Hamilton will have 633K residents by 2026, says ward boundary study

Hamilton will grow to 633,000 residents over the next 10 years, and a new report recommends how to realign its ward boundaries to accommodate that.

The new report from Watson and Associates Economists Ltd. says Hamilton will grow by 12 per cent or 68,000 people by 2026. Right now, it has565,270.

The largest growth will be in Glanbrook, most of which is in Ward 11. In 2015, the report says, Glanbrook had 43,690 people. By 2026, it will have78,850.

The report also predicts significant population growth inWaterdown, the downtown core,Ancaster-upperwest Mountain,Fruitland-Winona,Binbrookand the eastMountain-Elfrida.

These numbers are increasingly significant as the city undergoes a long-awaited ward boundary review to accommodate the growing population. This week, Watson and Associates recommended eight options in an interim report.

• How Glanbrook's growth is helping everyone's tax bill

In 2001, the transition board for Hamilton's amalgamationrecommended reviewing ward boundaries in 10 years. In 2012, citizens submitted a petition. City council eventually voted for thereviewat a costof $270,000.

Current ward populations range from 16,640in Ward 14 (ruralFlamborough) to 62,435 in Ward 7 (central Mountain).

Below are the eight suggested options. All recommend some modification of Ward 11. Some recommend a 16thward.

• City moves ahead on ward boundary review

Option 1

Notable changes:This option would increase Ward 15 to include most of Flamborough, and shift Ward 14 to encompass part of Ancaster andGlanbrook. Currently, Flamborough is divided into Wards 14 and 15. It would shift the boundaries of other wards too.

Option 2A

Notable changes: This option expands Ward 13 (Dundas) to the escarpment to encompass part of the Ancasterand rural Flamborough wards. It would also expand Ward 9 to encompass part of Ward 11 (Glanbrook).

Option 2B

Notable changes: This option redraws the Mountain and lower-city wards slightly, and expands Ward 9 to encompass part of Ward 11. It preserves the "pre-amalgamation" balance of suburban representation, the report says.

Option 3A

Notable changes:Options 3A and 3Bfocuson balanced population in each ward. This option expands Ward 9 to encompass part of Glanbrook, expands Ward 14 to encompass part of Ward 15 in Flamborough, divides Wards 1 and 2 by Main Street and other changes.

Option 3B

Notable changes: This option expands Ward 10 to encompass a large part of Ward 11 (Glanbrook), and significantly realigns most of the lower-city boundaries, as well as the Mountain.

Option 4A

Notable changes: Options 4A, 4B and 4C propose adding a new ward to Hamilton. Option 4A would create a Ward 16 in the west Mountain area.

Option 4B

Notable changes: Option 4B would also createWard 16 in the west Mountain.

Option 4C

Notable changes: Option 4C would put Ward 16 on the west Mountain, while redrawing Ward 13 (Dundas) to include part of rural Flamborough.

Wards by current population (2015 figures) with 2026 projections in brackets

• Ward 1: 41,340 (43,900)
• Ward 2: 40,635 (45,225)
• Ward 3: 40,365 (40,125)
• Ward 4: 36,040 (35,325)
• Ward 5: 39,835 (40,625)
• Ward 6: 41,025 (38,850)
• Ward 7: 62,435 (63,000)
• Ward 8: 53,875 (55,100)
• Ward 9: 29,980 (41,700)
• Ward 10: 25,130 (24,825)
• Ward 11: 43,690 (78,850)
• Ward 12: 39,510 (45,075)
• Ward 13: 25,310 (24,350)
• Ward 14: 16,640 (16,075)
• Ward 15: 29,460 (39,850)

View the full report below.

On mobile? Click here.

samantha.craggs@cbc.ca | @SamCraggsCBC