The city is moving forward with plans to put in an 18-unit townhouse complex on Dundas Street East, near the Waterdown Library.
The complex has been in the works since 2018, when developers Hawk Ridge Homes bought the land at 173 and 177 Dundas St. E., near the Waterdown Library, and announced plans to build 18-units on the properties.
In order to build the townhouses, the development company will have to fill in a relatively steep hill, build a two-metre tall retaining wall and a 1.8-metre tall privacy fence.
The development has been a controversial subject for neighbours, who say the wall and fence will tower over their yards, and the new residents will be able to look down into their yards and homes.
The proposed development went to the planning committee on Aug. 13, when neighbours delegated for over an hour to committee members on why the complex should not be built.
The planning committee deferred the decision until Sept. 17, giving developers time to meet with residents at a public meeting on Sept. 5. The developers had held a community meeting when the project was first announced in 2018, but council members asked developers to meet once more to hear the community's concerns.
At Tuesday's planning committee meeting, Gerry Tchisler, who works for MHBC Planning and is involved in the project, told council that the developers are listening to those concerns.
The project passed with an 8-3 vote, including yes votes from Ward 4 Coun. Tammy Hwang and Ward 11 Coun. Mark Tadeson, who attended the public meeting in early September.
Ward 15 Coun. Ted McMeekin, who vocally opposed the project, voted against the proposal, along with Ward 5 Coun. Matt Francis and Ward 10 Coun. Jeff Beattie.
McMeekin said he believed the proposal would pass when it first went to the committee on Aug. 13, after several other city councillors noted the need for more housing in the city.
At the public meeting in early September, neighbour Stephanie Card led a presentation on the development and the height of the retaining wall and fence that she and her neighbours will have to deal with when construction is finished.
Tchisler said the developer will look at lowering the height of the fence, when it goes through its detailed design process. The developer will also look at ways to address the small area between the fence and the project’s property line, which neighbours said will be difficult to maintain.
“We will take a look at that in detail through the design process,” he said.
Neighbours share concerns about traffic, maintenance
During the meeting Tuesday, McMeekin thanked Tchisler for speaking with the neighbours earlier in the month.
“We appreciate that you took the time to listen and the fact that some of the changes that you are proposing are unarguably appropriate changes,” McMeekin said.
He added that he still has concerns about traffic around the entrance of the complex, and hopes that those issues will also be addressed in the detailed design.
But Card says she and her neighbours are disappointed in the decision to go ahead with the complex.
“We appreciate that the developer listened to some of the feedback from the open house and has proposed some possible changes, however, we don’t know if any changes will actually be made," Card said in an email.
Card shared concerns about the height difference between the development and its surrounding neighbours, and whether the development company will make good on its word that it will look at changes. Card is also concerned about the traffic impact the development will have, and how the lands between the fence and property line of the complex will be maintained.
"We hope that during the site plan approvals process the City of Hamilton Planning Department will be able to answer crucial questions like these and make common sense decisions that work for the unique topography of this site and provide for a lesser impact on the surrounding community," she wrote.
