Hamilton City Council Meeting: Elfrida Urban Expansion Secondary Plan Application

Hamilton held a public meeting on a privately initiated secondary plan application for the Elfrida urban expansion lands. Staff said the meeting was intended to present the applicant's materials and gather public comments before a recommendation report goes to a special planning committee and council meeting on Aug. 25, 2026.

Topics Discussed

1. APPLICATION STATUS AND PROCESS

City staff said the Elfrida secondary plan application was submitted on April 30, 2026, and deemed complete in May 2026. Staff stressed that "this is a privately-initiated secondary plan application, NOT a city-led initiative" and that "city staff have not formed planning opinions on the application" at this stage. Director Gabe Hayworth said, "The purpose of the meeting is to inform the public of the application materials provided by the applicants" and to provide an "opportunity for the public to provide comments, questions before staff complete the recommendation reports."

Staff also noted that if council does not make a decision within the legislated timeline, "the applicants can appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal, which is the provincial body that adjudicates land use planning matters."

2. RELATIONSHIP TO PRIOR URBAN BOUNDARY DECISION

Staff said the same lands were part of an earlier urban boundary expansion application that council denied in June 2025. That decision has been appealed to the Ontario Land Tribunal, with a hearing scheduled for Jan. 18, 2027.

Staff said the secondary plan application is being reviewed on its own planning merits, but whether it can proceed ultimately depends on the outcome of the urban boundary appeal. As presented at the meeting, "a full build out of the Alfrida secondary plan area is projected to accommodate approximately 64,392 people with a minimum density of just over 70 people and jobs per hectare," which staff noted is lower than what had been proposed in the earlier urban boundary expansion application.

3. SCALE AND LAND USE OF THE PROPOSAL

The application covers a little more than 1,220 hectares. Meeting materials described the area as bounded by Second Road and Hendershot Road to the east, Golf Club Road to the south, Trinity Church Road to the southwest, an east-west hydro corridor to the northwest, Swayze Road and Upper Centennial Parkway to the northwest, and Mud Street to the north.

As presented at the meeting, the applicant is seeking to establish a secondary plan on the lands with "a mixture of residential, commercial, and other uses." The applicant estimates the area would accommodate "approximately a little over 64,000 people and a bit over 5,900 jobs for an approximated density of 71.7 person and jobs per hectare."

Materials presented said the lands currently contain about 148 dwellings, along with agricultural uses, commercial and industrial operations, natural heritage features and a hydro corridor.

4. INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORTATION AND FISCAL STUDIES

Presentation materials said the lands do not currently have municipal water service and would require major infrastructure, including watermain extensions and sanitary sewer works such as a new Lower Centennial Parkway trunk sewer.

Transportation material identified constraints at Upper Red Hill Valley Parkway and Rymal Road East, and at Upper Centennial Parkway and Mud Street East, with further assessment recommended. The proposal also includes an Elfrida Gateway transit hub. According to the presentation, "The proposed Olfrida Gateway is intended to be a central hub for Olfrida service by the E-Line Bus Rapid Transit route and connecting to areas such as Confederation Go and Eastgate Square."

Staff said outside peer reviews have been requested for several studies, including land use compatibility, air quality and odour, fiscal impacts and commercial land needs. One study submitted by the applicant estimated demand for "approximately 147,500 to 176,500 square meters of new retail service commercial space needed to service" the Elfrida lands and surrounding area.

5. COMMUNITY FEATURES, SCHOOLS AND CONSULTATION

The applicant's concept plan includes parks, schools, a range of housing types and retail space. Materials cited two community parks, 11 or 12 neighbourhood parks, public squares, and planned Catholic and public elementary and secondary schools. Housing types listed included single-detached, semi-detached, townhouses, apartments and condominiums.

Staff said the applicant also submitted a community infrastructure assessment. City staff said the assessment was intended "to evaluate the current and planned community infrastructure and identify where new recreational facilities, parks, public services, schools, and emergency services may be needed to support the existing surrounding area and anticipated population growth in Aldershot to the year 2051."

The applicant also reported engagement with several Indigenous communities, including the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, Six Nations of the Grand River, Huron-Wendat Nation and Métis Nation of Ontario. Opening the meeting, Hayworth said, "The city of Hamilton is situated upon the traditional territories of the Erie, Neutral, Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee, and Mississaugas."

Staff said public comments from the meeting will be incorporated into the recommendation report scheduled for Aug. 25, 2026.

Motions

• No motions passed, rejected or deferred were identified in the material provided.

Attendees

City staff present

• Gabe Hayworth, Director
• Charlie Tolman, Senior Project Manager, Policy Planning
• Melanie Pham, Program Lead, Sustainable Communities
• Jill Gki, Manager, Transportation Planning Services
• Gavin Norman, Manager, Infrastructure Planning
• Trevor Favretto, Senior Project Manager, Transit Strategy and Planning, Public Works
• Melissa Kitty, Natural Heritage Planner

Councillors present

• Not specified in the material provided.