13, 2026, 2:12 PM: The expert is now explaining how the City of Hamilton’s urban boundary freeze and intensification policies are responsive to the Provincial Planning Statement.
April 13, 2026, 2:36 PM: Expert is outlining the Urban Hamilton Official Plan.
April 13, 2026, 2:38 PM: There are 50 individual accounts logged into the OLT videoconference at present.
April 13, 2026, 3:00 PM: City land use and planning expert Paddy Kennedy is now speaking to the City’s intensification policies. #yhmcc
April 13, 2026, 3:01 PM: OLT is taking a 15 minute break, returning at 3:15 p.m.
April 13, 2026, 3:20 PM: The OLT has resumed. City expert Paddy Kennedy is continuing to speak to intensification policies. #yhmcc
April 13, 2026, 3:46 PM: City expert Paddy Kennedy is now establishing the City’s policies regarding the urban boundary freeze, and “whitebelt lands” Whitebelt are the lands between the urban boundary and the protected Greenbelt. The City is “in the alternative” arguing for limited expansion into whitebelt. #yhmcc
April 13, 2026, 4:05 PM: OLT Member Eric Crowe is asking throughful questions regarding the City’s submission of draft studies and updates to its official plans. The City is rushing to update plans in response to provincial changes The OLT has to determine what weight to give to draft land needs studies. #yhmcc
April 13, 2026, 4:13 PM: OLT Member Crowe ends the day by asking the various parties to make efforts to avoid overlap in background information. “We have many land economists in this hearing … I want to focus on the core issues.” Lawyer Ira Kagan says the developers have discussed to ensure efficiency in evidence. #yhmcc
April 13, 2026, 4:13 PM: “It’s going to be a long three weeks,” remarks Member Crowe, with a few nods from lawyers. Time management will be key to meeting the three week hearing window. Crowe thanks everyone for attending today. Says he is open to 9 or 9:30 a.m. starts as needed.
Production Details
v. 1.0.0
Published: April 13, 2026
Last updated: April 13, 2026
Author: Joey Coleman
Update Record
v. 1.0.0 original version