Hamilton must “reinvent itself not merely to survive but to thrive” under a new development document in which “the pedestrian experience is paramount”, the House of Assembly heard last night.

The City of Hamilton Plan 2025, which won bipartisan support, also comes with a new set of assessments for setting building heights.

Diallo Rabain, the Minister of the Cabinet Office and Digital Innovation, told the House on May 12 when the document was tabled: “This plan does not open the door to 30-storey skyscrapers in Hamilton.

“While the plan eliminates rigid, citywide height limits, it maintains control and common sense.”

Last night, Mr Rabain said the most common query he had encountered during consultation had been the maximum height allowed.

Mr Rabain said there was “no fixed numerical height limit” but a “responsive, discretion-based framework” that took into account a building’s location, design quality, context and “overall contribution to the city” within broad land-use districts.

Mr Rabain said the plan was the result of “years of consultation, research and careful deliberation” inspired by “successful global models tailored to Bermuda’s unique context”.

He said the plan would “prioritise pedestrians over vehicular movement”.

Robert King, of the One Bermuda Alliance, said: “We on this side of the aisle definitely support this initiative to revitalise the city, given its state and what it can become.

“Absolutely, we are in full support.”

Mr King said the island had the chance to set “the benchmark other jurisdictions will follow”.

He added that the Opposition hoped that “Sessions House will be considered an area of priority to be repaired”.

Jason Hayward, the Minister of Economy and Labour, told the House: “The plan embraces two things — one, that we want to encourage more residential development. But we cannot lose our commercial and retail footprint in the city as well.”

The Hamilton blueprint excludes the North East Hamilton Local Plan 2022 area but Mr Hayward said the new vision for the capital would be in alignment with its goals.

He added that housing capacity had stood out as a “major impediment to economic development and growth” on the island.

“We believe that the city has the potential to unlock and expand our housing inventory,” he told the House.

He praised the “flexibility” of the document as “a living, breathing plan” that could develop certain areas while nurturing city districts given over to pedestrians or vendors, where applicable.

Mr Hayward called the island a “blue-chip business jurisdiction” and said the plan came with an “appropriate mix” of development that would not leave the city “saturated with one type”.

Minimal standards for floor sizes would prevent “dormitory-style development” taking over, he said.

“It has a good mix of preservation and forward-thinking proposals,” Mr Hayward added.

Michael Fahy, the shadow housing minister, highlighted a conference last week organised by the urban development authority, which said that 2,500 new housing units were required.

My Fahy applauded the plan’s attention to pedestrian space.

“It’s disappointing that in all the years that we have talked about pedestrianising the city, it’s never been done,” he said.

He said the 2025 plan was a chance for the city to “lead by example”.

Mr Fahy said the plan contained references to requirements for renewable energy but cautioned they should link with the Integrated Resource Plan for power supply.

He also queried the source of minimum square footage requirements for residential developments, adding that “275 square feet for a studio seems rather small to me”.

Mr Fahy said the plan’s flexibility on building heights “can only be applauded” given the island’s limited space.

“Whether we have a 50-storey building or not, that’s for the planning department to decide,” he said, highlighting that it did not “circumvent the regular planning process”.

He said the plan left “a lot more opportunity” for the planning board to approve developments.

Zane DeSilva, the Deputy Premier and housing minister, said he was “not much in disagreement” with Mr Fahy’s remarks and told Mr Rabain he had “made history tonight” with the plan.

He added: “Let’s hope that tonight is the precursor for years to come ‒ it’s very good to see members of the other side in full support of this plan.”

He said he had been surprised at the smallness of some of the housing units proposed but added that the plan could easily be “tweaked”.

Mr DeSilva told the House his view on boosting housing was to “start thinking up, not out”.

“Everyone associated with my ministry knows I want to go up and it’s not just in the city,” he added.

Opposition MP Douglas De Couto gave his support. He added: “If we want things to change, we have to change how we do things. This plan is a great step in that direction.”

Kim Swan, a government MP, said the old dump site at Pembroke Marsh had potential to become Bermuda’s version of Central Park in Manhattan.

“If we want to have a Central Park of Bermuda, there it is,” he added.

Mr Rabain wrapped up the debate by saying he would bring statements and legislative amendments in the coming weeks to address development regulations.

“We are speaking with data and we are acting with purpose,” he said.

The motion was unanimously approved.

Download PDF File

CoH_Plan_2025.pdf

• To read the City of Hamilton 2025 plan in full, see Related Media