Stop Sprawl HamOnt is a grass roots volunteer organization consisting of concerned residents from all over Hamilton who successfully mobilized to stop City Council from voting to approve an urban boundary expansion onto 1340 ha of prime farmland in November, 2021. Since that time the Provincial government forced urban expansion, removed land from the Greenbelt, then reversed course and undid the forced expansion and restored the Greenbelt. Then the Province introduced Bill 185 - Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, 2024, and replaced the Provincial Policy Statement with the new Provincial Planning Statement. As a result, Hamilton’s firm urban boundary is once again under threat. There are now a number of active applications to force the expansion of Hamilton’s urban boundary. See: City of Hamilton Urban Boundary.
We believe the best direction for Hamilton is to adopt the model of a '15-minute city" with vibrant, walkable, accessible and climate resilient neighbourhoods. This can be achieved through zoning reform to allow for "missing middle density" and mixed housing types suitable for all stages of life and all income levels, within city boundaries and close to transit and jobs.
Stopping sprawl not only preserves Hamilton’s surrounding farmland and green spaces, but is a powerful climate solution as it focuses growth within the built up areas of the city where public transit exists, eliminating the need for a private automobile to get home.
