Hamilton councillors grant conditional zoning approval for north-end Islamic school

The Muslim Association of Canada (MAC) wants to turn 360 Beach Rd. (formerly Lloyd George Public School) into a new school with 27 classrooms for students from across the region from kindergarten to Grade 8.

On July 28, the matter was initially reviewed by the city’s planning committee and members had advised the proposal be rejected.

The proposal faced strong pushback from local residents worried about traffic, as well as from Arcelor-Mittal Dofasco, which raised concerns about the impact on its operations.

Other concerns include how the air quality and the toxicology due to industrial activity in the surrounding area would affect students.

MAC has already submitted several studies about these issues, but the city did not have time to review them before Tuesday’s meeting.

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360 Beach Rd. is also within 500 metres of a CN Railway, bringing with it certain development restrictions.

“We would have very little to object to in this application were the proposed school reutilizing a site located at a more appropriate distance from major facilities,” A.J. Clarke & Associates Ltd said in a statement.

“It is for this primary reason that it is still our professional planning opinion that the proposed redevelopment is inappropriate and in poor planning.”

Ahead of Tuesday’s meeting, The Biglieri Group on behalf of MAC, wrote, “The question is therefore no longer whether these matters have been studied, but whether the professional evidence demonstrates that the proposed use can be made compatible. The applicant’s qualified specialists conclude that it can.”

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