What should a (theoretical) tower look like on the Hamilton Harbour waterfront?

Any future tower on Hamilton's Pier 8 should be a harbourside beacon" that lights up at night.

There should be vertical greenway" of vegetation growing up the south side of the building.

And it should be no taller than 45 storeys, or the same 147-metre height (counting ground elevation) as the city's current tallest building, Landmark Place downtown.

Those are a few of the guidelines consultants suggest council should adopt if it decides to change the pier's mostly low-rise zoning and consider a 45-storey signature tower" pitched by famed architect Bruce Kuwabara.

But that's still an awfully big if."

The city agreed to consider zoning changes to allow tall buildings on one block of its planned Pier 8 residential development to settle a legal appeal of the project by a citizen group. The maximum now on the pier is eight storeys.

Council won't debate any pier zoning changes until next year. For now, the city is just collecting feedback on tall building guidelines created by consultant Brook McIlroy and presented at a virtual public meeting Thursday.

Planner Victor Cheung told residents the consultant is neutral" on the question of whether any tall building - mid-rise or skyscraper - belongs on the waterfront block next to the city's Discovery Centre.

But he said the proposed guidelines focus on opportunities to create a landmark building" with innovative architectural design" - maybe a cylindrical rather than angular tower, for example.

The guidelines also pitch the idea of greenery growing up the side of a terraced tower, a max out at 45 storeys and a prominent top" - maybe one that lights up? - given residents would be able to see it from as far away as the McQuesten high-level bridge.

Residents can offer feedback until Nov. 19 at engage.hamilton.ca. At Thursday's meeting, some questioned why the city is considering a tower at all. Here's a reminder:

What is the Pier 8 project?

In 2018, council approved a redevelopment bid by Waterfront Shores consortium to add up to 1,600 units on the former industrial pier near the end of James Street North. The current max height for those buildings is eight storeys.

So why are we suddenly talking about a skyscraper?

A citizen group, Harbour West Neighbours, appealed the city's pier development plan and sought a commitment to add more family-friendly" units to the development. A legal settlement reached last year obligates the city to consider a zoning amendment to allow taller buildings on a single pier block - and by extension, more two-bedroom units.

Where did the 45-storey tower come from?

It's actually twin towers - 45 and 30 storeys! The proposal comes from Waterfront Shores via its architect, Bruce Kuwabara. The North End native pitched the idea of a signature tower" to a community group in May as a symbol of waterfront transformation."

Is council considering this project?

Not yet - and maybe not ever. Council would first have to agree to change the zoning and official plan for block 16" on the pier, which is currently zoned institutional with a four-storey height limit.

What happens next?

Council won't vote on any pier zoning changes until next year. But construction is underway on the larger pier streetscape, as well as a wraparound public park and green space. Waterfront Shores is telling prospective condo buyers the project launch" will happen by the end of 2021.

Matthew Van Dongen is a Hamilton-based reporter covering transportation for The Spectator. Reach him via email: mvandongen@thespec.com