Hello Ward 8 Neighbours,
The City of Hamilton will be holding a special meeting of the Planning Committee on the evening of September 14th.
For more details, please continue reading below…
As most residents are aware, on December 16, 2022, the Government of Ontario removed 795 hectares of land from the Greenbelt within the City of Hamilton.
Council approved a motion on February 8, 2023 that the City of Hamilton opposed the removal of these lands from the Greenbelt Plan Area.
Though the City remains opposed to Greenbelt land removal, the Government of Ontario’s decision is in effect and the lands are no longer within the Greenbelt Plan Area. Visit www.hamilton.ca/greenbelt(External link) for more information about the removal of these lands, including FAQs.
The Provincial Land and Development Facilitator has been in contact with the City of Hamilton and has indicated that the City will have an opportunity to provide input with respect to how the lands are developed, and also to negotiate and request certain “community benefits” above and beyond standard requirements found in the Planning Act prior to the Government of Ontario issuing a Minister’s Zoning Order on these lands to permit urban development.
With that in mind, the City of Hamilton will be hosting a Special Meeting of the Planning Committee on Thursday, September 14 beginning at 630 PM.
The meeting will be taking place at the Ancaster Memorial Arts Centre, Peller Hall. The Centre is located at 357 Wilson Street East in Ancaster.
Please contact the Legislative Coordinator, Planning Committee, City of Hamilton, 71 Main Street West, 1st Floor, Hamilton, Ontario, L8P 4Y5 or by email clerk@hamilton.ca to submit written comments, submit a pre-recorded video with comments or pre-register to make oral submissions.
More details can also be found on the Engage Hamilton Greenbelt page.
The City is also seeking your input on what its priorities should be for each of the three areas currently removed from the Greenbelt by the Province, details of which can be found here.
Saying “NO” to Greenbelt development
It is recommended that any comment opposing the removal of the lands from the Greenbelt Plan be submitted directly to the Government of Ontario. Any public comments received through the City’s engagement to this effect will also be recorded and conveyed to the Province.
Please note that the City of Hamilton also opposes the removal and any urban development of the lands removed from the Greenbelt Plan. City Council provided direction on July 14, 2023 to provide public input to the Provincial Land and Development Facilitator under protest. Understanding the Government’s of Ontario’s powers and authority to issue a Minister’s Zoning Order to develop these lands, the City’s engagement is focused around the development objectives and community benefits associated with development.
To share your views, you can contact the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, as well as the two local MPPs of the governing party below:
Hon. Paul Calandra
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
17th Floor
777 Bay St.
Toronto, ON M7A 2J3
Phone: 416-585-7000
Email: Paul.Calandra@pc.ola.org(External link)
Hon. Neil Lumsden
MPP – Hamilton East – Stoney Creek
Constituency Office
Unit 102
115 Hwy. 8
Hamilton, ON L8G 1C1
Phone: 905-662-8755
Fax: 905-662-0416
Email: Neil.Lumsden@pc.ola.org(External link)
Donna Skelly
MPP – Flamborough – Glanbrook
Constituency Office
Suite 104
2000 Garth St.
Hamilton, ON L9B 0C1
Phone: 905-679-3770
Fax: 905-679-0288
Email: Donna.Skelly@pc.ola.org