Saving Hamilton’s prime farmland from suburban sprawl
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Sprawl Alert!
The Ontario government has gone through the back door to allow sprawl to destroy our unprotected farmland and wetlands.
Bill 185 now allows land speculators to apply for urban boundary expansions at any time, anywhere and the final decision on approval or denial no longer lies with the Municipal Council, it now lies with the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) which we know rules in favour of developers almost every time.
Join guest speakers Phil Pothen, land-use lawyer for Environmental Defence, and Ward 12 Councillor Craig Cassar to discuss how we can defend Hamilton's firm urban boundary against speculator expansion.
Wednesday, November 20th, 2024 from 7 - 8:30pm on Zoom. RSVP above.
This webinar is open to all—so please forward the registration link to others and share in your circles!
Learn what residents can do to help protect farmland and wetlands and Stop Sprawl... again!
Hosted by Hamilton 350, Environment Hamilton, Stop Sprawl HamOnt, and Save Our Streams Hamilton.
More information below
November 2024 update:
Developer-initiated Urban Boundary Expansion applications to pave Hamilton White Belt farmland are flooding in to the City Planning department thanks to Provincial Bill 185. Your voice is needed at the Community and City meetings being held in person and online in November and December! Public feedback will guide the City on how to best process and evaluate these applications.
Visit Engage Hamilton for City meeting dates.
Learn more about why the White Belt is at risk and why it differs from the Greenbelt HERE
September 2024 update:
Please SHOW UP to the upcoming Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) hearings!
Thanks to the Province’s new Bill 185, “Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, 2024” land speculators are appealing Hamilton’s firm urban boundary to the Ontario Land Tribunal.
Please send your comments register to attend the virtual online hearings!
Details above under “Save Farmland” tab.
We have till May 10, 2024 to say NO the Province's latest attempt to enable suburban sprawl on Hamilton farmland. Proposed Bill 185 the "Cutting Red Tape Act" would allow developers to appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal for approval if Hamilton City Council denies their application to expand our urban boundary and build McMansions on our farmland. This puts the fate of our urban boundary in the hands of developers and the provincial tribunal. The proposed Bill also includes a prohibition on third party appeals which means only developers, not citizens, can appeal. Take action now by sending a quick message to the Province and MPPs so they hear loud and clear that cities should control their boundaries, not developers.
Click on the image to read the April 17, 2024 Spectator article
TAKE ACTION below!
TAKE ACTION by May 10, 2024!!
Send a message to PC MPPs and the Province using the talking points below.
Use the points below to write your submission
Click the image to the right to open the ERO posting
Click on the blue “Submit a Comment” button
Choose to either Log in, Register for an account or Comment without registering.
Write your comment and hit “Submit” at the bottom.
Don’t forget to copy your ERO submission and easily email it to MPPs HERE
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on ERO 019-8369.
Please note that I am NOT in favour of the following proposals, and I strongly request that these be removed from Bill 185.
The reinstatement of the appeal rights for private developers to be able to challenge a municipality at the OLT when that municipality says no to an urban boundary expansion request. These appeal rights were removed in 2006 because they promote 1950’s-style suburban sprawl and favour developers’ profits over sound municipal planning. We must focus on building infill development such as fourplexes, which will control sprawl, save farmland, wetlands and woodlots, and mitigate the effects of the climate emergency.
A prohibition on third party appeals - which would prevent community members from challenging planning decisions that we don't support.
Transfer of planning responsibilities from regional governments to lower tier municipalities which don't have the resources and expertise to plan effectively and regionally. This will open up lower tier municipalities to pressure from private sector developers who seek profit at the expense of regular Ontarians.
Changes to pre-consultation where local government and often community have the opportunity to learn, provide input and influence development in our communities. Proposed changes would weaken the voice of local councils and community members.
Municipal Pre-Application Process changes to allow consultation to be voluntary and allow an applicant to challenge complete application requirements to the OLT at any time, rather than only having a time-limited window once a municipality rejects an application as not being “complete”.
Please note that I am IN FAVOUR of keeping the following proposals
Reduction of parking minimums
Promoting Additional Residential Units (ARUs)
“Use it or lose it” tools to stop developers from holding on to land for long periods without developing it
Click the image to read Osler Law’s synopsis of Bill 185. —>
“Most significantly, the Bill proposes to reinstate the ability to appeal the refusal official plan amendment applications that propose settlement area boundary expansions. This appeal prohibition was first introduced in 2006. Combined with the proposed changes to the Provincial Policy Statement, private sector applications for settlement area boundary expansions now can be made at any time, and appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal.”
