Disgust and disbelief over garbage plant zoning approval

Calling a proposed garbage plant on the waterfront a "bait and switch," Ward 3 Coun. Matthew Green blasted the Port Fuels project Tuesday after the city admitted the project fit into its"waste processing facility" definition, which is allowed on Pier15.

Green, fellow councillorChad Collins and community opponents all had strongly worded reactions Tuesday as theproject got a green light from city zoning staff.

Ithink the Port Authorityis usingHamiltonas the place where they can put industries that won't be accepted elsewhere.- Matthew Green

A "disgusted" Green contended the project had been "green-washed" to get specialprovincial environmental consideration, but then when city zoning for an energy production plantproved a hurdle, the project was recast as a waste processing facility to remove that hurdle.

"Ithink they used one sales pitch to sell the province the renewable energies part of the project, then they came back to the city to say that it was waste management," he said.

Green said he would make a motion at city councilWednesday to ask forextra provincial scrutiny on the project, which is in his ward.

• City can't use zoning to block port lands gasification plant
• Port Fuels 'confident' gasification plant will pass environmental review
• Hamilton gasification plant needs independent review, report warns
• Councillors looking for a more forceful voice on port authority board

Kate Andrus, spokesperson forTrash the Garbage Planta community group opposed tothe project, echoed Green's commentsthat the company is representing itself one way at the provincial end of its approval process and as something else locally. She said she was in "disbelief" at the decision, especially after so many assurances a zone change would be required.

"The question begs, if I decided to build a strip club and call it a change room for a gym, would the zoning department allow me to build it without further comment or consideration?The community would really like to know."

Mayor FredEisenbergerdidn't take a positionon the news Tuesday, but said through a spokeswoman that he is keeping tabs on the project and that"this isjust one step in the process."

TheHamilton Port Authority did not return requests for comment.

Port Authority role questioned

Green criticized the port for pushing the project forward.

"I think that they're the problem," Green said. "Ithink the Port Authorityis usingHamiltonas the place where they can put industries that won't be accepted elsewhere."

Coun. Chad Collins, who represents Ward 5 in the city's east end, joined Green in criticizing the port's role in bringing the project to the city. Hesaid the port's approval of this project "set the city back decades" on environmental and economic development progress.

"They continue to facilitate 1950s-style developments that prevent other investors from even giving the lower bayfront lands a look."

The zoning change was the one mechanism city staff and elected officials were holding out as a reason why Port Fuels should listen to and work with the city and not just with the Hamilton Port Authority.

The main approval process remaining is now the provincial environmental screening, where the various environmental impacts of the project are assessed.

Independent review coming soon

An independent technical review of the project from consultant WSP Canada will be"forwarded to the City shortly in order to assist in their decision making," said the firm's Hamiltonoperations manager DavidMacGillivray.

The project site ison Pier15, federally owned Hamilton Port Authority lands, and Port Fuels representativeshave said the project would go forward with or without city approval.

The change in thinking in among city staff comes from a technical redefining of what the project is. The initial rejection was because it was seen asa "private energy generation plant"which is not permitted andwould require a rezoning application. After a closer look, staff now accept that the two processes that are part of the operation make it a "wasteprocessing facility" that includes thermal treatment and the creation of energy as part of it.

A group of community members who oppose the plant will hold a forum with international environmentalist PaulConnettat City Hall on April 10 at 7 p.m.