A program to have residents fill in their basements is just one of several sweeping changes a consultant is recommending to address flooding damage on Hamilton's Beach strip.

Beach residents there have long suffered from flooded basements and pools of water on their properties. But it's getting worse.

After significant flooding in two of the past three years and a worrying outlook for future floods because of climate change, the consultant says some new rules are needed.

The consultant also recommends making sure the ground floors of new homes are built at a higher level than they are now and banning any new basements or crawl spaces.

Chad Collins, Ward 5 councillor, says the changes can't come soon enough.

It cost the city about $4 million this year just to continuously vacuum up water and truck it out of the neighbourhood.

The city worries climate change will lead to higher lake levels and flood more Beach Strip homes. (Dan Taekema/CBC)

"We can't incur those costs every year," said Collins, who'll move Monday that the city implement the recommendations.

"When you talk about climate change and rising water levels, I think the beach is a microcosm of what's going to happen in communities across Canada and the world."

The city commissioned the study in 2017 after record-high Lake Ontario levels flooded homes and streets. But the issue itself dates back at least 70 years. In fact, the city looked at razing the neighbourhood 40 years ago and just turning into a park.

From 1976 to 1985, the Hamilton conservation authority spent $4 million to buy up 174 properties. By 1985, between the city, province and conservation authority, 269 properties were in public ownership, while 416 remained in private hands. People wanted to stay though, Collins said, so the city halted its plan.

Hamilton's Beach Strip is an eclectic neighbourhood straddling a narrow, sandy piece of land between Lake Ontario and Hamilton Harbour. (Google Maps)

The city still has 15 of its 159 properties left to sell, but the study warns the city not to sell the properties until it does an environment assessment.

Beach area property values have skyrocketed in recent years, but the flooding issues remain the same. When lake levels rise, water seeps into basements through the sandy ground. That's what happened with Jim Howlett, whose basement has been flooded much of this year.

"I haven't been down there for about three weeks, but unless something massive has happened, let's say there's about 18 inches of water there," said Howlett, whose house was built in 1887.

Longtime Beach Strip resident Jim Howlett says flooding destroyed his washer, dryer and hot water heater in 2017. (Dan Taekema/CBC)

He's lost major appliances. Each time the water subsides, Howlett has to bleach the walls to get rid of mould.

"If you've got drywall or furniture down in your basement, oh boy," he said.

The flooding causes other problems too. Noisy water pumps run 24/7, the report says. Mould creates health issues. The city's zoning bylaw hasn't allowed new basements on Beach Boulevard since 1993, but the arm's-length committee of adjustment grants developers exemptions. The first buyer may know about the flooding potential, but the second one doesn't.

"They don't warn homeowners," Collins said, "and what used to be a laundry room now has a big screen TV and a couch in it."

City council's public works committee will discuss the report Monday. Many of the report recommendations also involve the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks.