Position re Waterfront Trail Extension
by Stephen Park, President, Harbour West Neighbours (HWN)
April 2004

Last Monday (April 19) the City Staff (despite HWN's best efforts) recommended to the Public Works, Infrastructure and Environment Committee (PWIE) that the Waterfront Recreational Trail Extension be built as planned by Hamilton Waterfront Trust (HWT) and it's executive director, Werner Plessl.

The plans call for the 6 metre-wide main trail start at the children's play area on Pier 4, be routed between Leander [Boat Club]'s building and the water's edge, then through the dry sail area and parking space of Royal Hamilton Yacht Club (RHYC) before re-connecting with a narrower 3 metre trail running up to and along Guise St. The main Trail route isn't even on the direct route between Bayfront Park and Pier 8!

A second recommendation in regards to the Lease of City Lands by Leander was also included. The City staff are recommended a 10 year lease at a 50% increase over their current lease rate. (Leander's building, storage space east of Leander and a waterlot will be included.) This is very different than what Leander expected to see based on the their negotiations and will have significant tax consequences, too, almost tripling their taxes. It didn't seem that Councillor Collins remembered his speech of October 29th, where he and Councillor Horwath said that both clubs (Leander and RHYC) should receive 15 year leases. The recommendation on the lease has implications for ALL boating groups on the Harbour!

(See http://www.hamilton.ca/Clerk/agendas-minutes-reports/
public-works/2004/Apr19/agenda%20-%20Apr%2019.pdf, items 8.2 and 9.7 for the written reports presented to Council.)

Leander and HWN made presentations against the trail extension being routed in front of Leander's building. Leander made it clear that they were very strongly pressured to agree to the Trail and that crucial information (the City needed Leander's OK to go ahead with the Trail) was kept from them by City Staff. They "reluctantly agreed" to the trail as they felt it was the only way they could get a reasonable Lease - the lease recommended is not reasonable.

RHYC made a presentation supporting the trail and praising Werner Plessl because they were able to negotiate the trail route away from the water's edge and get other concessions in return for their agreement. Both Leander and RHYC spoke to the ideas of long-term leases at favourable rates due to their non-profit nature and community services they offer. They were asked to come back with comparisons of how other cities handle arrangements with rowing / sailing clubs. 

HWN presented a petition signed by representatives of HWN, NENA (North End Neighbourhood Association) and HRBA (Chris Carroll signed as spokesman) asking that before Councillors make a decision they take a tour of the waterfront hosted by our groups. This idea received support and the decision was to be tabled until the next PWIE meeting, but on request of Councillor Horwath, the decision has been moved up to next Wednesday's Council meeting. If Councillors feel they need more information they could push the decision back to the PWIE Committee, but this is unlikely to happen. Next Wednesday is IT!

So, the Tour is scheduled for Tuesday morning at 11:30 am  (we will be collecting Councillors in a rented van), returning them to City Hall by 12:30 . We have at least 4 Councillors and the Mayor scheduled for the tour and 4 more at other points between Monday and Wednesday mornings. Let me know if you wish to help...

Below are some key points we will be making to the Councillors in support of our position.

1) A Trail Going Nowhere
Given the fact that opening the proposed trail across the Harbour West Marina is years away, (Hamilton Port Authority has a lease on the property for 11 more years!) the 6 metre wide part of the trail crossing in front of Leander's building and immediately behind RHYC's building does not immediately add anything special to Hamilton's waterfront. Of greater concern is the fact that the western starting point of the trail is not on the direct route from Bayfront Park through the base of Pier 4 for those wishing to access Pier 8. Instead it is well out of the way, and within a short distance (180 metres) will force users back onto the 3 metre wide trail running beside Guise St. 

2) Lack of Sightlines
While trail users may be closer to the water under HWT's proposal, they also have their sightlines blocked for one third of the trail's length by the two story, windowless brick and siding wall which is the south side of the building owned by RHYC and shared with the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce.  It should be noted that sightlines on the trail as it runs beside Leander Drive and Guise Street are significantly better as they are elevated, providing an excellent view of boating activities and the central part of the Bay as a whole. Changes to the route of the main trail can be arrived at which will allow those who wish closer access to the waters edge and up-close access to the activities of boaters.

3)  Hamilton Waterfront Trust has Never Been Open to Any Alternative Route
Two neighbourhood groups (HWN and NENA), the Central Hamilton Advisory Committee (CHAC) and the Hamilton Recreational Boating Alliance (HRBA) have all made statements that the Waterfront Trail should not interfere with the operations of boating clubs and should be routed around Leander. Yet, in 15 months of discussions and meetings HWT has not considered any other route in regards to Leander. HWT's Project Advisory Group (PAG) was not presented with different options for the Trail Extension for this part of the route. Yet  It should be noted that RHYC was also initially told that the Trail Extension would include a route along its waterfront edge, but was able to negotiate exclusive access to its City-owned waterfront. Why was Leander not offered the same consideration?

4) Planning Options are Removed
The Setting Sail planning process has reached the point where it is drafting a secondary plan. That plan currently calls for a Recreation Master Plan to be developed for the areas currently utilized by Macassa Bay Yacht Club, MacDonald Marine, Hamilton Bay Sailing Club, Leander Boat Club and Royal Hamilton Yacht Club, Pier 6 and Bayfront and Pier 4 Parks. A number of issues are up for discussion as noted on a placard presented to the public on March 23, 2004. The current routing of the trail pre-determines many of these issues, specifically in regards to Leander Boat Club.

"These two areas will be designated "Marine Recreational" in the proposed Secondary Plan. A recreation master plan will be required to be completed by the City to address specific issues, such as:

- Extent and location of boat storage areas
- extent and location of parking and loading
- size and location of any new buildings
- access to water's edge
- nature and location of future roadways
- final Waterfront Trail alignment

The boundaries of the study area for the recreation master plan will extend beyond these two areas to also include at a minimum Bayfront Park , Pier 4 Park and Pier 6."

Notes:

- It is very likely that funding from SuperBuild will still be available if the trail routing changes around Leander
- There are REASONABLE alternatives for routing the Trail Extension that HWT has never considered

How YOU can HELP.

Spread this information around! Forward it to your Membership and encourage them to take action. 15 to 20 calls before Wednesday  per Councillor will make a HUGE difference.

Phone numbers for Councillors are on the following web site. http://www.hamilton.ca/clerk/council/default.asp

Use the points above or focus on the brief messages below. Each call takes only one minute!!

- I support Leander's and Harbour West Neigbour's position that the Waterfront Trail Extension should not be routed between Leander and the water's edge and that Leander should receive a 20 year Lease to ensure their long-term stability

- Tell them you are a Trail User. Remind them that the small space of land in front of Leander is very significant to the rowers of Leander but not to the overall trail and its users. Of 7500m of existing trail and 2000 m in the Extension, a meagre 35 metres sits in front of Leander!

- Leander is a rowing "centre of excellence" with real contributions to Canada 's National Team and Olympic squad and deserves our support. It should be considered in the same light as public rinks, lawn bowling facilities, and tennis clubs, yet has never asked the City for any money for either facilities or on-going expenses.

These three points are important and need to be conveyed to Councillors by the Public. WE are the Public!

Thank you for your help on this... It's the only way we can make sure all Waterfront Users are protected in the long-term! Call me if you have any ideas or concerns.

Finally - Watch CH News at 5:30 on Tuesday, Herman Turkstra is expecting to be interviewed.

Stephen Park

President, Harbour West Neighbours
info@harbourwestneighbours.ca
www.harbourwestneighbours.ca