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

The report recommends splitting up Glanbrook, which will grow to an estimated 78,850 people by 2026.

The report recommends splitting up Glanbrook, which will grow to an estimated 78,850 people by 2026

Samantha Craggs · CBC News · Posted: Jun 12, 2016 11:33 AM EDT | Last Updated: June 12, 2016

Glanbrook will grow to more than 70,000 people in 2026, a new report shows. That's why nearly every ward boundary realignment option recommends splitting it up. (Google Maps)

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 has 565,270.

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 have 78,850.

The report also predicts significant population growth in Waterdown, the downtown core, Ancaster-upper west Mountain, Fruitland-Winona, Binbrook and the east Mountain-Elfrida.

These are Hamilton's existing boundaries. (City of Hamilton)

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 amalgamation recommended reviewing ward boundaries in 10 years. In 2012, citizens submitted a petition. City council eventually voted for the review at a cost of $270,000.

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

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

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 and Glanbrook. 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 Ancaster and 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 3B focus on 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.