Planning Committee - February 24, 2026

City Council Meeting – Consolidated Summary

The meeting covered planning, zoning, heritage designation, and private-tree bylaw updates, with several items advancing toward approval or requiring further public input. Key actions included Cumberland Avenue zoning (338 Cumberland), the 448 Book Road appeal, and a heritage designation item deferred for more congregation input, alongside ongoing transparency efforts and public-engagement work on tree bylaws.

Five Most Important Topics Discussed

1) Public Disclosure of Municipal Benchmarks and Transparency Initiative - Topic details: Council discussed plans to publish application benchmarks and performance data, with dashboards and regular assessments to improve transparency. - Key quotes: - "Our hope is to have lifetime data through dashboarding... and do a more detailed assessment and analysis perhaps once a year." - "To me, the updating of the benchmarks doesn't have to be on a daily basis, but I think on a monthly basis, that would be reasonable." - Public impact: Residents would gain clearer, more frequent insight into processing timelines and municipal performance, with opportunities to participate in future disclosures. - File/bylaw references: Not tied to a specific file in this portion.

2) Zoning Bylaw Amendment for 338 Cumberland Avenue (File PEED 260) - Topic details: Rezoning from Urban Protected Residential and Restricted Light Industrial to a site-specific Low-Density Multiple Dwellings district to enable a 3-story, 12-unit stacked townhouse development; holding provision to secure site remediation and noise mitigation. - Key quotes: - "The site is comprised of two separate parcels... currently occupied by a single detached dwelling and an active industrial waste management facility, both of which are proposed to be removed." - "The development represents a compatible and efficient intensification and contributes to the city's housing supply." - Public impact: Affects housing supply and neighborhood character; remediation and noise mitigation will influence timeline and acceptance. - File/byline references: PEED 260.

3) 448 Book Road, Ancaster – Official Plan Amendment / Zoning Bylaw Amendment (PED260) and Ontario Land Tribunal Appeal - Topic details: OPA and ZBA process for lands at 448 Book Road with an appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal due to delays; project includes five industrial buildings, a road, stormwater pond, and a natural heritage system with wetland compensation. - Key quotes: - "The applicants are Kierland 448 Book Road Limited... proposing wetland compensation of course." - "We were working with the applicants... and then we received an appeal shortly thereafter." - Public impact: Highlights process delays, environmental considerations, and the appeals process that affect timelines and community input. - File/byline references: PED260.

4) Private Tree Bylaw Harmonization and Fee/Process Updates (PEED 26014; Appendices A–C) - Topic details: Introduction of a citywide private-tree bylaw to harmonize regulations; emphasis on trees 45 cm DBH or larger; discussion of exemptions, enforcement, and permit fees; emphasis on public engagement. - Key quotes: - "Appendix A is a new citywide bylaw that's superseding the three existing pre-amalgamation bylaws." - "We are going to be coming back in the summer after we've reviewed those fees in terms of the finalized process." - "Understanding today we're just receiving it and giving direction for staff to go out and do public engagement." - Public impact: Potential permit requirements and costs for tree removals; broader implications for urban canopy and public understanding of measurement standards. - File/byline references: Draft Harmonized Private Tree Bylaw (PEED 26014); Appendices B and C.

5) Heritage Designation – First Pilgrim United Church (PEED 25070) - Topic details: Recommendation to designate the church as a heritage property under the Ontario Heritage Act; congregation opposed designation; property listed on the municipal heritage register since 2014 and currently up for sale. - Key quotes: - "This property has been identified as a candidate for designation and listed on the city's municipal heritage register since 2014." - "The congregation opposed the designation." - Public impact: Designation would influence future alterations and adaptive reuse, with potential financial incentives discussed to support preservation; the sale of the property adds complexity. - File/byline references: PEED 25070.

Opportunities for Public Input

• Public engagement and input opportunities were repeatedly highlighted, including:
  • Pre-registration to be a delegate for public meetings.
  • Written submissions on by-laws and amendments during consultation periods.
  • Public notices (examples include telecommunication protocol updates published in the Hamilton Spectator on February 6, 2026).
• How to participate: Monitor official notices, contact the planning department or clerk for submission instructions, and participate in site-plan reviews and by-law consultations.

Motions Passed, Rejected, or Deferred (Titles and Outcomes)

• Approval of Agenda

  • Outcome: Passed unanimously.

• Approval of Previous Minutes (February 3, 2026)

  • Outcome: Passed unanimously.

• Receipt of Items 7.1 and 7.2 (Active Official Plan Amendments; 448 Book Road Appeal)

  • Outcome: Passed unanimously.

• Publish Municipal Benchmarks (Public Disclosure Initiative)

  • Outcome: No formal motion passed; council expressed support; next steps assigned to IT for feasibility and frequency determinations.

• 338 Cumberland Avenue – Zoning Bylaw Amendment (File PEED 260)

  • Outcome: Passed (zoning amendment approved); next steps include site plan and remediation measures.

• Public Engagement for Private Tree Bylaw (Appendices B/C; Draft Harmonized Private Tree Bylaw)

  • Outcome: Passed; staff directed to conduct public engagement.

• Designate First Pilgrim United Church (Ontario Heritage Act) as Heritage Property (PEED 25070)

  • Outcome: Deferred to allow for further congregation consultation and objections.

• Saltfleet Avenue Naming (New collector road in Stony Creek)

  • Outcome: Passed unanimously (10-0).

• Ontario Land Tribunal Appeal – Lands at 1630 Main Street West and 69 Saunders Boulevard (Item 12.3)

  • Outcome: Passed unanimously to handle the appeal; content remains confidential.

• Drive-Thru Reconfiguration (as applicable)

  • Outcome: Passed (7-2).

• Holding Provisions Near Rail Developments (Noise/Vibration)

  • Outcome: Passed.

• Tree Removal/Landscape Plan (Private Trees)

  • Outcome: Deferred for further environmental discussion and replacement strategies.

• Finalize Permit Fees and Penalties (Tree Permits)

  • Outcome: Deferred; affordability analysis to be included in final report.

• Public Engagement/Tree Giveaway Promotion

  • Outcome: Passed (public engagement prioritized); promotion deferred to a future meeting.

• Update Telecommunication Tower / Protocol (pending results)

  • Outcome: Not fully resolved in this portion; presentation completed and further discussion pending.

Councillors Present

• In-person: Chair Tatison; Bey; Cooper; M. Wilson; McMaken; Wang; Casar
• Online: Francis; Cretch; Nan; Wayne; Kamikin
• Absent: Pauls

Note: Attendance varied by section; the above list reflects individuals identified as present either in person or online across the provided transcripts.