LimeRidge area to be transformed over next 20 years
By Gord Bowes, News Staff
News
Jan 23, 2009
http://www.hamiltonmountainnews.com/news/article/160419
A push for dense residential development around LimeRidge Mall and cozy commercial areas on Upper James and Upper Wellington which cater to the shopper are among the changes proposed in the city's draft urban official plan.
As far as the Mountain is concerned, the draft plan does not include a lot of change in land use because of incremental changes over the years, but there is a movement afoot to transform commercial districts into mixed use areas promoting residential growth.
The biggest difference in the draft, says Joanne Hickey-Evans, manager of policy planning, is designating the LimeRidge Mall area as a sub-regional node, a designation which will open the door for more dense housing.
"We're looking at taking the Limeridge area and transitioning it over time so it becomes more of a mixed use area," she said at an open house Monday at the Salvation Army Citadel on Stone Church Road.
One example of change in the Limeridge area, she said, would be redeveloping a one-level commercial building into an apartment building with stores or offices on the lower levels.
The residential growth will support the commercial enterprises in the area, said Hickey- Evans.
While it has been continually updated in bits and pieces, the core of the official plan governing the Mountain area was developed in 1982. Sixteen months ago, the city began boiling down the seven official plans — which govern land use and guide growth in the municipality — that came with amalgamation in 2000 to create the one to govern urban areas.
Input from this round of public sessions will be used to modify the proposed plan and a final round of open houses will be held in April.
A final draft is to be presented to the Economic Development and Planning Committee meeting in June, where the formal public meeting, as directed by the Planning Act, will take place.
Approval of the urban official plan could take several years. The rural one was completed in September 2006, but did not receive provincial approval until this month.
The new document, once approved, will be in place until 2031. The city is expected to grow to a population of 660,000 in that time.
Also in the draft plan are two areas — Upper James between Brucedale and Fennell, and Upper Wellington from Inverness to Queensdale — which will be designated "pedestrian predominant streets."
"Economically, commercial areas will do much better if there is a strong pedestrian orientation," said Ms. Hickey-Evans.
Properties with ground floor commercial outlets close to the street and apartments above will be encouraged, while street furniture, better lighting and other amenities will be installed to make those areas appealing for pedestrians.
The areas will be similar to the Concession Street business district.
More public sessions are being held over the next two weeks: Hamilton Convention Centre at Jan. 26; Jan. 29 at the Binbrook Agricultural Hall; and Feb. 2 at the Ancaster Salvation Army Church in the Meadowlands. There are two different times for residents to attend the meetings either from 2-4 p. m. or 6-8 p. m.