Government > Niagara 2031

Niagara 2031: A Strategy for a Healthy, Sustainable Future

Niagara 2031 is a growth management strategy to guide growth in Niagara for the next 25 years and beyond.

The strategy is divided into 5 phases focusing on Regional concerns such as population, employment, servicing systems, transportation corridors, agricultural lands and environmental features.

The involvement of Niagara residents is critical. Regional Council has made a commitment to develop this strategy through community surveys, workshops, open houses and focus groups to engage everyone who has a stake in Niagara Region's future.

5 Phases to Niagara 2031

The Region's Growth Management Strategy is divided into 5 phases:

Understanding Niagara
- Backgrounder
- Understanding Niagara (15mb)
Anticipating Niagara
- Anticipating Niagara, January 2008 (3mb)
- Summary of Community Workshops held in May 2008
- 2007 Resident Survey
  - 2007 Resident Survey Results
  - Survey Discussion Paper
A Range of Options
Develop and Refine Preferred Option
- Option D: Background Data (Draft)
- Phase 3 and 4, December 2008
Regional Policy Plan Amendment
In Phase five of Niagara 2031 the Region, the Area Municipalities and stakeholders collaborated on an implementation strategy based on the Preferred Growth Option.

On May 28, 2009 Regional Council adopted Regional Policy Plan Amendment 2-2009 Sustainable Community Policies, as amended by Council's Committee of the Whole. The Amendment updates the Region's Policy Plan in order to implement the strategic directions of Niagara's Growth Management Strategy (Niagara 2031) and align the Plan with the Province's Places to Grow Plan (2006) and the Provincial Policy Statement (2005). It establishes a new urban vision for the long term growth and development of Niagara and new policies to foster the development of sustainable, complete urban communities.

The Amendment replaces the Urban Areas policies found in Section Five of the Region's Policy Plan with a comprehensive new set of policies and associated mapping. The Urban Areas Boundary Map in the Plan is replaced with a Regional Urban Structure Map. In addition the Amendment adds new policies regarding the Niagara Economic Gateway to Section Four of the Policy Plan and adds new infrastructure policies to the Plan.

The Amendment has been appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board.
- Policy Plan Amendment 2-2009
- Staff Report on Adoption of Amendment 2-2009

Local Implementation

The Region, Area Municipalities and other stakeholders are now working together to address implementation through local Official Plans. The Minister of Energy and Infrastructure has indicated that he is willing to consider a one year extension to the June 16, 2009 deadline for Area Municipalities to bring their Official Plans into conformity with the Provincial Growth Plan. The Region has submitted a coordinated request to the Province on behalf of Niagara's Area Municipalities asking for a one year extension. The Region and the Area Municipalities are working together to develop a policy framework for Area Municipalities to employ in preparing the amendments to their Official Plans. This framework will build on the Regional Growth Management Strategy and Policy Plan Amendment 2-2009.