Craig's Current - January 2025

Welcome to the January 2025 edition of Craig's Current. I hope your year is off to a good start! At City Hall, we are in the heart of budget season, and in this issue, I provide you with a brief update on our progress. You can also read about a recent Staff report outlining potential additional revenue sources that would offset the burden on property taxpayers. There are no actions from that report, but there was some media attention about the concept of a Municipal Land Transfer Tax. On another high-profile topic, I have an update on the development proposal for 392 - 412 Wilson St and the Marr-Phillipo House. I've also included updates on the Farm 911 program, a summary of recent Police success in the Downtown area, an important update on the imminent Vacant Unit Tax implementation, and lots of other information including two items in my monthly Climate Corner. Finally, my mid-term newsletter is in the mail, so look for it in your mailbox soon. You can access the digital version on my website along with lots of additional information on each topic.

City Council is currently mid-way through the process of finalizing our 2025 Operating and Capital Budget. You may recall that the preliminary 2025 budget Staff shared in Q4 2024 was for a 6.9% property tax increase. Following the Mayor’s Directive to find efficiencies and other methods to reduce the tax burden on residents, Staff released an updated budget in January with a proposed 6.3% increase. Further work has reduced that number to 5.7%. We are now at the point of the process where Council is receiving presentations on each portion of the budget and has the opportunity to review and propose further amendments.  

Ultimately, due to Strong Mayor legislation introduced by the Province, this is the Mayor’s budget and she has the final say on what gets implemented. Depending on a few variables, the budget is expected to be completed as early as February 12^th, or as late as March 9^th. You can review the budget overview as presented by Mike Zegarac, our General Manager of Finance and Corporate Services here. I’ll also provide you with a link to a video excerpt of his presentation where he explains how 40% of the spending supported by the property tax levy is beyond the control of City Council. You can watch his explanation here. 

I’ll provide a thorough overview of the budget for you once it is finalized. 

There has been a lot of community discussion about a Staff report that appeared on the January 15, 2025, General Issues Committee meeting agenda about possible new municipal revenue sources, including a municipal land transfer tax (MLTT). Council was not considering the implementation of any new revenue sources at this time. Rather, Staff were reporting back on direction to provide Council with potential new revenue tools for Hamilton based on what is used in other jurisdictions. New revenues are essential to alleviate the pressure on property taxes in an environment of rapidly rising costs and the $3.8 billion backlog in unfunded capital projects for City assets. The backlog includes roads, water infrastructure, recreation centres, etc. To read a more detailed report on this topic, please click here to read the full article.  Watch my comments at Committee here.

If you’ve been keeping up with Craig’s Current, media articles, or social media, you will know that the Vacant Unit Tax (VUT) is launching in 2025. The City of Hamilton is instituting a VUT as one of the measures to address Hamilton’s affordable housing crisis. By creating a disincentive to have units remain vacant, the City aims to make more housing available for those who need it. Every Hamilton homeowner will soon receive a ‘Notice to Declare’ letter in the mail which will require action. Due to the postal strike, the delivery of the notice has been delayed. As a result, Council has pushed the declaration deadline from March 31, 2025, to April 30, 2025, giving everyone an extra month. The declaration period will now be February 10 to April 30, 2025. For details on the VUT, please visit the City’s dedicated VUT webpage. Note that at the time of writing, the webpage still has a stated declaration deadline of March 31. This will be updated shortly.  

In late December 2024, the owners of 392-412 Wilson Street East & 15 Lorne Avenue in Ancaster were informed that Ontario's Divisional Court had dismissed their request to appeal an Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT) denial of their eight-storey condo on Wilson Street north of Academy Street.  

The Court decision read simply: "The motion for leave to appeal the decision of Member A. Mason of the Ontario Land Tribunal dated April 3, 2024 is dismissed."  That may sound like the project is squashed, but it’s much more complicated than that. 

You will recall that the City and the developer, Wilson St. Inc, had settled their original appeal at the OLT. At that time, the Provincial government had unilaterally changed Hamilton’s Official Plan to accommodate the exact specifications of the developers’ project, so the City had no leverage and was compelled to settle both the Zoning bylaw amendment (ZBA) and the Official Plan Amendment (OPA) the project required.  

Roughly a year later, in November 2023, the Province introduced Bill 150, which completely undid the unilateral official plan amendments the developer needed to proceed with the project. That left them with an orphaned ZBA. To put that in perspective, this is the hierarchy of documents in descending order of power: 

• Planning Act 

• Provincial Planning Statement (PPS) 

• Official Plan (OP) 

• Zoning Bylaw (ZB) 

If the ZB does not comply with each item above it in that hierarchy, it cannot be implemented. In this case, since the OP changes imposed were reversed, the ZB was orphaned. 

