Hamilton City Council, sitting as the Planning Committee, will meet in closed session on Tuesday (January 14) to give legal direction regarding a retirement home expansion zoning application involving 299, 307, and 325 Fiddler’s Green Road in Ancaster.
The owner, Highgate Holdings Inc., filed a non-decision appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal on October 21, 2024.
A City staff report states that the owner, Highgate Holdings Inc., applied on December 2, 2022, for a zoning by-law amendment to expand an existing retirement home on the property, which is situated north of the Amberly Boulevard and Calvin Street intersection and south of Ravina Crescent.
In 2015, the Ontario Municipal Board (now known as the Ontario Land Tribunal) imposed the retirement home use zoning, permitting a maximum of 100 rooms and 120 residents.
The new zoning application asks to add 59 units and increase the maximum number of residents to 170.
The City’s planning staff state that the developer has not addressed issues regarding density and has not provided appropriate justification for reductions in yard setbacks.
The City planning staff report was prepared by planner Mark Michniak and approved by Acting Chief Planner Anita Fabac.
City planning staff write they cannot support the proposal because the “development has not demonstrated that it: builds on established patterns in terms of setbacks and tree preservation; has sufficient sanitary capacity; compatibly integrates with the surrounding area in terms of scale; utilizes green infrastructure and sustainable design elements; and, retains and/or enhances the natural attributes of the site.”
The report states the developer proposes to remove 35 of the 44 existing trees on the property.
Developer Says Proposal is Good Planning
The developer’s OLT application states the proposal is consistent with the new Ontario Provincial Planning Statement because it “promotes efficient development and contributes to a range of housing options” in an area with existing transit and services.
The Ontario Land Tribunal has not set dates for the first hearing.
OLT File Details
Address: 299, 307 and 325 Fiddler’s Green Road, Ancaster
OLT File Number: OLT-24-001098
Status (on date of this publication): no hearings set
Production Details
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Published: January 9, 2025
Last updated: January 9, 2025
Author: Joey Coleman
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