April 10, 2024 update
The Provincial Government’s new “Cutting Red Tape” Bill 185 is another attempt by this government to force suburban sprawl onto unwilling municipalities.
“Together, the new law and the proposed Provincial Planning Statement would effectively wipe out the protective Settlement Area Boundaries and Municipal Comprehensive Review processes that prevent low-density sprawl from destroying what remains of farmland and natural areas outside the Greenbelt. Under the proposed Provincial Policy Statement, land speculators could demand at any time that farmland, wetlands and wildlife habitat be earmarked for sprawl development, with the new law letting them appeal any refusal.”
Click the image to read the statement by Environmental Defence
October 23, 2023 update
The Minister of Municipal Affairs & Housing has announced that the Provincial government will reverse their forced urban expansion decision! This means 5,400 acres of farmland will be saved in Hamilton!
Click the images to read more.
October, 2023 update
Fabulous coverage by The Narwhal!
Just who is driving the decision to force the expansion of Hamilton’s urban boundary? Click the image to read the article.
“The records show unnamed parties requested dozens of the changes Ontario made to Hamilton’s growth plan, and more than a third of the 77 changes had no listed purpose or rationale.
“These documents show that we live in a province run by third parties and Mr. Xs,” Sandy Shaw, a Hamilton-area NDP MPP, said in an interview, referring to an unnamed development lobbyist who had direct access to ministry officials about the Greenbelt, according to an integrity commissioner report.
“This is just Greenbelt 2.0,” Shaw said. “Once again, the decision wasn’t based on evidence, consultation, expert advice. And it was made behind closed doors.”
November 2023 update
Similar to the Greenbelt Grab, the forced expansion of Hamilton’s urban boundary is now also being called into question. In Nov 2023, city council will vote on a motion to call for an RCMP investigation into the PC government’s forced expansion onto Hamilton farmland.
Hamilton students! Take action against sprawl!
Please sign petition to help them reach 2500!
New Report:
Land supply is not the reason for limited housing supply
Integrity Commissioner’s
Damning Report
BREAKING
Ecojustice, on behalf of Environmental Defence, has served the Ontario government with a notice of application for a judicial review of its unilaterally imposed changes to Hamilton’s official plan.
Auditor General of Ontario, Bonnie Lysyk, issues 93-page report on how and why land was removed from the Greenbelt.
Contact MPPs and tell them to reverse this decision!
Get their email addresses here.
Some important points from the report below:
Greenbelt land was not needed to meet the housing target.
The Ministry of Agriculture said about 76 percent of the 7,400 acres affected was active farmland last year. The Government says they removed 7,400 acres of the Greenbelt but added 9,400 acres elsewhere. However, they fail to mention that 7,000 acres of the newly added land was already protected by other means anyway and would not be developable. So what they did is add 2,400 acres and remove 7,400 acres from the Greenbelt. Net loss of 5,000 acres.
Lysyk found that how the land sites were selected was not transparent, fair, objective nor fully informed.
Lysyk found that 12 of the 15 parcels of land chosen for removal from the Greenbelt had been, as noted by the housing minister’s Chief of Staff, requested for removal by developers or their representatives.
MPAC estimated that removing the 15 land sites from the Greenbelt has the potential to increase their value by $8.28 billion for a few select developers.
The Auditor General’s report also called on the government to
“re-evaluate” the decision to change the Greenbelt boundaries.
Photo Credit: Hamilton Naturalists’ Club
Our Stop Sprawl Mega Rally on Dec 4
What can you do to help stop the land grab?
And Call the Premier and MPPs! Hamilton and Halton need their municipal decisions respected. Contact these MPPs to let them know.
Local Hamilton Conservative MPPs:
Donna Skelly Flamborough/Glanbrook Tel.905-679-3770
Neil Lumsden Stoney Creek MPP Tel.905-662-8755
And Halton Region Conservative MPPs:
Stephen Crawford Oakville MPP Tel. 905-827-5141
Effie Triantafilopoulos Burlington MPP Tel. 905-825-2455
Natalie Pierre Burlington MPP Tel. 905-639-7924
Gill Parm Milton MPP Tel. 905-878-1729
Ted Arnott Wellington-Halton Hills MPP 519-787-5247
And also:
Premier Doug Ford 416-325-1941
Steve Clark - Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing 416-585-7000 or 613-342-9522
Steve.Clark@pc.ola.org
David Piccini - Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks 905-372-4000
Todd Smith - Minister of Energy 613-962-1144
Lisa Thompson - Minister of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs
519-396-3007 or 519-523-4251
Lisa.Thompsonco@pc.ola.org
Check www.ola.org for MPPs in your area. They need to hear from us!
