The staff report concerning the urban boundary expansion for the proposed Airport Employment Growth District (“Aerotropolis”) has now been released to the public for review. Presumably, the 74 page report – along with approximately 2100 pages of appendices – is to be absorbed and understood by Councillors in the middle of an election campaign and in time to make a final decision at the council meeting on October 13.
The Pan Am stadium debate has obscured a much more significant decision for Hamilton’s future. At the same October 13 council meeting now earmarked for a stadium decision, city council will also decide on the Aerotropolis – a scheme that will cost far more, and have far greater consequences.
As it now stands, the Aerotropolis (Airport Employment Growth District) will convert 2050 acres of vital foodlands into an industrial zone. This proposal is proceeding forward despite the unraveling of nearly all of its premises and despite the fact that many questions regarding the risks associated with this massive endeavour remain unanswered.
We call upon Mayor Eisenberger and Council to postpone the final decision-making process – for what would be the single largest urban boundary expansion in the history of the City of Hamilton – until after the municipal election. In this regard, we urge our elected officials to consider the following:
- The need to preserve vital prime agricultural foodlands has become obvious to nearly everyone. Global
. . . → Click to read this entire post: Aerotropolis press release – in response to the staff report
