I would like to voice my…

I would like to voice my opinion on the proposed amendments to the Greenbelt Plan.

I am opposed to removal of ANY land from our Greenbelt and support any additions.

1. During the 2018 campaign, Doug Ford made the promise that he would not develop any lands in the Greenbelt. That promise should be kept.

2. The residents of Hamilton do NOT want to expand the urban boundaries. The City has a mandate from the residents to develop within its boundaries. There are many green fields, brown fields and parking lots within city limits. The development of these lands should be the first priority.

3. Hamilton has a vast area filled with detached single-family homes, making public transit difficult to provide in a cost-effective manner. These suburbs should be transitioned to higher density housing with the main roads featuring mixed commercial/residential. Re-development of these urban sprawls should be the second priority.

4. The City of Hamilton will be able to meet its growth forecast for many years to come if development occurs in the areas outlined in point 2 and 3.

5. Due to climate change, as a province, we need to minimize our reliance on passenger vehicles. This can only happen when individuals can use public transit or walk to meet their needs.

6. Due to climate change, as a province, we need to transition from imported food to locally sourced foods as much as possible. This can only happen if we have farmland available. The lands identified in map 9 and 10 currently contain a significant amount of fertile farmland. I am not familiar with the lands in map 11, so do not know how fertile the soils are.

7. Due to climate change, Ontarians must come to the realization that if they do not work from home, they must live close to where they work. In my opinion, the City of Hamilton is encouraging mixed use commercial buildings which supports this vision.