[LikeHamilton]

Committee gives clearance to aerotropolis project

Daniel Nolan October 6, 2010 TheSpec.com

Aerotropolis is taking flight.

The controversial project to open up land around the Hamilton airport to industrial and commercial development was approved 6-0 Tuesday by the planning and economic development committee.

The committee, however, also voted on a motion from Mayor Fred Eisenberger that after Phase 1, or 33 per cent of the project is developed, the city undertake a review to assess Hamilton’s need for additional employment lands. This will include a review and analysis of what the mayor called the “absorption rate” and the availability of existing brownfield and greenfield sites in the city’s employment areas.

Aerotropolis, which city staff say will bring in annual tax revenue of $52 million, and cost an estimated $353 million in infrastructure, was approved by committee members Tuesday night after hearing 30 delegations over the course of two days.

The issue now goes to city council for approval Oct. 13. Staff’s figures are based on the Airport Employment Growth District – popularly called aerotropolis – being fully developed by 2031. A consultant says 45 per cent of the jobs will be in wholesale trade, transportation and warehousing.

Ward 12 Councillor Lloyd Ferguson, chair of the committee, believed the project will help reduce city taxes and create jobs. He noted the majority of infrastructure costs will be funded by development charges.

“We have 35,000 people leave this city everyday for jobs and, in fairness, we should have them here,” Ferguson said after the vote. “They shouldn’t have to get on the QEW or the GO train and go to Toronto. We desperately need more commercial and industrial assessment.”

Ward 14 Councillor Robert Pasuta, a vice-chair of the planning committee, had some concerns about the project, but said he voted for it because he was confident the airport lands would attract developers.

“We heard delegations say it could be a good thing,” he said after the vote. “We heard delegations say it could be a bad thing… It’s a gamble, but at some point in time we have to move forward.”

Council had to move on the issue this fall or else see it deferred and dealt with by the new incoming council. That would have required a repeat of the community and business delegations. The planning committee earlier this year voted to defer the project to January 2011, but Eisenberger convinced council to change its mind due to an outcry from the business community. Council approved the concept of aerotropolis in June 2005.

dnolan@thespec.com

http://www.thespec.com/news/local/ar...opolis-project