Draft Cainsville Employment Land Use Plan

Letter From Hansford Dr. Residents, Grand Valley Trails Community

To: The City of Brantford and The County of Brant

Subject: Community Concerns Regarding the Proposed Cainsville Development Adjacent to County Road 18 / Garden Avenue

Dear Representatives of the City of Brantford and the County of Brant,

We, the residents of Hansford Drive in the Grand Valley Trails community, are writing to formally express our collective concerns regarding the Cainsville Development that is proposed to border County Road 18/Garden Avenue. Many of us are long-time residents who purchased our homes with the understanding that the adjoining lands were designated protected greenbelt space, with no further development planned. It is therefore deeply disappointing that we were not notified or consulted regarding this significant development. Several residents were informed that this was strictly a County of Brant matter, despite the fact that our properties directly border the municipal boundary between the City of Brantford and the County of Brant. Questions have come to mind about the impact on of the noise on the Grand Valley Trail park for our children that also is near adjacency to County Road 18. A point of discussion that has moved through our neighborhood is whether the developers allocate a portion of the development to greenspace or provide cash-in-lieu for the city to acquire or improve other parks so our children remain unobstructed from noise pollution form County Road 18 should the Cainsville Development move forward.

Given this shared boundary, we expected greater transparency, coordination, and neighborly communication between our two governing bodies. With good neighborly courtesy comes trust, respect, and mutual support for the sustainable growth of our interconnected communities. Unfortunately, many residents within Grand Valley Trails feel this expectation has not been met. As longstanding taxpayers, working professionals, investors, and community contributors, we believe that our voices and quality of life should be considered with proper engagement and respect—particularly when a development of this scale could significantly alter our daily living environment. We understand that Public Consultation must engage with the local community, environmental groups and relevant stakeholders to ensure that the proposal is understood and potential concerns are addressed. Residences of Grand Valley Trails did attend the first meeting and were surprised that this was our initial meeting to hear about the Cainsville Development. To our disappointment we did not see Ward 4 councilors in attendance to hear our concerns. We therefore request the following information and assessments be shared with residents for our collective review. An electronic or hard paper copy will be acceptable.

Noise Impact Assessment
Air Quality Impact Assessment
Water Quality Impact Assessment
Traffic Risk and Volume Assessment
Community Safety and Emergency Response Zone Assessment
High-Risk Intersection Analysis (specifically at Colborne Street and County Road 18)
Types of industry businesses to be established

Additionally, we request clarification on governance and accountability regarding key areas of shared infrastructure. Some collective questions have already been initially proposed by the residents that we are needing reply.

Water Management and Water Safety: Who will be the governing body responsible for oversight, maintenance, and public health risk management?
Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS): What are the plans for managing rainfall and reducing surface water runoff with the Greenbelt space being destroyed and repurposed?
Mitigation and Management Plans What is the plan prepared detailing how the environmental impact on our surrounding wildlife. For many years we have been able to enjoy the greenspace on the other side of County Road 18 that allows us to see many wildlife enjoy the space. We request for explanation on the impact to the surrounding wildlife.
Traffic Risk Assessment (TIA) – To propose building in a greenspace, a detailed report evaluating the potential effects of new development on the local transportation network. Given the position of the Hansford Drive residents, this is particularly value report to review.
Noise and Bylaw Enforcement: Should construction or industrial operations breach municipal noise bylaws, which authority—the City of Brantford or the County of Brant—will enforce corrective measures? Our community already experiences elevated noise levels, as confirmed by independent assessments conducted by residents. The existing backyard fencing along Hansford Drive is not a sound barrier, and the introduction of additional industrial or high-traffic activity will undoubtedly exacerbate both noise and air pollution—posing further health and environmental risks to our neighborhood.
Air Quality Safety: What industrial businesses are anticipating to be built and do they have an anticipated impact on air quality. Which authority – City of Brantford or County of Brant – will enforce corrective measures?
We also seek clarification regarding the nature of the businesses to be established in this development. Specifically, we wish to understand whether any proposed operations cold contribute to air quality deterioration or other environmental hazards affecting nearby residents.

To summarize, we respectfully request that the assessments outlined above be made available for review by the residents directly impacted by the Cainsville Development. In addition, we are requesting a joint meeting with our Ward 4 Councilors from the City of Brantford, as well as the relevant Councilor(s) from the County of Brant, to ensure transparent communication and collaborative discussion regarding the development and its potential effects on our community before any development occurs.

In closing, we emphasize that our community has been a dedicated and longstanding contributor to the City of Brantford, and we value the principles of mutual respect and transparency between neighboring municipalities. The current lack of communication has unfortunately created frustration, distrust, and concern among residents. We urge both governing bodies to engage directly with our community, provide the requested information, and establish a clear and collaborative dialogue moving forward. We look forward to your timely response and the opportunity for meaningful engagement on this matter.

Respectfully,
Residents of Hansford Drive
Grand Valley Trails Neighborhood
City of Brantford