Now that the appeal route has been exhausted, the developer can submit a brand-new application, and the process starts again. It is important to understand that the PPS is quite permissive for housing density, and this is reflected in how the OLT makes decisions on appeals. The City’s evaluation of a new proposal must be done through that lens. To be very clear, that means the likelihood of a development that is limited to 2.5 storeys - as specified as the maximum height in the Ancaster Wilson Street Secondary Plan - is virtually nil. See this recent decision for a similar situation on Paramount Dr in Stoney Creek.

At the same time, there were very legitimate planning and heritage reasons that the City denied the previous application; the combination of the height and mass of the proposal was not good planning. As we move forward, it is my hope that the developers work with the City and the community on an application that adds much-needed housing and space for small businesses in our downtown core, in a way that fits into Ancaster’s historic downtown core.

Read a recent article from the Public Record here. Read the Spectator article here. 

Tied up with the story in the previous article, is, of course, the Marr-Phillipo House. The City’s and your Councillor’s preference is for the house to remain where it is. However, the developers’ plan has been to relocate it to the back of the property on 15 Lorne Ave, removing it from the public streetscape on Wilson St. With that development application no longer active (see above article), we are back at square one. Any new development application on that property will need to address this beloved historic building. 

In the meantime, a Heritage Permit does exist for Marr-Phillipo and there are many conditions that must be met before it can be moved, not least of which include approval of their development application for this site. That is still some time away. In the meantime, the City’s Heritage Staff are monitoring the structure to ensure it maintains its structural integrity and is not susceptible to collapse. On that issue, they are aware of the crumbling stones on the south side of the building but have determined that it is not a structural issue. 

The Farm 911 – Emergency Access Point (EAP) program was approved by Council in December 2023 and came into effect in January 2024. The purpose of the program is to provide vacant rural properties with a highly visible red and white address sign, free of charge. These signs are placed at specific access points to create a unique Farm 911 Emergency Access Point (EAP) number assisting emergency responders to access these properties more quickly, improving response times during emergencies.  

The City has recently enhanced the program by expanding eligibility to include properties that may not be vacant and may have a municipal address but contain an existing secondary access point which is located sufficiently far from the main property entrance to also justify an Emergency Access Point (EAP) number.  Emergency Services have confirmed that this proposed change will assist in improving response times and property identification and will not cause confusion.  

This enhancement was approved in January 2025 and is expected to come into effect in March 2025. My office will update the community at that time. Staff have identified that there are several hundred properties that qualify for this voluntary program but only a handful have signed up. Tenant farmers may apply for the program, but owner sign-off will be required for approval. 

Local farm owners are urged to take advantage of this cost-free program which will greatly enhance the ability of emergency services to reach difficult-to-access areas of your farm.  

Find the request form at Farm 911 – Emergency Access Point (EAP) Program 

Timeless Treasures showcases the remarkable art collection once owned by Tom and Doris Farmer, the original residents of Fieldcote. Join us in honoring the Farmers’ contribution to Ancaster's artistic tapestry and immerse yourself in the timeless beauty of their collection.    

When: 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm, Now until June 29, 2025 

Where: Fieldcote Memorial Park & Museum at 64 Sulphur Springs Road, Ancaster 

Are you 16+ and looking for a fun and rewarding summer job? Hiring has started for Summer Camp Counsellors at Ancaster Fair Summer Camp! 

⁠Location: Ancaster Fairgrounds, 630 Trinity Rd   

Dates: June 21 - August 8 ⁠ 

Position Type: Seasonal/Part-Time 

⁠As a counsellor, you’ll lead activities, foster teamwork, and make lifelong memories while providing a safe and positive space for campers aged 4-12 years old. To apply, send your resume and a brief cover letter to [email protected] by February 28, 2025. 

A message from Hamilton Police Services: 

Within the first three weeks of 2025, over 50 cars were stolen in Hamilton. While certain vehicles may be more attractive to thieves, no car is immune to theft. By taking a few precautions, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of your vehicle becoming a target. 

• Lock your car: Always lock your vehicle, even if you’ve just stepping away for a moment. Never leave your vehicle running unattended. 

• Hide valuables: Thieves are often attracted to items left in plain sight. Don’t leave electronics, bags, or even loose change visible inside your car. 

