Welland starts land use study for Ontario Street corridor

Ontario Construction News staff writer

The City of Welland is launching a land use study of the Ontario Street corridor from the QEW in the north to Welland Avenue in the south, leading into the downtown core.

It’s a busy corridor that includes long-standing industrial properties at 282 and 285 Ontario Street (former GM lands) for future redevelopment opportunities.

“The historical use of the lands in the study area has helped to shape the economic, social, cultural and environmental fabric of the city, and the future use of the lands will also do so for generations to come,” said Bruce Bellows, senior project manager.

“Local neighbourhood and community-wide perspectives; public engagement; and stakeholder input into the study are critical to the creation of a meaningful and city-owned future land use plan for the area.”

Based on a 2019 city-wide land needs assessment (LNA) City Council and the Region of Niagara approved an amendment to the City of St. Catharines’ Official Plan — Official Plan Amendment 26 (OPA 26) — to re-designate the lands at 282 and 285 Ontario St. in 2021.

ontario street welland graphicAmong other matters, OPA 26:

  • re-designates the lands at 282 and 285 Ontario Street for future residential and mixed-use development opportunities
  • requires that the subject lands are to be planned for future development through the creation and approval of a secondary plan

The LNA and OPA 26 represent the completion of the first two key planning components necessary to plan for future alternative uses on the subject lands. The next step is to undertake a secondary plan study to more specifically identify and evaluate land use opportunities, permissions, policies, and implementation strategies to guide future development; and the creation of a secondary plan for the subject lands.

There will be several opportunities for public engagement and feedback including a public open house to be held in Q4 2022. It’s estimated that the study will take approximately 2.5 years to complete.

The study terms of reference, including the defined study area, goals and objectives, study management, study components, public engagement strategy, and timeline can be found at engageSTC.ca/OntarioStreetStudy. It is estimated that the study will take approximately two and a half years to complete.

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