This isn't Scottsdale, Arizona, and Hamilton communities shouldn't be gated, says an inner-city councillor. And now he's siding with a group of Ancaster residents fighting a plan to do just that.

It sends, I think, the wrong message by creating a physical barrier, and it's clearly something the community doesn't want. - Matthew Green, Ward 3 councillor

Matthew Green, councillor for Ward 3 in the central lower city, says he's against a city recommendation to put a gate around Augusta at Ancaster Glen, a new condo development at 120 John Frederick Dr.

The city says the gate will help differentiate the development's private road from the nearby public ones. But Green said it looks exclusionary, and the concept doesn't belong here.

"We're not in Scottsdale, Arizona. We're in Hamilton, Ont.," said Green. "The idea of segregating people in semi-private space is problematic.

"It sends, I think, the wrong message by creating a physical barrier, and it's clearly something the community doesn't want."

It was the city's idea to put a gate around a planned Losani Homes development of 52 semi-detached townhouse units.

There are other gated communities in Hamilton. It's more unusual, though, for the city to dictate it.

Jason Thorne, general manager of planning and economic development, said in this case city council's planning committee wants to make sure residents are clear that it's a private community.

Adding a gate would not make it a community. It would separate us. - Kit Ward, resident

"Once people move in on a private road, they understand it's a private road," he said.

But over time, "they start to see that the city's not plowing their road, but they're plowing the next road. They start to have concerns about that."

The development will include sidewalks, landscaped areas, 19 visitor parking spaces, community mailboxes and common areas exclusive to residents. Prices for the two- and three-bedroom town homes started in the low $400,000s.

The Augusta development includes three private streets. (Losani Homes)

"You deserve all the prestige and charm of Ancaster," says a Losani promo ad for the community. "You insist on a sense of casual elegance — refined, yet comfortable."

'We basically just demanded economically gated communities in Hamilton'

City council approved the draft plan of condominium development Wednesday. But it was far from unanimous.

A group of residents who've purchased condos there attended the meeting hoping to speak against putting a gate around the development. Councillors were divided between deferring the issue to the next council meeting — which doesn't allow residents to speak — and the next planning committee, which does.

The planning committee already approved the draft plan on May 16, and Lloyd Ferguson, Ancaster councillor, plans to hold a public meeting. Council voted 8-6 for it to come back at the next council meeting.

Those who voted to bring it to council again said the public has had lots of time to give input, and still will. But Green, who wanted it to come to the planning meeting, called it "abhorrent."

"We basically just demanded economically gated communities in Hamilton," he said.

'Precedent being set'

About 25 residents agreed with him, and submitted letters.

"I really do not understand why the city would want to segregate this area," said Kit Ward, who also worried about what the gate would add to her condo fees.

"Adding a gate would not make it a community. It would separate us."

Suzanne Mammel, executive officer and policy director of the Hamilton-Halton Home Builders' Association, also wrote.

"We are very concerned about the precedent being set," she said.

samantha.craggs@cbc.ca | @SamCraggsCBC