Transit inclusion key to deal for rezoning
April 06, 2010
Eric McGuinness
The Hamilton Spectator
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/748422
SmartCentres and two citizens' groups have a deal to avoid an Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) appeal of Hamilton's decision to rezone employment lands at the Queen Elizabeth Way and Centennial Parkway for a Walmart-based big-box retail development.
Michael Desnoyers of Hamiltonians for Progressive Development (HPD) said his group and Environment Hamilton won changes in pedestrian and transit access in return for dropping their appeals.
The $100-million development is expected to include a Walmart store relocated from Eastgate Square, other stores, office space and a hotel, all on the site of a former scrapyard.
HPD said the settlement approved by the OMB requires the shopping-centre developer to work with the city to install sidewalks from the site south along the east side of Centennial and to include HSR bus layover facilities on site.
The company also agrees to work with the city and HSR to extend full-time transit service to the site, including a provision to subsidize operating costs, if necessary, to a maximum of $50,000 a year for four years.
Desnoyers added that land designated for the hotel and office space remains zoned for employment use and that SmartCentres agrees that any change would require a rezoning with opportunity for public input.
"Given the circumstances, we're as an organization relatively pleased to be able to reach a settlement as opposed to going to a full-blown OMB hearing," he said.
"I won't, however, jump up and down and say we're tickled pink."
In announcing the settlement, HPD and Environment Hamilton said they believe "every acre of land which remains designated as employment lands within Hamilton's urban boundary means one less acre of urban sprawl onto our irreplaceable agricultural foodlands."
Both citizens' groups are still appealing plans for another Walmart-anchored development, a $55-million project at Fifty Road and the QEW, proposed by Mady Development and PenEquity.
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