City will fight the Television City condo towers
The province has forced everyone's hand, says Brad Lamb, by phasing out the Ontario Municipal Board
It will be Brad Lamb versus Hamilton city council this year as the two square off at the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) over the planned Television City condo towers.
Council's planning committee voted Tuesday to oppose Lamb's project at the OMB. The high-profile Toronto developer wants to build two condo towers — one 30 storeys, one 40 — at the CHCH headquarters in downtown Hamilton.
The towers will be incompatible with the rest of the Durand neighbourhood, says the motion from Jason Farr, Ward 2 councillor. And on neighbouring sidewalks, they'll block the sun.
Tuesday's decision isn't a surprise for either side.
Lamb and city planners have been working well together, Lamb said last week. But the province is phasing out the OMB in favour of the Local Planning Appeals Tribunal, which considered to be less developer friendly. The deadline to appeal to the OMB is April 3, so Lamb wanted to meet that deadline.
He filed the appeal last Thursday, before city councillors could even vote on the project. City planners were already recommending denying the rezoning. Among their issues: with the elevation of the property at 163 Jackson St. W., the buildings would be taller than the Niagara escarpment.
A half dozen Durand residents spoke against the project Tuesday, citing issues with sun shadow, parking and incompatibility with the neighbourhood.
City council has to ratify the decision on March 28.
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