Hamilton councillors approve nine-townhouse development along West 5th Street

Mountain homeowners living along West 5th Street were adamant they didn't want another townhouse development clogging up their neighbourhood, adding to an already difficult traffic congestion problem.

But councillors were just as insistent they had to support the two-storey, nine-townhouse development at 866 West 5th, at the corner of Rosehill Avenue, because of provincial planning guidelines. City staff recommended approving the application.

We have an obligation under the Planning Act (to support the application)," said Mountain Coun. John-Paul Danko, who represents the Ward 8 area.

He said if councillors denied the application, then the owner, Victor Fontana of Angros Enterprises Ltd., would appeal the decision to the Ontario Land Tribunal and probably receive a favourable ruling.

Danko acknowledged residents in the area care deeply for their neighbourhood," and they have seen significant developments along West Fifth over the last five years contributing to parking and traffic issues.

They are already seeing the impacts," he said.

Randy Chapple, president of the Gourley Park Community Association, and president and youth baseball convener, bluntly stated that the townhouses do not belong in this vicinity."

The land is at the periphery of the Gourley neighbourhood, with West 5th Street the easternmost boundary.

He said the immediate neighbourhood is comprised of established single-family homes that date back to the 1940s.

All of a sudden there are nine townhouses. It just does not fit in well with the character of the neighbourhood," he said.

Planning staff stated in their report the proposed townhouse development will be consistent" with the existing houses along the northeast corner of Annabelle Street and Rosehill Avenue.

Resident Bruce Black said the additional vehicles will just add to the traffic congestion along West 5th. He said the townhouses have limited frontage and are too tight" together on the 0.18-hectare land.

A single-family one-storey house is currently located on the property.

Kimberley MacLean said the neighbourhood can't afford additional congestion."

It is not safe for our community to add nine more townhouse homes on this little street," she said.

Over 20 emails from residents detailed concerns" about the application.

But Matt Johnston, a principal with UrbanSolutions Planning and Land Development Consultants who is representing the owner, told the April 25 planning committee that I think what we have here is the right gentle intensification on an arterial road."

Johnston said the application is utilizing every opportunity to optimize intensification opportunities. The townhouses will be compatible to the existing single-family dwellings."

He said the townhouse units will have the latest environmental tools, including electrical vehicle stations.

Danko did express some concern about the estimated seven variances the owner was requesting, but he said the area needs more residential housing to accommodate the city's growth demands. Danko said he will address the cut-through traffic problems that residents living along Rosehill Avenue are experiencing.

The owner will be required to install a two-metre-high noise barrier.