I fully support this…

I fully support this application by City Housing Hamilton.
Affordable housing is urgently needed in the City of Hamilton to assist with the current State of Emergency in the area of homelessness that exists in the City. On a daily basis, residents witness the plight of the homeless in parks and on the very streets themselves. As noted, the subject lands are currently designated in the Hamilton-Wentworth Official Plan as Urban Area and zoned DE/S-65 (Low Density Multiple Dwellings District).
CN Rail has stalled development of these lands for 6 years with no resolution in sight. Their stated concern lies with the proximity of the proposed development to their rail yards, particularly the Bayfront shunting yard off Stuart Street. They cite potential negative impacts on residents from dust, odour, vibration, and noise associated with train operations.
I expect CN is concerned about potential liabilities arising from these conditions, a reasonable concern I these litigious times, however residential dwellings already exist in the same vicinity of their rail lines in addition to the many residences province wide that abut rail lines. Why this particular development is of any more concern is not clear. Surely the City and CN can develop a mitigation strategy to reasonably contain these hazards.
As a resident of Locke Street South who lives alongside the rail line I am familiar with these issues and can say that they have had minimal impact on my quality of life. Regardless of my personal situation I expect that residents experiencing homelessness would happily trade their present situation for a stable home, even when that home could be subject to some discomfort arising from their proximity to a rail line.
Please provide all due consideration for this application from City of Hamilton.