Judge dismisses aerotropolis appeal
http://www.thespec.com/news-story/41...opolis-appeal/
By Daniel Nolan
A citizens' group opposed to the largest urban boundary expansion in Hamilton's history has lost its bid to take the matter to court.
Hamiltonians for Progressive Development and the City of Hamilton were in court Thursday to argue about appealing the Ontario Municipal Board's approval of the expansion in July.
The project has been nicknamed aerotropolis because it involves the city taking 1,800 hectares, including 555 hectares for employment land, into its urban boundary around the Hamilton airport. The city says it is running out of shovel-ready land and that the airport site project will create jobs and has the potential to create $50 million a year in taxes.
HPD and other groups argued the project was too large, not needed and will swallow up valuable agricultural land.
A judge dismissed HPD's bid to take the matter to court, meaning it can proceed to an OMB hearing next year to determine the boundaries of aerotropolis.
HPD co-chair Michael Desnoyers said the group is disappointed in the decision, especially since the judge would not grant a one-week delay to allow their lawyer Eric Gillespie to be present. The case was argued by another lawyer from his firm.
"I think we would have been in a better position to debate the city's position," Desnoyers added.
Councillor Lloyd Ferguson, a big supporter of aerotropolis, said city officials had anticipated the leave to appeal would be dismissed. He believed HPD "had their day in court."