Government > Integrated Community Planning

Projects and Activities for Integrated Community Planning

Urban Design Principles and Model Guidelines Project

Regional Council has adopted Smart Growth as a priority planning initiative for Niagara. The ten principles of Smart Growth outline the approach.

The Region has developed Smart Growth oriented Urban Design Guidelines to support the implementation of the Smart Growth Principles.

The objective of these guidelines is to assist the Region and local municipalities in the on-the-ground implementation of its Smart Growth Strategy.

The Regional Agricultural Economic Impact Study

The Regional Agricultural Economic Impact Study assessed the impact of agriculture on the regional economy and confirmed its importance. Important findings of the study include:

The top ten commodity groups in 2001 were: greenhouse, hog, cash crop, nursery, poultry, grape, tender fruit, beef, horse & pony, and dairy.

  • The greenhouse industry is currently the largest commodity group in Niagara. The total gross farm receipts in 2001 in Niagara was $511.1 million dollars.
  • The $511.1 million worth of output produced $1.8 billion in output impact in the economy, of which $344 million was related to labour income.
  • Lincoln, Niagara-on-the-Lake and West Lincoln generated the highest gross farm receipts; and Fort Erie, Niagara Falls and Welland had the lowest.
  • The social and cultural aspects of the agricultural industry are important to consider, such as the age of farmers, the aesthetics of driving through farmland and what a loss of the landscape would mean, farmer training and programs for schools.

For more information, email Mary Lou Tanner or call 905-685-4225, ext. 3379.

New Environmental Policies in the Regional Policy Plan

The Amendment establishes a comprehensive new policy framework for protecting and enhancing environmental quality. It embodies a landscape-based, ecosystem approach to planning. Implementation will involve partnerships among the Region, the Conservation Authority, the local municipalities, landowners, and Provincial and Federal agencies.

The Amendment deals with: natural vegetation and wildlife; water resources; air quality and climate change; landforms, geology and soils; shorelines; natural hazards; core natural heritage such as woodlands, wetlands and fish habitat; and implementation. It also includes a Core Natural Heritage Map identifying significant natural heritage features and potential corridors connecting them.

The Cities of Port Colborne and Welland raised concerns about the natural heritage mapping within their municipalities. In approving the Amendment Regional Council deferred the mapping for these areas. Regional Planning staff will be working with planning staff from the Cities to resolve the outstanding mapping issues.

For more information, email Danielle De Fields or call 905-685-4225, ext. 3385.

Conformity of Local Planning Documents

Provincial legislation requires that local planning documents to conform with the Policy Plan and have regard to the Provincial Policy Statement. Moreover, the Region has been delegated the authority to approve local Official Plans and Plan amendments.

Conformity is necessary to:

  • Ensure that both local and Regional planning documents are aligned to guide decision-making
  • Meet Niagara's vision as identified in the Policy Plan
  • Achieve community goals while addressing Provincial interests
  • Increase public understanding of local, Regional and Provincial planning requirements
  • Remove confusion and uncertainty due to conflicting planning documents
  • Provide guidance to the public and the development industry in making decisions while helping to protect important community resources
  • Assist the Ontario Municipal Board in making decisions on land use matters

The review of new local Official Plans and Zoning By-laws provides one significant opportunity to achieve conformity with the Policy Plan. Another opportunity is the Region's responsibility for approving local Official Plans and Plan amendments as delegated from the Province. It also provides a key opportunity to ensure that the principles of Smart Growth are implemented locally for site specific development applications.

For more information, email Ken Forgeron or call 905-685-4225, ext. 3375.

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