[DC83]

some related stories that were posted before SSP:Local format was established:

Fate of karst land to be debated
Residents would like to see 'Central Park' on Mountain

Nicole Macintyre
The Hamilton Spectator

(Sep 4, 2007)
Home builders are challenging community efforts to protect land beside the Eramosa Karst in upper Stoney Creek from development.

Some 800 houses are at stake in the land battle that will ultimately be decided by the province, which owns the 36-hectare parcel of former farmland.

A year ago, the province gave 73 hectares of the karst northeast of Rymal Road East and Upper Mount Albion Road to the Hamilton Conservation Authority. The Ontario Realty Corp. is now deciding what to do with leftover land around the protected zone.

Residents and Councillor Brad Clark want the land to the east to be designated as parkland to protect feeder streams that flow into the karst.

But the Hamilton-Halton Homebuilders' Association is prepared to fight the move, arguing instead that the land should be developed as long-standing plans indicate.

"The infrastructure is there already," said president Vince Molinaro, noting the city budgeted for the land in growth plans. If the province protects the land, that will only push development farther out, he argues.

"We feel it encourages jumping outside the urban area," he said, noting the association will only accept the move if the city is prepared to find new development land elsewhere.

With upward of 40,000 homes planned for the area, developers should leave the small parcel alone, argues resident Tom Zietsma.

"Do we need more development in the area or do we need a showcase park?"

Clark said that the developers are only motivated by money and argues the only way to ensure the karst's protection is to stop development.

"Wouldn't it be great to have Hamilton's own Central Park on the Mountain?" he said of the land's potential.

The province is currently studying the land to determine the potential consequences of development. There are conflicting opinions so far, as the mayor continues negotiations with the province.

The city doesn't have the funds to buy the land to protect it.

Staff are recommending that planning and road studies for the area be delayed until the land matter has been decided.

Councillors will debate the issue at today's planning meeting at City Hall.


City tables decision on development near karst, hopes to hear from province

September 05, 2007
Sharon Boase
The Hamilton Spectator
(Sep 5, 2007)
The city's planning committee has called a time out on development plans for a sensitive parcel of land next to the Eramosa Karst in Stoney Creek.

Some 800 homes proposed for 36 hectares to the east of the magnificent limestone arrangement of underground caves and passages have been put on hold until later this year when city council hopes to find out what Queen's Park will do with it.

Delegates to yesterday's economic development and planning committee said the land ought to be designated as parkland so that feeder streams on it flowing into the karst will be protected from encroaching development.

The committee also voted to stall an environmental assessment for a roadway through the Trinity neighbourhood, which includes the Eramosa Karst. Instead, it wants to wait and earmark $200,000 from the 2008 budget for a roadway "master plan" for the area.

The committee gave the OK to secondary planning for development west of the karst and north of Rymal Road.

Ward 9 Councillor Brad Clark, who has joined area residents in calling for the land to the east to be designated parkland, said home builders have been opposed to protecting that land from the get-go.

During yesterday's lengthy discussion, Clark said the Ontario Realty Corp. overseeing the land appears to have already made up its mind in favour of development.

The Eramosa Karst contains life forms that survived the last Ice Age, biologist Dr. Joe Minor told the committee. "Life in the caves needs a supply of clean water and development will affect that."

In 2006, the province gave 73 hectares of the karst to the Hamilton Conservation Authority. It's up to the Ontario Realty Corp. to decide the fate of land surrounding the protected zones.

The Hamilton-Halton Home Builders' Association wants to build houses on the contested parcel. President Vince Molinario told a committee yesterday that association representatives need more time to develop a response.

The province is studying potential consequences of development.