Ms Ivanic Hello Erika Please…

Ms Ivanic

Hello Erika
Please see below.
 
Thank, you kindly.

Michael J. Corrado
 
Micor Developments Inc.
Hamilton, Ontario

Municipal Services Office - Central Ontario
Address
13th floor 
777 Bay Street 
Toronto, ON 
M7A 2J3 
Canada

RE: ERO # 019-5732.   City of Hamilton Official Plan Amendment Number 167
 
Sir/Madam

With regards to the City of Hamilton Official Plan Amendment Number 167,  we wish to advise the Province of our dissatisfaction with the municipal process  as well as offer our advice to you as the planning authority for this province. .We have been following the City of Hamilton's MCR process and advise the Minister not approve the official plan amendment as proposed as it does not implement Provincial Policy or the findings of the extensive background planning studies and related staff recommendations submitted to Council over the past several years. Hamilton Council is asking the Province to approve the amendments which fail to expand the City’s urban boundary that is necessary to accommodate growth until 2051 in accordance with the Provincial Growth Plan. We currently have a housing supply crisis in southern Ontario amd a major contributor of this problem are due to actions such as those being taken by the City of Hamilton to not expand its urban boundary reasonably, 
 
The City of Hamilton's  MCR process concluded an urban boundary expansion of approximately 1,340 hectares was required.  Council, ignored these findings and chose to pander to a few overzealous activists who fail to recognize the shortcomings of their ideas.  A no-boundary decision  will not work because  the level of intensification required  would not practically be accommodated within the built-up area without serious consequences including:
• lack of sewer, water and road infrastructure in mature areas of the City which were not planned and designed to accommodate this intensive level of urbanization;
• lack of community facilities such as schools, parks, transit and protective services (fire and police) necessary to accommodate the intensified population growth;
• increased property taxes to accommodate improvements to infrastructure and community facilities as noted above;
• land use compatibility issues in mature/stable neighbourhoods of the City to accommodate densities and building heights not contemplated in planning for the City;and,
• social and environmental impacts resulting from over-concentration of populations in confined areas of the urban area.
The Province has correctly identified a critical land supply issue to balance an appropriate level of intensification with measured expansions to the City’s urban boundary to meet market demand for a wide range of housing types. We fully support staff’s original recommendation to expand the urban boundary by at least 1,340 hectares by 2051. This can be done effectively in accordance with Provincial Policy to protect sensitive environmental and prime agricultural lands. I/we recommend that the Minister modify OPA 167 to expand the urban boundary in accordance with those areas that:
• are infill in nature and are proximate to the City’s current urban boundary;
• can be easily serviced by existing and planned infrastructure;
• can be integrated successfully into the City’s Natural Heritage system;
• does not utilize prime agricultural uses; and,
• results in a positive financial impact on the City’s capacity to accommodate existing and future populations.
The Upper West Side Area (formerly Twenty Road West) can accomplish all these objectives and can immediately deliver “shovel ready” affordable/attainable housing utilizing only a portion (120 hectares) of the required 1340 hectares needed by 2051.

We strongly recommend that the Minister modify OPA 167 to accommodate the recommended1340 hectares of land in an expanded urban boundary scenario and include the Upper West Side Area to fully implement Provincial Planning and good planning practice in the City of Hamilton. If you have any questions please contact me. 
 

Sincerely,

    MICOR DEVELOPMENTS INC.
 
    Michael J. Corrado