Sign this Environmental Defence Petition.
Environmental Defence and Democracy Watch called on the Ontario Provincial Police to investigate whether the provincial government’s apparent leak of secret plans to allow residential development on 15 specific areas within the Greenbelt amounted to a criminal breach of trust by a public officer.
More shenanigans from the province even after Hamilton agreed to provide the required number of homes until 2051.
Democracy Dismissed
by Citizens At City Hall
To save farmland, we need a Mayor & Councillors who will continue to keep our urban boundary fixed.
See how our new Mayor & Councillors answered our survey on keeping the urban boundary fixed and building affordable housing in the city.
Read Toronto Star opinion piece on sprawl HERE.
Hamiltonians working to preserve our farmland, not pave it.
Great day for FarmFest out at Manorun Organic Farm with the National Farmers Union and people concerned about preserving farmland.
We did it! In early 2022, Council voted for No Urban Boundary Expansion in Hamilton.
Thank you to everyone who requested a lawn sign, donated to the cause, or wrote or called their Councillor! You helped make it happen!
We need Hamilton to save farmland and build more affordable, middle-density homes.
As well, 50,000 acres of Farmland and Natural Heritage across Ontario are at risk of becoming car-dependent sprawl. See Stop Sprawl Peel, Stop Sprawl Halton
Stop Sprawl Orillia, Stop Sprawl York Region, Stop Sprawl Durham and Stop Sprawl Oxford.
What tools did we use to help save 3,300 acres of prime farmland in Hamilton?
Get some tools and tips here.
To help, subscribe to our newsletter & sign the Ontario Federation of Agriculture petition below.
Mobilization to create a better city for all
Prevent Ontario’s Food and Farms from Disappearing forever.
Sign this Ontario Federation of Agriculture Petition.
Let’s do this right. Sprawl is not the answer.
No Urban Boundary Expansion will save farmland for generations to come and improve the existing city.
We can grow within our urban boundary.
Hamilton is a growing city with booming education, healthcare and tech sectors, plus a dynamic arts and culture scene. Now’s the time to build within the existing city. Investing within our current urban boundary preserves surrounding farmland, lowers greenhouse gas emissions, and ensures our tax dollars are used to maintain existing infrastructure. By building on under-utilized land within the city limits, we can create more affordable, walkable, bikeable and less car-dependent neighbourhoods. This promotes healthier, more active lifestyles. Developing within our existing city limits supports small, local businesses, vibrant neighbourhoods and healthier citizens – for today and decades to come.
We must preserve vital farmland.
Local growing regions are crucial to our food security. Only 7.3% of Canada is farmable land, and most of that prime agricultural land is located right here in Southern Ontario. And yet, 175 acres of Ontario farmland are lost every day to urban development. When will it stop? The City of Hamilton previously proposed rezoning 3,300 acres of prime agricultural land for sprawling, car-dependent, residential subdivisions. But residents said no! Council agreed and we’re on a path to preserving farmland and creating great neighbourhoods. What would have been at stake: family farms, agricultural employment, local food security, as well as farmland-adjacent watersheds, wildlife habitat, conservation areas and public recreation spaces.
How ‘no sprawl’ groups are defying Doug Ford’s Toronto area development plan
Residents vow to fight province’s plan that critics say will gobble up farmland.
By Noor Javed
The provincial government wants developer profits
over healthy growth.
StopSprawlHamOnt weighs in @theHamiltonSpec
Land Speculator ties to government
“Eight of Ontario’s most powerful land developers own thousands of acres of prime real estate near the proposed route of the controversial Highway 413, a National Observer/Torstar investigation has found.
Four of the developers are connected to Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservative government through party officials and former Tory politicians now acting as registered lobbyists.
If built, the road will raze 2,000 acres of farmland, cut across 85 waterways and pave nearly 400 acres of protected Greenbelt land in Vaughan. It would also disrupt 220 wetlands and the habitats of 10 species-at-risk, according to the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority.”
Follow @stopthe413 and @stopbwgbypass on Twitter.
The cost of sprawl is significant. An Ottawa study showed the city pays $465/person per year to cover the cost of sprawl.
Opinion - Paul Shaker in TheSpec
Five ways for smarter growth in Hamilton
Five ways for smarter growth in Hamilton by Paul Shaker.
In the news
By Yuki Hayashi Wed., July 14, 2021
See what Hamiltonians thought about a developer-led campaign to increase sprawl
#sharpieshenanigans
