The Zoning By-law Reform team is using the policies that the Policy Planning Section prepared, to create some new rules for Parks and Open Spaces. These two teams are working together to help make it easier for people to understand what has been changed and how they can get involved. These new rules clarify what kind of uses will be allowed in parks.
Right now we are only including new zoning for Parks and Open Spaces in the Urban Area. Any parks in the rural area will be considered when the Zoning By-law Reform team proceeds with Rural Zoning.
Uses and Types of Parks
New Parks and Open Spaces zones will be added to the New Zoning By-law. These new zones will help make parks and open spaces and their uses the same across the city.
The different kinds of uses for parks are:
- Active Recreation
Similiar parks located with a neighbourhood.
- Passive Recreation
Activities that involve relatively inactive pursuits such as walking, sitting, picnicking, card games, chess, checkers and similar table games.
The different types of Parks have been broken into 3 different zones:
- Neighbourhood Parks (P1)
Similiar parks located with a neighbourhood, such as:
- Play Structures
- Small Sports Fields
- Community Parks (P2)
Larger parks located on larger roads that attract more people from the whole community, such as:
- Arenas
- Community Centres
- Larger Sports Fields
- City Wide Parks (P3)
City Wide parks are special because they attract people from all over Hamilton, like Bayfront Park and Confederation Park, such as:
- Commercial Recreation
- Marinas
- Restaurants
Open Spaces are also being rezoned. These lands will be broken into 2 different zones:
- General Open Space (P4)
- Agriculture
- Cemeteries
- Community Gardens
- Golf Courses
- Picnic Areas
- Seasonal Camping Grounds
- Walking Paths
- Wildlife Preserves
- Conservation/Hazard Land (P5)
Timeline
Public Information Centres (PICs) were held June, 2005. Zoning By-Law Reform staff continues to respond to public input and are making revisions to the draft regulations with the intent of going to Committee before summer 2006.