We must act before the potential for this prime piece of real estate in Hamilton is squandered. Let's build a vibrant neighbourhood, bringing people close to the water's edge and downtown instead of building low-quality commercial buildings!
Dear Councillor Jason Farr
As a group of engaged citizens across the City of Hamilton, we are concerned that Council intends to proceed with an urban design study for the Barton-Tiffany Special Policy Area in the West Harbour while that area is designated largely for commercial use.
Commercial is not the best and highest use of these lands. The Setting Sail Secondary Plan study has determined the correct use for these lands, which should be the site of a mixed use, medium density residential neighbourhood between the downtown and the water’s edge.
At present, their use is constrained by two factors: the presumed contamination of the soils, and the noise emitted by the CNR marshalling yard, which limits the area available for residential development.
We recognize that CN will not currently accept residential development nearer than 150 metres from the yard.
In view of the fact that the City acknowledges at paragraph A.6.5.1.2.1 and following of Setting Sail that the Stuart Street Rail Yard is a Class III Industrial Facility as set out in Provincial Guidelines, and that a Class III facility is permitted to have “frequent outputs of major annoyance and there is a high probability of fugitive emissions” (A.6.3.5.1.2.1), we believe that Council, having given due consideration to the current economic function of the yard, must seek to have the rail yard relocated. It is the right long term strategy for continued development of the West Harbour waterfront.
We recognize that this relocation may require lengthy negotiation.
Accordingly, we ask you to prepare a notice of motion to Council in which you indicate that you will propose that Council direct staff to do the following:
And finally, since Setting Sail planning was conducted as a Class Environmental Assessment and was the product of the combination of expert opinion with public consultation obtained by way of a Community Liaison Committee, that staff be directed to
We the undersigned urge Council to immediately cease working towards an area of predominantly commercial use in the Barton-Tiffany area and, instead, to move forward with the aforementioned steps in creating a mixed-use, medium-density, residential neighbourhood in the Barton-Tiffany area linking downtown Hamilton with the water’s edge.
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