RESTORE COOTES

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Make Cootes national park, group urgesTheSpec.com - Local - Make Cootes national park, group urges Create eco-park in urbanized area
Eric McGuinness, The Hamilton Spectator
(Jan 28, 2009)


The idea of a Cootes Paradise National Park is being revived by local conservationists.
But they say it is jeopardized by plans for a self-storage warehouse beside the Desjardins Canal at the east entrance to Dundas.
They point to a new vision of an urban eco-park -- maybe a national park -- incorporating the Cootes marsh, drafted by Urban Strategies Inc., the firm responsible for McMaster University's campus master plan among other Hamilton projects.
Joe Berridge, a partner who has helped reshape waterfronts in Toronto, New York and London, produced the concept document at the invitation of Ben Vanderbrug, retired general manager of the Hamilton Conservation Authority; McMaster University professor Brian Baetz; and Dundas environmentalis…

Public meeting for creek plansTheSpec.com - Local - Public meeting for creek plans
The Hamilton Spectator, (Jan 26, 2009)

Efforts to improve water quality in Hamilton Harbour are moving further upstream as the Hamilton Conservation Authority develops environmental action plans for Borer's, Logies's and Sydenham creeks.The creeks are within the watershed of Spencer Creek, which flows through Flamborough and Dundas before emptying into Cootes Paradise at the west end of the harbour.Draft plans to restore and protect the health of the creeks and their ecosystems will be presented at an open house from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. tomorrow at Rock Chapel United Church, 451 Rock Chapel Rd.Individuals, businesses and community associations are invited to share their thoughts, concerns and knowledge of the local landscape.Removing the harbour from an international list of Great Lakes pollution hot spots by 2015 still requires sewage treatment plant upgrades and better stewardship of streams feedi…

HCA is offering mediation for storage dispute
Gateway site would make ‘a lovely community acquisition,’ chair says
Richard Leitner, Dundas Star News Staff
Published on Jan 16, 2009

The Hamilton Conservation Authority is offering to host talks aimed at finding a friendly way to stop a controversial proposal to build a self-storage facility at the eastern entrance to Dundas.

After more than two hours of presentations and discussion, board directors last week deferred voting on a resolution opposing the development to allow for a meeting between proponent Doug Hammond and a group of residents headed by former Dundas councillor Joanna Chapman.

Authority chair Chris Firth-Eagland said he’s encouraged both Ms. Chapman and a lawyer representing Mr. Hammond committed to meet to review options for the vacant property, located at the northwest corner of King Street and Olympic Drive. He said the two-hectare site, purchased by Mr. Hammond from the former regional municipality in 1999, “would make a lo…

Intersections and collisions.
Kaz Novak, The Hamilton Spectator Cootes Drive is closed due to a collision between a fire truck and a sub compact at the corner of Olympic Dr. One injured in firetruck crashTheSpec.com - BreakingNews - One injured in firetruck crash Cootes Drive at Olympic Drive closed

John Burman
One person is in hospital and Cootes Drive is closed after an accident involving a car and a fire truck. A Hamilton fire department pumper truck on its way to a Dundas call was westbound on Cootes when it collided with a car in the intersection at Olympic Drive. It’s not clear which had the right of way.While it appears the pumper suffered little damage, the driver’s side of the small, four-door sedan was stove in from one wheel to the other.The driver of the car was taken to hospital. Officials haven’t released the extent of that person’s injuries.Traffic using the intersection was re-routed over King Street between Olympic and downtown Dundas until Hamilton police eventually c…

Conservationists want warehouse alternativesTheSpec.com - Local - Conservationists want warehouse alternatives
Eric McGuinness, The Hamilton Spectator,
DUNDAS (Jan 9, 2009)

The Hamilton Conservation Authority wants to try to broker a deal to find alternatives to a proposed warehouse at the Cootes Drive entrance to Dundas.A motion to oppose rezoning the two-hectare site at King Street East and Olympic Drive was tabled last night after lawyer Brian Duxbury, representing landowner Doug Hammond, agreed to meet Joanna Chapman and other citizens opposed to the project.Duxbury said he was asking the city's economic development and planning committee to defer action on the application until Feb. 17, after the authority's next board meeting.Authority chair Chris Firth-Eagland said he would convene a meeting of the two sides to explore ideas. Puslinch Councillor Don McKay offered himself as a neutral party from outside Hamilton.In her presentation to the authority board, Chapman suggeste…

Development opponents seek support
Conservation board to discuss construction proposal
Craig Campbell, Dundas Star News Staff
Published on Jan 02, 2009

Opponents of a proposed storage facility within the Cootes Paradise ESA are appealing to city councillors to quash recommendations for amendments that would pave the way for development.

The Hamilton Conservation Authority’s board of directors is scheduled to hear two public presentations and discuss a report on the proposal at a Jan. 8 meeting. A City of Hamilton planning staff recommendation to permit rezoning and official plan amendments to allow a commercial storage facility on property currently zoned “parkland” is expected to be considered by city councillors on the Economic Development and Planning Committee on Jan. 20.

Over the past two weeks, emails have been circulated from concerned residents to Mayor Fred Eisenberger, and some city councillors, expressing opposition to the development and requesting support – apparently focussing…