Premier Doug Ford’s government copied, word for word, a developer’s requested changes to Hamilton’s official plan to allow an eight-storey condo at the current site of a designated heritage building — blindsiding city planning staff, elected officials and residents.

The application for the condo building had been rejected by city staff and council in the spring of 2022.

The request was emailed to then-Housing Minister Steve Clark by planner Matt Johnston on behalf of developers Sergio Manchia and Frank Spallacci on Oct. 4, 2022, one month before the province announced these amendments and dozens of others to Hamilton’s official plan.