Raise the Hammer

My understanding is that this issue will be dealt with at the OMB - the city's proposed change of zoning to appease CN. They will have a lot of cases, and expert opinions to support their side. If CN accepts the City's changes, no OMB appeal, case over --unless White Star cannot reach a deal with CN. Could be won/lost through mediation.

There is one more pre-hearing and a mediation session scheduled.

NEN has not been prepared to take this on independently. We had agreed to support the City in the OMB against CN to put residential there.

Our interest is in residential intensification. We need more people living in central Hamilton!

IF I was to choose to buy a condo by a rail yard, I would be aware there might be noise! (Actually I like trains) I cannot fathom what all the fuss is about for CN. If they get complaints about the noise, can't they just file them in the circular file?

Why should CN write our land use policies?

Can't architects and contractors deal with most of it? Granted you don't want your windows shaking. . . .

The Witton Lofts on Murray had to jump through hoops, as I understand it, to satisfy CN.

And the great landscape, sloping from Bay street would make great terraced dwellings.

Although my understanding is that there aren't complaints at the Chedoke site across from CP's Aberdeen yard,it would be great to have other examples. If anyone knows of any, please share them.

But the purpose of bringing up this subject was not just to repeat what we think, but to try to push the city to do some public consultation to find out what other people in the area and across the city think!

Are we willing to "settle for" box stores and parking lots? What is happening with clean up at the property between Hess and Queen, if anything? Why isn't something being done about the boarded up city-owned houses on Barton? What is the actual cost of remediation of the soil in Barton Tiffany? etc etc

Sheri