LARRY'S CORNER- Hamilton's Former Mayor Speaks

Mady Development in Winona

By Larry Di Ianni
(posted June 5, 2009)

I was approached by a prominent local lawyer at the bank yesterday who said, “What the hell are they doing?” I often get these questions. When my puzzled look indicated that I wasn’t sure who the “they” were, or what they were “doing” to whom, he explained.

“Hamilton needs jobs”, he said, “and Council just turned down an $85M commercial complex which includes a Wal-Mart on an empty piece of property at Fifty Road and the QEW.” “What the hell are they doing?” he repeated.

Indeed, what is happening here? And what is driving Council to, actually delay, if not blatantly turn down, a proposal which is supported by the local Councillor, David Mitchell and the other Stoney Creek Councillor, Maria Pearson? The third Stoney Creek Councillor, Brad Clark, actually favoured the stoppage.

The issues are complicated, but do leave this citizen who approached me with a sense that once again Hamilton is closed for business opportunities. This reality will surely reverberate among the investment community at a time when investment and development are sorely needed in the city to create much needed jobs.

Is the criticism warranted? On the face of it, the committee’s decision was foolish. $85M in investment dollars is not chump change. The creation, we are told, of 1300 jobs is a blessing for a community reeling with job losses. The provision of services and shopping opportunities in a corner of the city which as one resident reportedly lamented, “We have nothing here,” should be a welcome development. But there are some other issues.

At the heart of it is the controversial change in zoning for these properties from ‘industrial employment lands’ to ‘commercial/retail employment lands’. There is a real question whether the Council should have permitted the change which had not been supported by staff. But once Council did support the change, they opened the door for staff’s support of the current application. By delaying the move, Council committee effectively undermined staff yet again. Can you blame our staff professionals from feeling whip-sawed? Who is behind these histrionics? Here are some personalities:

An attendee at the committee meetings was the head of Council’s anti-business lobby group, CATCH, Don McLean. Don’s anti-business/development history is well documented, and CATCH has dedicated a number of articles on this issue pointing out its problems. Don was seen sitting beside the former Executive Assistant to Mayor Fred, Ken Audziss, who has been arguing against the approval in a less than complimentary way. There are, I am told, some potentially damaging emails floating about which prove that. Mr. Audziss’ role really should be examined, as well as his earlier approaches to Mady. There is a whole story to be told about this. What isn’t clear, is the lobbying effect, if any, he has been able to have on his old boss.

Georgina Beattie, former City of Stoney Creek town Councillor is also vocally opposing the business opportunity and CATCH has documented this without alluding to the family business Georgina runs on Fifty Road and Highway #8 which would face stiff competition by the Wal-Mart development. It would be a shame to see Georgina’s hard work threatened, but it lacks transparency for CATCH not to report her understandable conflict in the process.

And then there are many citizens who have taken one side or another, indicating that the community is split. I personally think the split is more among those who attend meetings than the community at large. I know from personal experience that the new residents of Winona are seeking services and amenities to complement their residential habitations in their new neighbourhoods.

Further complicating the situation for Mady is the lack of studies which they have not produced to justify their plans. Mr. Ed Fothergill, a very good planner, indicated that Mady needed some certainty before spending money on the studies. Councillor Clark’s point was that the studies were needed to justify the committee’s approval. This is a catch-22 situation. I side with the need for the studies. If Mady is ready to go to the OMB, they will need to do the studies regardless. They would have been better served if they had been advised to have them for Council’s needs as well.

There are a number of other issues of note, including the complicating role of the province in the development. However, when all is said and done, Council will once again have to wear the tag of not being open for business because of the way this project seems to have been handled; and that reputation is perhaps the biggest victim of this development’s delay.

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