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DEPUTATION BY SIMON KAPTEIJN CONCERNING MOTION 23-G-153, BRADFORD STREET CORRIDOR STUDY MUNICIPAL CLASS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (WARD 2 AND 8)
Simon Captain provided a Deputation concerning motion 23-G-153 regarding the Bradford Street Corridor Study Municipal Class Environment Assessment.
Mr. Captain advised that his family lives near the proposed development. He expressed that his family would lose about 40% of their land, close to the Transit Hub and the Allandale Station; the lands should be intensified and not taken away by straightening the road. He also expressed concern over the loss of housing for families during a housing crisis.
Mr. Captain discussed his concerns with the central arterial roads and that they should have lower speed limits, wider sidewalks, and bicycle lanes. He commented that wider, straighter roads encourage drivers to speed at faster rates. He expressed the importance of promoting more active forms of transportation.
Mr. Captain addressed his concerns with so many units being lost, fewer people paying property taxes, and contributing to local businesses, resulting in lost revenue. He questioned if it was fiscally responsible to approve wider roads that require more maintenance as opposed to narrower roads with less to maintain and less money spent upfront. Mr. Captain expressed concern about the land that needs to be expropriated on the Bradford Corridor, costing more time and money than a scaled-down plan that would not require so much expropriation.
Mr. Captain asked Council to look at other municipalities' plans for downtown roads. He provided an example of the City of Hamilton plan, which shows two lanes, and a bicycle path, based on a 26-metre-wide road, not 34. He also raised concerns about the 4.2 metre landscape strip in the middle of the road and, if necessary.
Mr. Captain concluded by proposing a scaled-down version of this proposal to meet better priorities such as housing affordability, community safety, le...
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