TPR Hamilton | Hamilton's Civic Affairs News Site – Page 123 – Comprehensive Coverage of Hamilton's Civic Affairs

Council Spends Over an Hour Behind Closed Doors Getting Ready for OMB Ward Fight

by Joey ColemanJuly 10, 2017

Councillors voted for their own gerrymandered wards, despite a clear warning from expert consultants that the gerrymander will be indefensible at a Ontario Municipal Board hearing.
As Council is fighting against their own experts, they’ve had to retain outside lawyers – at taxpayer expense – to fight the case.
The OMB pre-hearing is scheduled for August 3rd, 10am, at Dundas Town Hall.

Planning and Development

Council Votes to Give Staff Delegated Authority to Spend up Barton / Kenilworth Corridor Building Fee Rebate Program

by Joey ColemanJuly 10, 2017

The program, approved in May 2016, gives rebates to property that require minor variance or site plan for development by waiving application fees for both those processes. The goal is to encourage development in this commercial districts which have a number of vacant storefronts, and buildings in need of renovations.

Planning and Development

City LEED Grant for new Stryker Canada headquarters

by Joey ColemanJuly 10, 2017

The planned development is expected to generate $181,464.93 per year in property taxes, and the City is granting 75% of those taxes for two years; the City will continue to receive the increase in property tax, compared to when the land was vacant, in the future. The grant is to encourage better design which decreases costs on municipal services.

Planning and Development

Council Approves Scoring Criteria for West Harbour Pier 8 Sale

by Joey ColemanJuly 10, 2017

Staff who created the formula says it will ensure community feedback requesting a priority on the design and community benefits of the proposals is given more weight than just the financial offer to the City.

City Hall News

Council Passes New Proceeds of Land Sales Policy

by Joey ColemanJuly 10, 2017

The origin of the policy was a debate to use the sale of excess land to fund new affordable housing. The City is looking to sale under-utilized assets in order to build more affordable housing.

Hamilton City Council

Council Spends Over An Hour Debating Provincial Bill 148 – Minimum Wage Increase

by Joey ColemanJuly 10, 2017

After debating provincial legislation and policy for over an hour, Council narrowed their discussions to the area of their jurisdiction; how the labour code changes will impact the City of Hamilton as an employer and the City budget in 2018.

Planning and Development

LiUNA and Hi-Rise Release Planning Application for 43 – 51 King Street East (Kresge Site)

by Joey ColemanJuly 10, 2017

The proposal is for two tall buildings of 25 and 34 storeys, with podium ranging from 3 to 6 stories. The podium will serve to house parking, in addition to two below grade levels of parking, and ground level commercial.

City Hall News, Planning and Development

Hamilton Port Authority and Council Building Relationships

by Joey ColemanJuly 10, 2017

The truce between the Port and City is holding, and peace reigns between the historically adversarial bodies as Port CEO answers questions on Randle Reef, city zoning jurisdiction, dust from grain, and truck traffic among the issues.

City Hall News

Hamilton Receiving $33-mil from Feds and Prov Clean Water and Wastewater Fund

by Joey ColemanJuly 10, 2017

The City is receiving $32,918,072 from the Province and Federal governments for improvements to the City’s water distribution and treatment infrastructure. The City is planning 16 projects totaling $43,890,763, meaning the funds from higher levels of government account for 75% of the budget.

City Hall

Union Gas Wants to Expand to Sheffield, Seeks City Contribution

by Joey ColemanJuly 10, 2017

Council votes to support Union Gas expansion to rural Flamborough hamlet of Sheffield. Union Gas, if they receive approvals and provincial grant, expects to complete expansion in 2019.