Encampments dominated the agenda for one of the longer Planning Committee meetings of the COVID-era. In a 4-2 vote at committee,–Roundup– councillors present voted to require bylaw enforcement to request Hamilton Police remove encampments within 12 to 72 hours of one becoming known. The other major item, significantly underreported, was passing a new Secondary Plan, Urban Design guidelines, and Transportation Management Plan for Waterdown. Other items dealt with include: voting to start a heritage designation process for the Grace Lutheran Church at 1107 Main West, increasing taxi fares, approving rapid housing at 221 Charlton East, responding to expected Planning Act changes, and more. The meeting adjourned moments before 7:15 p.m. in the evening. The total time in public session was approximately 8 hours and 47 minutes, councillors were in closed session for approximately 33 minutes. In a noteworthy change, prompted by TPR’s coverage of Ontario Land Tribunal filings, Council will now release its OLT positions to the public. There were 37 delegations in response to Councillor Jason Farr’s motion. The meeting began with Clr Lloyd Ferguson questioning if the delegations should be allowed. During the delegations, there were tense movements as individuals directed comments at councillors and council as a whole. As Chair of the Planning Committee, Clr Brenda Johnson had to cut the microphones of both council members and delegates to retain control of the meeting. Johnson handled the challenges well. Farr’s motion passed 4-2, with Farr, Ferguson, Johnson, and Pearson in favour. Wilson and Danko voted opposed. For more details on the debate, with extensive quotations from both councillors and delegates, read the full story on TPR here: Council’s Planning Committee Votes 4-2 for Quicker Encampment Evictions. The motion will be debated at Council’s ratification meeting on March 30. The most significant long-term decision made by councillors during Tuesday’s planning committee was approving a new Secondary Plan for Waterdown, Urban Design Guidelines, and a new Traffic Management Plan for the rapidly growing suburb upon the escarpment. The plans will work together to guide the transition of Waterdown’s residential core to a pedestrian-friendly form while enabling the conversion of suburban commercial plazas to mixed-use at the same time the plan protects the pre-confederation neighbourhood character of the original Euro-Canadian settlement area centred on Dundas Street around the Grindstone Creek. Ward 15 Clr Judi Partridge, who represents Waterdown and initiated the planning, says the new plans will “protect the heritage within Waterdown and Flamborough.” Partridge asked staff to confirm the plans provide heritage character protection to 40 Mill Street North, commonly known as the Jam Factory, which is presently for sale. “40 Mill Street North and the other properties that the councillor mentioned are located within the existing Millstreet Heritage Conservation District and are therefore designated under Part V (five) of the Ontario Heritage Act,” stated City of Hamilton Planner Melanie Pham. The new Secondary Plan limits properties to “three storeys within that area to maintain the small scale character of that portion of the core,” she added. Councillors praised the plans. Ward 1 Councillor Maureen Wilson commended Partridge for initiating and working on the plans. The Waterdown Transportation Master Plan says the City needs to add transit service connections west on Dundas Street into Burlington, and direct transit east to Downtown Hamilton. Additionally, the plan maps out plans for a network of bicycle and pedestrian routes to enable local trips to be taken by active transportation. “We know where we are today with the traffic concerns, which are which are just ridiculous,” Partridge stated. “The sooner the last extension of the bypass is built, the better.” Partridge asked how concerned Council and the community should be regarding rumours the Province will overrule local planning as part of expected Planning Act changes. Hamilton’s Director of Planning and Chief Planner Steve Robichaud stated the Secondary Plan reflects present provincial planning policies. “I’m not anticipating that we will see in the short term, any of the significant provincial changes around that anything could happen after an election,” Robichaud stated.