Councillor believes minority opposed to Hamilton’s waterfront development

Downtown councillor Jason Farr is downplaying neighbourhood concerns about potential problems surrounding Hamilton’s Pier 8 redevelopment.

Some neighbours have cited issues ranging from traffic and noise to odour and dust from future residential and commercial projects along the waterfront.

But Ward 2 Coun. Jason Farr believes the complaints are coming from a small minority of residents.

In fact, he believes more than 90 per cent of those currently living in the city’s north end are in favour of the $145-million plan for Pier 8.

LISTEN: Coun. Jason Farr joins the Bill Kelly Show

He points to the fact that only three delegates made presentations to the city’s planning committee this week when it passed the draft plan of a subdivision and zoning bylaw for Pier 8.

“It’s unfortunate that sometimes it gets spun that three voices are those of an entire community,” Farr said.

“When you are looking at 15 years of consultations, you would be hard pressed to find any engagement process with the community that has been as thorough as this one,” he added.

He says the development plans bring “many more amenities to an already beautiful place.”

This week’s approval of the draft plan by the planning committee is considered a crucial step in the development of nine blocks of condos and commercial space in that area.

The city is already searching for a developer and city council will vote on May 24 whether to ratify the committee’s decision.