Vrancor takes 25-storey King Street West plan to provincial tribunal
A prominent Hamilton developer will make the case for 25 storeys before Ontario's land-dispute tribunal instead of city council.
That's regrettable," says Coun. Maureen Wilson, who represents the King Street West area where Vrancor hopes to build the highrise.
The firm filed an appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) under legislation that allows challenges for applications that councils fail to handle within 120 days.
The 25-storey building would stand next to a 12-storey hotel on the site bounded by Queen, Ray and Market streets in the Strathcona neighbourhood.
With the matter before the OLT, city staff declined to comment on what pushed the file beyond the 120 days.
But in May, council backed two extra storeys for the hotel, previously approved at 10 storeys. Vrancor opted to split the project into two phases to deal separately with the 25-storey plan, previously approved at six storeys.
That further added to the timeline," said Wilson, who voted against the 12-storey hotel.
She also called the project planning by a thousand cuts of variances," referring to its incremental changes.
A Vrancor representative didn't respond to a request for comment Friday, but previously the developer has disputed that its plans had shifted over time.
Its consultant has also contended the proposal adheres to provincial policy that calls for denser buildings along transit lines and in urban cores.
Nonetheless, city staff have flagged concerns over how its height and density will affect lower-rise neighbours, with specific reference to shadows.
Strathcona resident Wayne MacPhail, who started a local group called the Shadow Dwellers to resist the Vrancor project, said they won't seek party status before the OLT.
The cost to mount a case would be too high, especially for a pretty expensive mug's game" that favours deep-pocketed developers, MacPhail said.
Coun. John-Paul Danko has also lamented non-decision appeals to the OLT amid city staff's efforts to work through issues with developers.
The city's planning committee allows for public input while local officials weigh applications, but an OLT appeal effectively cuts any public participation out of the process."
Last month, a staff report noted the city had 14 non-decision challenges on its books as of Aug. 18. The subsequent Vrancor appeal and one by Valery Developments add to that list.
That could be a product of high development activity and not enough city planning staff, suggests Mike Collins-Williams, CEO of the West End Home Builders Association.
Most developers will work as best they can" with staff, councillors and the community, but there can be a point of frustration" where there doesn't seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel," he said.
Overall, I'd say Hamilton could probably use some more planning staff."
Teviah Moro is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach him via email: tmoro@thespec.com