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Condos and townhouses coming to Hamilton Chedoke brow lands

by Mark Newman | July 12, 2018

It's one of the most ambitious housing developments ever proposed for Hamilton Mountain.

Valery Homes is looking at building 764 condominium units and 110 townhouses on the nearly 11-hectare (24-acre) Chedoke brow lands.

According to preliminary information submitted to the city's planning department in February, the developer is planning to build a row of townhouses along Scenic Drive, plus more of those units further back on the west side of the site.

There will be nine condominium buildings around the site ranging from 4 to 12 storeys in height.

The historic Long and Bisby building will be torn down and replaced by one of the condo buildings. Sanatorium Road, which currently runs through the brow lands, will be closed and replaced by a private driveway.

Preliminary plans also call for a belt of green space about 30 metres wide running along the north side of the site near the Mountain brow.

There are no plans for any development on the wood lot or for the Cross of Lorraine, located near the brow on the northwest side of the property.

The multimillion-dollar plan is significantly larger than the 204 bungalows and townhouses Valery Homes proposed back in 2013 after acquiring the property from Deanlee Management of Mississauga.

The number of units also exceeds the 529 limit that was approved by the Ontario Municipal Board in 2012.

Paul Valeri, vice-president of Valery Homes/Valery Properties, noted their earlier plan was in relation to previous guidelines.

"While the OMB approved 529 units for the site in 2012, it is important to understand that decision was based on an older land-use policy framework in place at that time," he said via email. "In 2017, the province revised the growth plan wherein a minimum 60 per cent of all residential development occurring annual within the city must occur within the existing built boundary; an increase to the proposed unit count is being considered in response to this change in provincial policy direction."

Valeri noted it's too early to say when a final submission will be given to city planners who have asked Valery Homes to provide a variety of documentation, including a four-season environmental-impact study, tree management plan, traffic-impact study, a cultural heritage impact assessment and a draft subdivision plan before the application is deemed complete.

West Mountain Coun. Terry Whitehead said he will be "guided by the feelings of the residents" when it comes to whether he will support the project.

"Based on the past experiences I've had with Deanlee, I cannot see the community supporting over the amount (of units) that was determined by the OMB," he said.

Whitehead said overintensification of the brow lands and traffic will be the key issues for residents in the area.