FIXING RENTAL ISSUES AND DENSITY BONUSING
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Hamilton's Rental Housing Committee met yesterday. I can summarize this meeting the exact same that I summarize the July 2017 meeting, once again the Committee was "Dancing on the Head of a Pin". Since that meeting, another member of the committee has resigned, and who can blame them.
Members of the Committee are looking for *their* solution, not a common solution. For this reason the committee is unable to fulfill its mandate. Somebody needs to come up with a solution for Hamilton's rental housing regulations, and that will have to be an independent party. The next Council needs to create an independent panel to draft a new by-law after public consultation. (This could or could not involve licensing)
Former City Councillor Brad Clark, now of Maple Leaf Strategies, delegated to the committee presenting his recent report for the Hamilton and District Apartment Association proposing a new framework of regulations to address rental housing issues without licensing.
Whitehead much time arguing with Clark about ideas not in the report, trying to advance an argument that licensing is required. Whitehead hopes licensing will decrease the number of student rentals in single family homes near Mohawk College. A resident who delegated following Clark referred to Clark - a Upper Stoney Creek resident - as representative of a "out of town" firm. The meeting ended with call for another meeting as soon as possible, Whitehead seeking as Chair to pass some regulations prior to the municipal election.
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Other jurisdictions are also tackling rental housing issues.
Yesterday, the British Columbia government tabled legislation to give their municipalities the power to zone for rental housing. Presently municipalities have no control over the tenure of residential zoning, the result being that new rental housing is not being built as developers can make quicker and better profits from selling condominiums.
Rental zoning is one proposed way of ensuring that the benefits of higher-order transit, such as Hamilton's proposed LRT, are received by people of varying socioeconomic classes. We'll have to watch developments in British Columbia closely.
In the Toronto Star, University of Winnipeg associate professor Dr. Aaron Moore (who was in Hamilton on Friday) writes that Ontario's Density Bonusing (Section 37 of the Planning Act) regiment needs to be repealed, that the current framework which provides no guidelines for community benefits is applied in an ad hoc and inconsistent manner, and that with the tool of inclusionary zoning now available to municipalities, there is no planning reason for section 37 to continue to exist.
Meanwhile, Hamilton's planning division released their proposed Section 37 policy yesterday, more on that below.
- Joey Coleman
PostScript: In yesterday's email, I wrote about the positioning of the HAMILTON sign and noted it was moved back to enable smartphones to capture the full sign. Turns out TheSpec's Scott Gardner answered this question last week, I regret not seeing and linking out to this instead.
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Newsletter First: Hamilton's Interim Density Bonusing Procedure
The City's Planning Division released its proposed "Seven Step Interim Section 37 Bonusing Process" late yesterday afternoon to the Development Industry Liaison Committee.
As the only media outlet which covers DILC, The Public Record receives documents sent to the committee between meetings. You can read the documents (PDF format): Seven Step Interim Section 37 Bonusing Process and Section 37 Appraisal Terms of Reference.
The next DILC meeting is May 14, 9am, at City Hall.
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THE PUBLIC RECORD PRESS CLUB
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Next Press Club Members Coffeehouse: May 6 11am to 3pm
The Public Record Office, 126 Catharine Street North
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Ward 3 Trustee Larry Pattison Not Seeking Re-election
In a heartfelt reflection on his public service, Ward 3 Public School Trustee Larry Pattison writes about his decision not to seek reelection this October.
"Thank you for believing in me and allowing me the privilege to serve my City in this way. I hope when the time is right, that you might have me again. This has been the greatest professional experience in my first 45 years. It will be a hard one to top", Pattison writes.
Pattison was first elected to the School Board four years ago, motivated by a desire to improve the school board and a feeling that the board had lost touch with parents. Pattison writes that he plans to continue to be an engaged citizen and involved in the community.
Thank you for your service Larry.
Basic Income Pilot Will Continue if Tories Win
A spokesperson for Doug Ford tells the Toronto Star that if elected they will continue the Basic Income Pilot "We look forward to seeing the results" the unnamed spokesperson is quoted saying.
VICE's Motherboard writes about the positive impact basic income is having for those selected for the pilot program here in Hamilton.
Councillors Want Landlords to Evict Pot Shops
City Councillors want staff to look at how to pressure and fine landlords for allowing pot dispensaries to operate in their commercial buildings. The current practice of raiding and shutting them down for one day, only to watch them reopen the next day, is not effectively addressing the proliferation of dispensaries across the city.
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Child Care at City Council
Okay, you can make a joke about Councillors acting like pre-schoolers, that's your treat for reading this far into the newsletter.
London City Council want make public meetings more accessible by providing childcare, and is "busy kid-proofing a committee room at city hall", the London Free Press reports.
It is hoped that it enable more residents to participate in city committees, and especially encourage young mothers to join advisory committees.
“We’re losing a whole demographic that may be participating and providing valuable advice and input. The women who are participating are of a certain economic status and education (level) and may be older”, advisory committee member Anne-Marie Sanchez told the LFP.
There is some pushback, read the full story in the London Free Press for the details.
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Get Engaged
TODAY Apr 25 Why Mid-Sized Cities Will be Sustainability Leaders. Burlington Mayor Rick Goldring hosts former Winnipeg Mayor and former Ontario Environment Minister, now Executive Director of the Pembina Institute Glen Murray for a free public talk at the RBG next Wednesday evening. RSVP and details
May 3 Port Authority Community Update. The Hamilton Port Authority is hosting an community update. Details
May 6 Finding Level Ground: Discussion on Affordable Housing. Beasley Neighbourhood Association is hosting a group of panel discussions on how to keep Beasley a complete community, and affordability challenges across Hamilton in general. Details
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Orchard Park's Robotics Team 
