Citizen Group Still Waiting for Answers on Aerotropolis
October 20, 2005

An open letter delivered to city council nearly two months ago has still not received a response. Hamiltonians for Progressive Development (HPD), issued the string of objections to the city's aerotropolis plans in a press conference at city hall on August 23.

The group is challenging council's decision to urbanize 3100 acres of farmland around the airport in hopes of attracting new industry to Hamilton, and has appealed the decision to the Ontario Municipal Board. HPD provided copies of their open letter to all councillors after their press conference. The chair of the city's planning committee, Terry Whitehead, told the media later that day that "we need to ensure some of the legitimate questions they raise we respond to."

An article in the Hamilton Spectator three days later also suggested a response was being prepared. It reported that "Mayor Larry Di Ianni, who strongly disputes many of the claims [of HPD], says council will respond to the group's letter."

The open letter has subsequently been published in the Brabant weekly newspapers. HPD's secretary also handed out copies to all councillors attending the September 28 council meeting in an another attempt to elicit a formal response.

Yesterday the chair of the corporate administration committee asked city staff for an explanation. Dave Braden noted the group "wrote a long letter and there was never any response" and said either a reply or an explanation should be provided.

HPD co-chair Michael Desnoyers told the August press conference that the group "believes strongly in the principles of Vision 2020.and the absolute need to engage the community in a comprehensive and extensive fashion."

The full text of the HPD letter is posted on the CATCH website at http://hamiltoncatch.org/pdfs/HPD-Statement-OpenLetter.pdf.