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St. Catharines Land Needs Assessment Public Consultation - Proposed Official Plan Amendment

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Consultation has concluded for the Land Needs Assessment.


Background

Triggered by the closure of a large industrial user located at 282 and 285 Ontario Street, and the potential redevelopment of what is now a mostly vacant, 21 hectare (51 acre) brownfield site located in the middle of the City, Council directed the Planning and Building Services Department to study the potential conversion of the industrial lands to allow for re-development for future alternative uses (residential, mixed use, etc).

The conversion, or re-designation, of the industrial lands requires an amendment to the City’s Official Plan (Land Use Plan). Since Council direction, the City has also received nine other requests for conversion of employment lands at various locations within the municipality.

Land Needs Assessment

Provincial policy requires that any changes to the Official Plan must conform or not conflict with Provincial land use plans, and that conversion of employment (industrial) lands must be addressed through a comprehensive Land Needs Assessment (LNA). The assessment is an examination of all employment lands, and other land uses in the municipality. It will ensure that any changes made to the City’s Official Plan (Land Use Plan) support and facilitate the accommodation of projected population growth, housing need, and job growth by different sectors, that is forecast for the City to the year 2051.

On Aug. 17, 2020 draft findings and recommendations of the LNA were presented on this page, and we thank those who provided comment and input on the subject matter. This input has been considered in the further evaluation of the subject matter.

Proposed Official Plan Amendment

The Planning and Building Services Department has now completed the LNA, including evaluation of all conversion requests, and are recommending an amendment to the Official Plan Amendment. The Amendment recommends designation of six Employment Areas within the municipality to support long term protection of employment lands to accommodate forecasted employment growth, and also proposes the re-designation of other existing employment lands to permit alternative uses and development, including the lands located at 282 and 285 Ontario Street. Other associated revisions to the Official Plan affecting employment land policies are also recommended.

The proposed Official Plan Amendment is available for review and comment, and is provided in the document section of this page to your right. Copies of the Amendment are also available at the Planning and Building Services Department, City Hall. Due to COVID-19 protocols, public access to City Hall is currently only available by appointment via booking.stcatharines.ca.

Legislated Public Meeting

On Nov. 30, 2020, Council will consider a staff report on the subject matter, and will be hosting a legislated public meeting to receive comment and input on the proposed Amendment, after which they will consider approval.

The Notice providing details of the Public Meeting is provided in the document section on this page.


Background

Triggered by the closure of a large industrial user located at 282 and 285 Ontario Street, and the potential redevelopment of what is now a mostly vacant, 21 hectare (51 acre) brownfield site located in the middle of the City, Council directed the Planning and Building Services Department to study the potential conversion of the industrial lands to allow for re-development for future alternative uses (residential, mixed use, etc).

The conversion, or re-designation, of the industrial lands requires an amendment to the City’s Official Plan (Land Use Plan). Since Council direction, the City has also received nine other requests for conversion of employment lands at various locations within the municipality.

Land Needs Assessment

Provincial policy requires that any changes to the Official Plan must conform or not conflict with Provincial land use plans, and that conversion of employment (industrial) lands must be addressed through a comprehensive Land Needs Assessment (LNA). The assessment is an examination of all employment lands, and other land uses in the municipality. It will ensure that any changes made to the City’s Official Plan (Land Use Plan) support and facilitate the accommodation of projected population growth, housing need, and job growth by different sectors, that is forecast for the City to the year 2051.

On Aug. 17, 2020 draft findings and recommendations of the LNA were presented on this page, and we thank those who provided comment and input on the subject matter. This input has been considered in the further evaluation of the subject matter.

Proposed Official Plan Amendment

The Planning and Building Services Department has now completed the LNA, including evaluation of all conversion requests, and are recommending an amendment to the Official Plan Amendment. The Amendment recommends designation of six Employment Areas within the municipality to support long term protection of employment lands to accommodate forecasted employment growth, and also proposes the re-designation of other existing employment lands to permit alternative uses and development, including the lands located at 282 and 285 Ontario Street. Other associated revisions to the Official Plan affecting employment land policies are also recommended.

The proposed Official Plan Amendment is available for review and comment, and is provided in the document section of this page to your right. Copies of the Amendment are also available at the Planning and Building Services Department, City Hall. Due to COVID-19 protocols, public access to City Hall is currently only available by appointment via booking.stcatharines.ca.

Legislated Public Meeting

On Nov. 30, 2020, Council will consider a staff report on the subject matter, and will be hosting a legislated public meeting to receive comment and input on the proposed Amendment, after which they will consider approval.

The Notice providing details of the Public Meeting is provided in the document section on this page.