The Ontario Municipal Board released a few decisions involving the City of Hamilton this week. The most significant came in appeals of the City’s new rural official plan and zoning bylaw, the others involved a 307-unit new subdivision in Binbrook, a denied severance in Ancaster, and a six-storey multiple dwelling on Barton Street in Flamborough. […]
Posted inCommunity Events, Planning and Development, Videos
Hamilton PEDTalks "Improving Health by Design in the GTHA" (May 12, 2016)
Hamilton’s Planning and Economic Development department hosted Gayle Bursey, Director of Growth Management Strategy for the Region of Peel, who spoke on the topic of Improving Health by Design in the GTHA. Bursey’s talk was based upon her work in the inter-regional report “Improving Health by Design in the Greater Toronto-Hamilton Area” released in May […]
Posted inCity Hall
Hamilton City Council Votes to Defer LRT Debate, Will Decide on Project May 18 [Replay Video]
In a surprise twist, Hamilton City Council will debate if they will reaffirm support or turn down provincial funding for Light Rail Transit during their Council GIC meeting on Wednesday, May 18. This comes after Councillors voted to defer a vote on a motion by Sam Merulla supporting the LRT project. Merulla moved his motion […]
Posted inCity Council Meetings
Hamilton City Council for May 11, 2016
Hamilton City Council’s biweekly full meeting will ratify decisions of standing committees including launching public consultation on new zoning, expansion of Community Improvement Project Areas, adding funding to address affordable housing and poverty reduction, making no changes to Public Works organizational structure and more.
Following ratification business, Council will debate a motion to “reaffirm” their support of LRT, and a motion from Terry Whitehead addressing “aggressive urbanism”.
Live video at 5:00pm.
Posted inCouncil Standing Committees
Hamilton City Councillor Donna Skelly Uses Olivia Chow & Jack Layton Affordable Housing Claim
In an attempt to argue against affordable housing on Piers 7 & 8, Hamilton City Councillor Donna Skelly uses the 1990 claim that Jack Layton was improperly in an affordable housing co-op.
Posted inNews
Hamilton City Council Special Planning Committee on Inclusionary Zoning and Section 37 Density Bonusing
What is inclusionary zoning and how can it be implemented in Hamilton if Council chooses to use it as an affordable housing tool? What about Section 37, commonly called density bonusing, can it be used to create community facilities and benefits in exchange for allowing increased density and height in new developments?
Council will receive four presentations on these matters, including two from external experts.
Live video starts at 9:30am Tuesday.
Posted inCouncil Standing Committees, Videos
Hamilton Council Audit, Finance, and Administration Committee for May 9, 2016
Council’s Audit, Finance, and Administration Committee will discuss primarily housekeeping items. Two items of note, the Freedom of Information office remains one of the worst in Canada, and Councillors will vote to ban Bondfield Construction Company Litd from bidding on City contracts for non-compliance of the City’s Fair Wage Policy.
Live video starts at 9:30am.
Posted inCity Hall
Updated: City Gets Insurance Money for 2013 Cash Handling Fraud. Public Still Gets No Answers.
The City released a short statement late Monday afternoon (May 9, 2016) saying “The City of Hamilton has been successful in a claim to its insurer for approximately $1 million relating to a loss arising from the mishandling of funds by a former employee in 2013.” The update provided no further information, and ended “We […]
Posted inAdvisory and Sub-Committees, Planning and Development
Hamilton Council West Harbour Development Committee for May 5, 2016 [Urban Design Study Approval]
Council’s West Harbour Development Committee approved the Piers 7 & 8 Urban Design Study during their May 5th meeting, pushing the plan forward to the May 17 Council Planning Committee meeting.
Numerous delegations presented to the Committee, the tensions between different resident viewpoints were apparent, and in a surprise motion, the Committee voted to recommend funding the Waterfront Trust to assist with development work.
Full video replay.
Posted inCity Council Meetings, Videos
Hamilton City Council GIC for May 4, 2016
City Council meets in Committee of the Whole today to discuss a motion to fund poverty initiatives by an extra $5-million per year, the 2015 City Manager’s Performance Review, splitting the fiasco factory known as the Public Works Department, a motion to renegotiate the lease of the airport, governance of DARTS, six closed session items, and more.
Live video starts at 9:30 a.m.