• Park securely: Choose well-lit, busy areas or secure parking lots, and consider parking in a garage or behind a locked gate when possible. 

• Consider anti-theft devices: Steering wheel locks, tire locks, or an automatic engine shut-off can deter thieves and make it harder to drive off with your car.  

• Install an immobilizer: A vehicle immobilizer will prevent the engine from starting without the proper key or code. 

• Block signals: Store your car key fob in a Faraday bag or box to prevent relay attacks, where thieves amplify the signal to unlock and start your car remotely. 

• Use a GPS tracking system: Install a GPS tracking device to help track and recover your vehicle if stolen.  

By staying vigilant and taking these precautions, you can greatly reduce the chances of your car being stolen. If, however, your vehicle is stolen, report it to Hamilton Police via the non-emergency line at 905-546-4925. Have the following vehicle information ready: 

• Make, model, year, and colour of the vehicle 

• Plate number, Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), and insurance company and policy number 

• List of contents stolen from the vehicle 

• List of any identifying features, such as dents, scratches, or markings. 

If you notice any suspicious activity in your neighborhood, call the Hamilton Police non-emergency line at 905-546-4925. If you wish to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 905-522-8477. 

Great news from the Hamilton Police Service! They recently reported two major disruptions of criminal activity in Hamilton with Project Churchill targeting gangs and Project Open Air shutting down a sophisticated drug market in Hamilton.  

Project Open Air culminated in 57 arrests, among them an Ancaster resident, who was the head of the operation. If you have any additional information that could help in this investigation, please call HPS at 905-546-4725. To provide information anonymously call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit your anonymous tips online at Hamilton Crime Stoppers  

See the media reports at CHCH and the Hamilton Spectator 

Hamilton Child and Family Supports (HCFS) is a non-profit community organization legally mandated to protect children and youth from abuse and neglect. HCFS partners with parents, caregivers, and the community to provide a safe environment for children and youth, through equitable, culturally aligned services. If you need support, know of a child or youth in need of protection, or are interested in fostering or adoption please reach out. Foster caregivers are urgently needed.  

Feb 1-28 is Black History Month and several events are planned! Check them out here. 

Feb 1 to 17, Hamilton Winterfest. Art, video, food, concerts, crafts, theatre, fashion.  

Feb 2, 9:30 am - 2:30 pm Toy and Collectables Expo at the Ancaster Fairgrounds 

Feb 7, 6 pm - 9 pm and Feb 8, 11 am - 4 pm Soup and Sandwich Fest at the Ancaster Fairgrounds 

Feb 8, 10 am - 12 pm Sensory-friendly tour of the Hamilton Steam Museum 

Feb 15 to 17 Family Day Space Weekend at the Hamilton Warplane Heritage Museum 

February 17, 10 am - 3 pm Pinecone Cafe, a Family Day event at Fieldcote Museum 

Feb 21 to 23, Ancaster Lifestyle Spring Home Show at the Ancaster Fairgrounds 

Biodiversity in Hamilton is crashing as evidenced by the recent 2024 Urban Greenspaces Botanical Study commissioned by the Hamilton Naturalists' Club and undertaken by local botanist Paul O'Hara. The study found that the eleven study areas had only two provincially rare species compared to a 2017 study which documented 102 rare species in the Hamilton area. Further stresses include excessive grazing by deer, yard waste dumping, invasive species, people foraging/poaching, off-trail hiking, and dogs and cats.  

See the recent reporting on the sorry state of Hamilton biodiversity on CHCH, on CBC Hamilton, and in the Spectator. 

I am in full support of Hamilton’s Climate Action Strategy as well as the recently approved Biodiversity Action Plan which, when implemented, will address biodiversity loss head-on.  

Through the innovative Saltfleet Wetlands project, the Hamilton Conservation Authority (HCA) is addressing climate change, preventing homes from flooding, creating new homes for plants and wildlife, and establishing a new conservation area for all to enjoy! The newly established Saltfleet Conservation Area features the first of four new wetlands that will be able to hold 236 Olympic-size swimming pools of water, a crucial feature during intense rainstorms. It is already protecting plants, wildlife, and humans in the Stoney and Battle Creek areas from flooding and erosion. Here’s a short video about this visionary project by the HCA! 

Thanks as always to everyone who reaches out to engage with our office. I hope you enjoyed reading this month’s newsletter. Please share it with Ward 12 neighbours and friends. If you have questions feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] and subscribe to the Ward 12 newsletter at CraigCassar.ca. Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky.