Hamilton mayor to overturn council vote, push through plan for housing on Stoney Creek parking lot

In a last-ditch effort, Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath says she will use her strong mayor powers to overturn a council vote and allow for affordable housing to be built on a city-owned Stoney Creek parking lot. 

Horwath indicated her intention late Wednesday, hours after council voted down a staff proposal to build 67 units at 5 and 13 Lake Ave. S.

"Leveraging municipally owned properties for the construction of sorely needed affordable housing is a vital step towards addressing the pressing and urgent crisis of housing affordability and homelessness in our city," she said in a statement.

"The decision to use Strong Mayor Powers is not one that I make lightly," she said, noting that 1,600 people in the city are currently experiencing homelessness.

The staff proposal for affordable housing was effectively dismissed when a split 8-8 vote in council on Wednesday shut down the attempt to open the issue up for further debate. Only the mayor's veto had the ability to reverse it. 

Staff had proposed last month to allow a non-profit organization to build the units, which would mean losing 57 of the 162 free parking spots from the lot. 

The city described the parking lot as underused, as staff had monitored it on four separate weekdays and estimated it was, at the most, 80 per cent full. 

Many Stoney Creek residents were opposed to losing any spots as it's the only municipal lot in the area and is relied on by customers of local businesses and people attending community events, they said.

The eight councillors that opposed the proposal included Coun. Matt Francis, Jeff Beattie and Brad Clark, all who represent parts of Stoney Creek.

"It's imperative we do our very best to respect the democratic will of our community," Clark said. 

He urged councillors to respect one another even if they disagree, and to refrain from interfering with issues in other councillors' wards, or risk a "deadlock" council for the rest of the term.

Horwath and seven other councillors, including Coun. Maureen Wilson and Craig Cassar, threw their support behind it the proposal, with many noting that council had unanimously pledged in 2023 to increase the supply of affordable and supportive housing, and reduce chronic homelessness. 

Wilson said the Stoney Creek decision "is so contrary" to what councillors have previously promised that it's one of the reasons why "the community has been paying attention." 

She accused the councillors who were against the proposal of "following the path of least political resistance." 

Council has 21 days to vote on veto

Horwath said she intended to submit the formal veto documentation on Thursday to council, which is required under provincial rules. 

Council will then have 21 days to vote to accept or refuse the veto, with a refusal requiring a two-thirds majority, the mayor said. 

In February — after the proposal was defeated at general issues committee, pushing it through to the final vote at council Wednesday — Horwath didn't rule out using her strong mayor powers in order to move the plan forward. 

In an attempt to find a compromise before Wednesday's vote, Coun. Cassar put forward amendments to address some of the public's concerns.

He pitched adding parking spots in other areas of downtown Stoney Creek, including at a former school property and on private lots and streets.

"Those are topics we heard over and over again in delegations and letters," Cassar said at council. "There was lots of time for all [councillors] to provide input." 

But a procedural step hindered his ability to debate the amendments. Council voted 8-8 to not re-open the already defeated proposal.

Coun. Cameron Kroetsch, who seconded Cassar's amendments and supports the affordable housing proposal, raised concerns that it couldn't be debated further. 

Council has approved four other sites earmarked as surplus to be used for affordable housing including two properties in downtown, one in the lower city's east end and one on the West Mountain. 

Coun. Matt Francis and Jeff Beattie, who were both opposed to the Stoney Creek proposal, have asked staff to also look at the feasibility of building affordable housing above the Dominic Agostino Riverdale Community Centre. Beattie said he's also reviewing other sites in his east Stoney Creek ward. 

How they voted 

For: Mayor Andrea Horwath, Maureen Wilson (Ward 1), Cameron Kroetsch (Ward 2), Nrinder Nann (Ward 3), Tammy Hwang (Ward 4), John-Paul Danko (Ward 8), Craig Cassar (Ward 12) and Alex Wilson (Ward 13)

Against: Matt Francis (Ward 5), Tom Jackson (Ward 6), Esther Pauls (Ward 7), Brad Clark (Ward 9), Jeff Beattie (Ward 10), Mike Spadafora (Ward 14) and Ted McMeekin (Ward 15)