Provincial Amendments to the Greenbelt Plan

Special Meeting of Planning Committee
The location of the September 14, 2023 Special Meeting of Planning Committee to discuss the Provincial Amendments to the Greenbelt Plan has moved!
NEW LOCATION: Ancaster Fairground at 630 Trinity Rd S. The meeting will be held in a hybrid format (both in person and through Webex).
HSR will be running a FREE SHUTTLE to and from the Ancaster Fairgrounds.
Background
On December 16, 2022, the Government of Ontario removed 795 hectares of land from the Greenbelt within the City of Hamilton. For a better illustration of the size of the land removed, 795 hectares is a little larger than the size of two Binbrooks. Council approved a motion on February 8, 2023 that the City of Hamilton opposed the removal of these lands from the Greenbelt Plan Area. Though the City remains opposed to Greenbelt land removal, the Government of Ontario’s decision is in effect and the lands are no longer within the Greenbelt Plan Area.
The lands removed from the Greenbelt Plan Area mentioned above are separate from the 2,200 hectares of land added to Hamilton’s Urban Boundary by the Government of Ontario in November 2022 through its approval of the Municipal Comprehensive Review (MCR) of the City’s urban land needs to the year 2051. The Provincial decision went against City Council’s endorsement of a “No Urban Boundary Expansion” growth option. Information on the planning of the Urban Expansion lands
The lands removed from the Greenbelt are not currently located within the Hamilton Urban Boundary. The City of Hamilton expects the Government of Ontario will use its powers, as expanded through Bill 97, Helping Homebuyers, Protecting Tenants Act, 2023, to issue a Minister’s Zoning Order to approve new urban development within the former Greenbelt Plan areas. Bill 97, Proposed Helping Homebuyers, Protecting Tenants Act, 2023 and Proposed Provincial Planning Statement 2023 (PED23145)
City of Hamilton’s Role in the Development of the Former Greenbelt Lands
The City expects the Government of Ontario will use its powers to issue a Ministers Zoning Order (MZO) to approve new urban development within these former Greenbelt Plan areas. This means that there would be no municipally-led planning processes for these lands and the City of Hamilton will not be the approval authority for these lands.
The Provincial Land and Development Facilitator has been in contact with us and has indicated that the City will have an opportunity to provide input with respect to how the lands are developed, and also to negotiate and request certain “community benefits” above and beyond standard requirements found in the Planning Act.
Land Owners Role in the Development of the Former Greenbelt Lands
The Provincial Land and Development Facilitator is appointed by the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing with the stated role of providing impartial facilitation services or by acting as a negotiator on behalf of the Province. It is the Province’s expectation that landowners work directly with municipalities and reach an agreement in advance of any MZO being issued by the Province.
Any questions related to how these lands may be developed or the MZO process are to be directed to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing or the Office of the Provincial Facilitator.
Opportunity for Public Input
It is the City’s understanding that the Province does not intend to undertake any public consultation prior to issuing an MZO or development agreement for the former Greenbelt lands. In the interest of hearing from Hamilton residents on this matter, the City has scheduled an in-person Open House and a special meeting of Planning Committee to receive feedback on community priorities when engaging with the Provincial Land and Development Facilitator. The City encourages property owners within and surrounding the former greenbelt lands to attend and participate at these meetings.
Special Meeting of Planning Committee
The meeting will be held in-person and streamed virtually via the City’s YouTube channel.
When: Thursday, September 14, 2023 beginning at 6:30 pm
Where: Ancaster Fairgrounds, 630 Trinity Road S, Ancaster ON
Contact the Legislative Coordinator, Planning Committee, City of Hamilton, 71 Main Street West, 1st Floor, Hamilton, Ontario, L8P 4Y5 or by email [email protected] to submit written comments, submit a pre-recorded video with comments or pre-register to make oral submissions.
Open House
Held September 6, 2023
A staff presentation followed by a moderated Q&A session.
Presentation panels | Watch recording
Council Direction
City Council provided direction on July 14, 2023 to provide input to the Provincial Land and Development Facilitator. The City’s participation in discussions with the Provincial Land and Development Facilitator would be under protest respecting these lands. As part of Council adoption of Report PED23046(a), Council provided the following direction:
“c) That Planning and Economic Development Department staff be directed to schedule a public meeting of the Planning Committee for the purpose of obtaining public input as to the City’s priorities and expectations with respect to any private development proposals within the lands removed by the Province from the Greenbelt Plan Area; and, that staff consult with City of Hamilton Public Engagement staff to ensure: the statutory meeting meets best engagement practice as much as possible; that the statutory meeting be held in the evening, be live streamed, and be held at a publicly accessible facility that is in close proximity to the Book Road lands; and, that all MPP and MP's be extended an invitation to attend.”