Protecting Our Prime Farmland: A Challenging Balance Between Growth and Preservation

As your Ward 11 Councillor, I want to address a complex issue that affects all of us in Glanbrook: the ongoing tension between residential development and the protection of our precious agricultural lands. This is not an easy topic, and I recognize that reasonable people can have different perspectives on how we balance growth with preservation of our rural character.

The Current Situation

The provincial government has implemented policies that give developers alternative pathways to pursue development projects, even when municipalities have concerns about specific proposals. This creates a challenging dynamic where local voices and municipal planning decisions can be overridden through processes like the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT).

The Statutory Public Meeting for both the Elfrida and White Church development applications was held at a special meeting of Planning Committee on June 25, 2025. These proposals came before Council this past Wednesday, and Council voted unanimously (11–0) to reject the proposed urban boundary expansion, holding the line on sprawl. This decision preserves the City’s strongest strategic position for sustainable growth going forward.

My Position on the Vote

I voted against the Elfrida and White Church land proposals, and I want to explain why.

By rejecting these applications at the municipal level, we’re not simply saying “no” to development—we’re signaling a firm “not like this.”  This position enables us to advocate for more responsible growth, should a tribunal hearing take place. It’s also more likely that if development proceeds through this provincial backdoor, that it happens with proper conditions and community protections in place.

I am honestly just trying to do what is best for Hamilton. We need to push back to ensure increasing density within the existing urban boundary remains a primary focus for developers. Of course, those who have purchased the farmland outside the boundary want to build where they own it. But planning shouldn’t be driven by profit margins—it should be driven by data, need, and long-term sustainability.

At some point in our city’s future (whether that be ours or our children’s), an urban boundary expansion will likely be necessary—but that should be based on real need, not greed. And when it does happen, we must ensure our best farmlands are protected, and that new development occurs where it makes the most sense, and at a density level that can support the long-term costs of infrastructure and services.  Holding the Urban Boundary now puts us on a better path to achieve what is best for the City as we go through the OLT process.

The Farmland Question

Here’s what I believe fundamentally: we must prioritize the protection of our prime agricultural land, particularly Class 1 and Class 2 farmland. These lands represent some of the most productive agricultural soils in Canada, and once they’re developed, they’re gone forever. In a world where food security is becoming increasingly important, preserving our capacity to feed ourselves locally isn’t just good policy—it’s essential for our nation’s long-term survival and prosperity.

The good news is that there are alternatives. Our region has plenty of land that isn’t suitable for agriculture—land that can and should be developed for housing. We can meet our housing needs without sacrificing our best farmland, but it requires careful planning and data-driven decision-making.

A Balanced Approach to Growth

I’m not opposed to intelligent residential development. Our communities need housing, and young families deserve the opportunity to build their lives here. But development has to respect a few key principles:

Smart Land Use: We should prioritize development on non-agricultural lands. There are opportunities to build the homes we need without touching our prime farmland.

Data-Driven Planning: Any expansion into rural areas must be based on solid data about our actual housing needs—not speculation or developer pressure. We need to know exactly how much growth we need, and where it makes the most sense.

Reduced Land Consumption: As we develop, we should be looking for ways to use land more efficiently. This doesn’t mean high-rise buildings in rural areas, but it does mean thinking creatively about how we can house more people while using less land overall.

Affordability and Housing Mix: Let’s also be clear - the housing crisis isn’t just about the number of homes being built. It’s about the kind of housing that’s being built, and whether people can afford it. Building more suburban subdivisions on farmland isn’t going to solve affordability for renters, for seniors, or for young families. We need a greater mix of housing types, more missing middle development, and homes located where people already live, work, and access services. Sprawl may increase the housing count, but it does little to address actual affordability, and it can add significant costs to the City over time.

Looking Forward

I understand this is a complex and sometimes divisive issue. Some residents worry about housing affordability and availability, while others are concerned about losing the rural character that initially drew them to Ward 11. Both concerns are valid, and both deserve to be heard.

What I’m committed to is finding solutions that respect both our need for housing and our need to preserve what makes Glanbrook special. This means working with developers who share our values around responsible development for our City, advocating for provincial policies that give municipalities more control over their own planning decisions, and ensuring that any development that does occur contributes positively to our communities.

The decisions we make today about development will shape Ward 11 for generations to come. I take that responsibility seriously, and I’m committed to fighting for an approach that protects our agricultural economy while meeting the legitimate housing needs of our growing community.

As always, I welcome your thoughts and feedback on this important issue. You can reach out to me through my office, and I encourage you to stay engaged with these planning processes. Your voice matters, and together we can work toward solutions that serve all of our interests.

~ Cllr Mark