Province orders Hamilton to expand land boundary

Hello Ward 8 Neighbours,

The City of Hamilton received word from the Ford Government on Friday at 5pm that the province has unilaterally decided to expand the urban boundary by 2,200 hectares.

For more details, please continue reading below…

The provincial government is ordering Hamilton to expand its urban boundary, despite a 2021 city council decision and massive showing of public support to hold the boundary.

City Council votes against urban boundary expansion

The province’s decision was posted late on Friday and approves an expansion of 2,200 hectares — even more than the 1,310 hectares the city proposed in its “ambitious density” scenario last year. 

In addition to expanding the urban boundary, the provincial government is also removing the city’s proposed 30-storey height limit on buildings and allowing taller buildings in community areas like Ancaster.

Which way should Hamilton grow?

Councillor Danko reacted to the news of the province’s decision by taking to Twitter and sharing the following:

@fordnation's decision to force sprawl growth for the next 30 years – using every single acre of available farmland – and portions of the greenbelt – is nothing short of an historic betrayal of the current and future residents of #HamOnt.

— John-Paul Danko (@JohnPaulDanko) November 5, 2022

3. Sprawl – the governments supporting it & the developers that build it – are inevitably ending. @fordnation won't be around for 10 years nevermind 30 years.

And most encouraging – #HamOnt is united on this issure like nothing else – urban, suburban & rural – we will resist.

— John-Paul Danko (@JohnPaulDanko) November 5, 2022

Council voted 13-3 on Nov. 19, 2021, after more than nine hours of discussion after months of consultation, to maintain the city’s current boundary.

The results of a mail-out survey by the city saw 16,636 people vote to hold the boundary and just 1,088 vote to expand it. There were 663 people with other suggestions.

Planning staff will report back to council on November 29.

Questions or concerns?

If you have any questions or concerns, you can contact our office here.