Hello Ward 8 Neighbours,
Should Council adopt the motion passed at the most recent planning committee, Hamilton will be asking the province to remove the ministry zoning order on the lands of the former Century Manor.
For more details, please continue reading below….
At the December 7 planning committee, Councillor Danko put forward a motion that will ask the province to rescind a controversial ministry zoning order put on the lands of Century Manor last August.
In August 2020 the provincial government announced to the surprise of city officials and councillors that it was rezoning the former Hamilton Psychiatric Hospital lands, including Century Manor, to allow for single-family homes, semi-detached homes, townhouses, street townhouses and multiple dwelling units, as well as for a long-term care facility.
The ministry order expands the zoning on the 12.5-hectare land, and it essentially stopped a potential agreement the city was negotiating with Mohawk College.
Originally, the city reviewed the lands with Mohawk College and members of the public in 2017 and decided that the property was best suited for health care and education, complimenting the already existing Mohawk College and St. Joseph’s Healthcare Centre for Mountain Health Services.
The city’s vision also includes maintaining public access to the lands, the Niagara Escarpment and the restoration of the designated heritage building Century Manor. The property also fits into Mohawk College’s 20-year plan, which shows botanical gardens by Century Manor and a new building on the corner of Fennell Avenue West and Juravinski Drive.
When the PC government won the 2018 election, they cancelled a plan to sell the 12.5 hectare land to Mohawk College to expand its campus and restore Century Manor. The city was going to use that $9.5 million toward affordable housing in the downtown core.
Councillor Danko was quoted as saying that if the province rejects Hamilton’s request to drop the zoning order, he urged officials to “at the very least” talk to stakeholders, especially Mohawk College and the community about what should be constructed on the land.
“We have no say whatsoever what gets built there and how it fits in with the community,” said Danko.
Councillor Danko would go on to state that the city did not want a ministry zoning order and never requested one from the province.
The motion, which was introduced by Councillor Danko and passed at planning committee, will need to be approved by City Council at its December 15th meeting before being sent to the Ministry.
Questions or concerns?
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