Oh no! Density in Ancaster.
City, home builder find middle ground
Reach compromise on Ancaster development densities
July 06, 2009
Nicole MacIntyre
The Hamilton Spectator
A housing development on the former Ancaster fairgrounds will bring neighbours closer together — but not as close as originally planned.
Councillor Lloyd Ferguson and Mattamy Homes worked out a compromise tonight to reduce the number of smaller lots in the subdivision at Garner Road East and Kitty Murray Lane.
The project will be less dense with only 68 lots with 30-foot frontages, instead of 98. The smaller lots will also be restricted to the inside of the subdivision.
“I still don’t like it. I still think it’s wrong for Ancaster,” said Ferguson, adding he also knew he didn’t have enough support to stop the proposal. “I can read the tea leaves.”
While other areas across the city have seen similar developments with small lots, Ferguson argued the Mattamy proposal didn’t fit with Ancaster’s character.
Planner James Webb, who represents Mattamy, said the developer agreed to the new deal to avoid defer delays.
“Call it a reasonable solution,” he said, noting he still believes the original proposal represented good planning.
The reduction in smaller lots will mean the development will lose about five units and have a grand total of around 320 townhouses, single-family homes and condominiums.
Mattamy increased the project’s density when it sold part of the property to the Catholic school board to build a new school. The city’s approval was critical to allow the school to be open by fall 2010, said Webb.
Residents submitted a petition opposing the development’s density.
Ferguson said he told residents the compromise was likely the best they could hope for.
Provincial and city policies encourage high density in new housing developments to minimize the need to push out the urban boundary.
nmacintyre@thespec.com
905-526-3299