Stoney Creek development called “abomination” by neighbours; developer’s appeal labelled “bogus”

A 304-unit development in Stoney Creek called an “ultra density abomination” by local residents has been forwarded to Hamilton’s City Solicitor after the developer filed an appeal with the Ontario Land Tribunal over delays in granting re-zoning approvals.

Mikmada Homes wants to build an eight-storey building and three-and-a-half and four-storey stacked townhouses on a 1.61-hectare lot on Paramount Drive, a proposal neighbours, City staff and Ward 9 Councillor Brad Clark say is “too high and too dense” for the community.

The initial application for the development was submitted on behalf of Mikmada on November 18, 2022. No decision was rendered by Council in the ensuing year but a report by planning staff outlined several areas of concerns with the scope of the project, including inadequate infrastructure capacity to service the proposed development.

“The applicant had also not yet demonstrated to the City’s satisfaction that shadow impacts had been mitigated, that there was an appropriate transition in height to the adjacent school site, and that the proposed development was compatible with existing, and future uses in the surrounding area and enhanced the character of the existing neighbourhood.”

An open house attracted hundreds of people publicly voicing their displeasure with the project and the City received 449 pages of documents from residents of the east Hamilton community. There were also more than a dozen public delegates at Tuesday’s Planning Committee meeting and 19 written submissions, all in opposition.

• “It’s proximity (sandwiched between) TWO schools and TWO daycares has always been worrisome. The request to rezone the land to high density in order to cram an 8-story building and over 100 town homes is outrageous.” – Cathy Biggs
• “We are not averse to it being developed but to add 300 plus units to an area just over 2 acres is in our opinion dangerous.” – Marsha Pead
• “There is absolutely no justification for this ultra density abomination.” – Chris Peckham

“We support density and height when it makes sense,” Clark said at Tuesday’s committee meeting. “This doesn’t make sense.”

He also said the community made it “very clear” their feelings on the proposal. “The developer ignored them.”

Clark emphasized development can happen at the location at 1065 Paramount Drive, “but at lower density and lower height” and called Mikmada “obstinate” for not modifying the application to better suit the neighbourhood.

According to the provincial Planning Act, an Official Plan Amendment and a Zoning By-law Amendment application may be appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal after 120 days if a municipality has not made a decision on an application.

Clark, however, called Mikmada’s appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal “bogus.”

“They’re appealing because they didn’t like the staff report.”

The vote to refer the development to the solicitor to “inform the City’s position” on the application was approved unanimously.