Drop in to see Hamilton’s Secondary Plan for the Downtown
Hamilton, ON – The City of Hamilton is hosting a drop-in Open House today at 6 pm at the David Braley Health Centre, 100 Main Street West, to share with citizens the proposed Secondary Plan and Zoning for Downtown Hamilton (Wards 2 and 3). Here you will learn how the various elements of the Plan work together with the proposed zoning to guide future development before it is presented to the Planning Committee on April 17, 2018.
The Secondary Plan and Zoning By-law will implement the vision for the downtown that was developed through consultation with the community and stakeholders.
Vision for Downtown
The downtown Hamilton of the future shall be a vibrant focus of attraction where all ages, abilities and incomes can live, work, learn, shop and play. The future downtown shall be healthy, safe, comfortable, accessible and a prosperous community that promotes a high quality of life. It will combine the best of our heritage, with new concepts and designs, while seamlessly linking together the downtown, surrounding neighbourhoods, the waterfront and the Niagara Escarpment.
The Secondary Plan will guide development in the downtown over the next 15 years. The City has set a goal of accommodating between 5,000 – 6,000 new dwelling units (8,500 – 10,000 people) in the downtown. The Secondary Plan and Zoning By-law changes are accompanied by a set of guidelines that will inform tall building development and assist staff when reviewing applications for tall buildings. These guidelines will ensure that the urban design objectives of the downtown are met.
The updated Secondary Plan and Zoning By-law is the culmination of seven years of work and reflects the input received from 34 public consultation events. The Plan was released early to allow citizens, and key stakeholders, with sufficient time to read the Plan before it is presented at the Planning Committee meeting on April 17, 2018.
Previous to this, a draft Plan was released in May 2017 and again in October 2017 and was open for public comment. During this period, City of Hamilton staff also met with key stakeholders and property owners on the draft plan to receive feedback. Based on the feedback received and further review of the Plan, the updated Plan incorporates revisions relating to building heights, land use permissions, and Section 37 Bonusing policies.
The Secondary Plan aims to direct development in a manner that contributes to quality of life and complete communities by supporting and promoting a strong economy, providing for a range of housing opportunities for all segments of the population, protecting and enhancing downtown’s culture and heritage and ensuring that there are great public places and spaces for everyone to enjoy.
Event details
Drop-In Open House
Date: Monday, April 9, 2018
Time: 6 to 8:30 pm
Location: David Braley Health Sciences Centre, 100 Main Street West Hamilton, L8P 1H6
Meeting Room: Second floor – Auditorium
Additional resources
- The Downtown Secondary Plan and related documents can be viewed at: www.hamilton.ca/downtownhamiltonreview