City of Hamilton staff recommends approving an application to close and sell a portion of an alley between Alma and Victoria streets in Dundas.

The recommendation and staff report goes to the city’s public works committee of city council on Monday, June 19 at 9:30 a.m.

The staff report states the applicant and three other property owners use the section of alley to access private parking, and the three other owners informed staff they “either support or are indifferent to the sale, given the applicant agrees to provide them with permanent, unobstructed access to their properties.”

The staff report goes on to state that while there has been considerable interest from the broader community, “the proposed sale is consistent with the city’s practice in this regard, and therefore staff recommend the alleyway be closed and sold to the applicant.”

According to the report, 36 notices were sent by the city to surrounding landowners, and the city received 21 responses objecting to the sale.

The notice was shared more broadly in the community and interested Dundas residents told city staff they had collected a reported 650 signatures in opposition to the closure and sale of the alley.

The report states that last November, unrelated to the alley closure and sale application, neighbouring St. Augustine Catholic Elementary School requested a school travel planning review facilitated through the city’s public health department.

The process includes a walkabout with school stakeholders, city traffic staff, public health professionals, police, school administration and students.

“As a result of the walkabout, public works staff identified concerns related to traffic and pedestrians in the area of the alleyway,” the report states. “Concerns related specifically to students using the alleyway and emerging to cross Alma Street midblock during school start and finish times where there is no pedestrian infrastructure, no sidewalks and many school buses or other increased traffic in the area.”

The report notes city staff put up signs at both ends of the alley in February, encouraging pedestrians to use an alternative route.

According to the report, the application was circulated internally to determine if there is any practical benefit to the city maintaining ownership of the alley.

“Given that no internal stakeholders expressed interest in the alleyway, staff recommend the alleyway be closed and sold to the applicant,” the report states.