Controversial plans to develop 700 hectares of land around John C Munro Hamilton International Airport were debated earlier this week in front of the Ontario Municipal Board.

 

Last autumn, Ontario's City Council approved plans to transform around 700 hectares of farmland around the gateway into an industrial and commercial business park.

However, sixteen different community groups lodged their appeals against the proposals at a pre-hearing earlier this week with the Ontario Municipal Board.

Landowners, developers and environmental groups gathered to present their cases in an attempt to at least change or even ground the contentious project.

For example, the group 'Environment Hamilton' argued that the city is ignoring its own land-use policies by using fertile farmland for new industries that could just as easily be constructed within the city's existing urban boundaries.

Elsewhere, landowners and developers contested the plans because they want to see zoning changes. For example, some landowners want to see rezoning of near-airport lands for residential development, which according to councilors is not going to happen.

The new aerotropolis is expected to create more than 24,000 jobs by 2031 and more than $53 million in annual tax revenue.

Meanwhile, the new and improved infrastructure for the project will cost upwards of $355 million.

Not all 16 appeals will end up at a full Ontario Municipal Board hearing, with the City expecting to reach settlement agreements with at least three or four of the groups in advance of a possible full hearing.

Likewise, similar appeals were bunched together at the pre-hearing, allowing the City to provide a single response to several plaintiffs.