[thistleclub]

Via Joey Coleman:

"The plan will require an official plan amendment for the height, minimal setback, and parking variances.

If approved, the OPA will change the skyscape of Hamilton by dropping requirements for setbacks and neighbourhood character along James Street North, and potentially across the entire downtown.

Presently, zoning requires new buildings keep with the character of their surroundings, often requiring setbacks as height increases.

Balconies are not considered the front of the building, and often the setback is the balcony.

If approved, this proposal will allow for similar 22-storey buildings on any similar sized James Street North commercial district property.

If the City denies similar exceptions to a developer, they will be able to successfully appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board....

The proposal was not positively received by the City’s Design Review Panel, in a meeting which the public was banned from attending at the request of the developer’s agent.

The City’s Director of Planning agreed to the ban and developers concerns about public opposition to the project. (The City Manager stated this was a violation of policy and will never happen again.)

The Panel did not approve the proposal and it is scheduled to return to a future Design Review meeting.

We do not know why the Panel did not give its approval.

The City’s Director of Planning did not keep any documentation from the meeting.

In response to an Freedom of Information request for meeting documents, the City states they kept no records.

This is highly unusual. City staff are diligent in recording meetings and keep copies of all planning documentation – except in this case."