Current Official Plan
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THE OFFICIAL PLAN OF THE ST. CATHARINES PLANNING AREA OFFICE CONSOLIDATION This edition is prepared for purposes of convenience only, and for accurate reference recourse should be had to the Official Plan filed in the office of the City Clerk and in the Registry Office of Niagara North. For convenience purposes, all references to Provincial Statutes in this Office Consolidation are the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.P. 13, as amended. Updated June 2010 APPROVAL INFORMATION The Official Plan of the St. Catharines Planning Area was adopted by the Corporation of the City of St. Catharines by By-law No. 71-67 in accordance with Section 17 of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.P.13, as amended on April 19, 1971. ------------ "Since that time several amendments were undertaken in response to changing social and economic conditions and in response to Provincial legislation." "In 1993 Council approved a review of the Official Plan in accordance with Section 26 of the Planning Act. The Official Plan of the St. Catharines Planning Area was revised as a result of this review and the Plan was adopted by the Corporation of the City of St. Catharines on April 14, 1997 by By-law No. 97-107 in accordance with Section 17 of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990, c.P. 13, as amended. On September 28, 1998 the Regional Municipality of Niagara approved with modifications and deferrals the Official Plan of the City of St. Catharines Planning Area. On December 16, 1998 the Regional Municipality of Niagara approved Deferrals No. 3, 4 and 5 to the Official Plan of the City of St. Catharines Planning Area. On March 12, 1999 the Regional Municipality of Niagara approved the lifting of Deferrals #1 and #2 to the Official Plan of the City of St. Catharines Planning Area. TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE NO. SECTION 1 PURPOSE AND EXPLANATION……………………………… Purpose Of Official Plan.................................................................... Community Goal Statements ............................................................. Duration Of Plan................................................................................ Relationship To Regional Policy Plan ............................................... Explanation Of Terms........................................................................ SECTION 2 GENERAL LAND USE PROVISIONS......................................... Settlement Patterns............................................................................. Locational Context…………………………………………………. Planning Divisions…………………………………………………. SECTION 3 HOUSING AND RESIDENTIAL ENVIRONMENT………….. Permitted Uses……………………………………………………… Supply Of Lands……………………………………………………. Location, Site And Form Guidelines………………………………. General Residential Policies……………………………………….. Alternative Forms Of Housing…………………………………….. Monitoring Policies………………………………………………... Exceptions………………………………………………………….. SECTION 4 ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES……………………………………… Industry:……………………………………………………………. Permitted Uses – Industrial………………………………… Permitted Uses - Mixed Industrial-Commercial …………… General Policies……………………………………………. Locational Criteria…………………………………………. Design Criteria……………………………………………… Commerce:…………………………………………………………. Permitted Uses – Commercial……………………………… Permitted Uses - Mixed Commercial-Residential …………. General Policies……………………………………………. Locational Criteria…………………………………………. Design Criteria……………………………………………… Major Institutional Uses:…………………………………………… Exception …………………………………………………………... SECTION 5 ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES………………………………… Environmental Protection:…………………………………………. Objectives………………………………………………….. Criteria For Designation…………………………………… Permitted Uses…………………………………………….. Major Open Space:………………………………………………… Objectives………………………………………………….. Permitted Uses…………………………………………….. (i) General Policies:…………………………………………………… Land Acquisitions………………………………………….. Development……………………………………………….. Flood Plains………………………………………………… Wetlands…………………………………………………… Woodlands…………………………………………………. Landfilling…………………………………………………. Contaminated Sites………………………………………… SECTION 6 THE CENTRAL AREA………………………………………….. Public Development Policy………………………………………… Transportation……………………………………………………… Civic Beautification………………………………………………… SECTION 7 URBAN DESIGN, AMENITY AND HERITAGE CONSERVATION………………………….. Relationship With Natural Environment…………………………… Public Areas………………………………………………………… Universal Access…………………………………………………… Personal Safety……………………………………………………… Buffering…………………………………………………………… Signs And Street Furniture………………………………………… Design Schemes And Land Assembly……………………………… Overhead Wires……………………………………………………. Lending Shape To Built Form……………………………………… Heritage Conservation……………………………………………… Heritage Implementation…………………………………………… Archaeological Conservation………………………………………. Significant Landscapes, Vistas And Ridge-Lines…………………. SECTION 8 PARKS, OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION…………………. Goals And Objectives……………………………………………… Policies And Implementation Strategies…………………………… Park Acquisitions And Development Priorities……………………. Land Acquisition……………………………………………………. Park Development…………………………………………………. Parkland Dedication……………………………………………….. Cash-In-Lieu Of Park Dedication………………………………….. Parkland Acceptability…………………………………………….. Park Development Procedures…………………………………….. Institutional Lands And Facilities…………………………………. Medium And High Density Developments………………………… Implementation And Monitoring…………………………………… SECTION 9 THE AGRICULTURAL AREA…………………………………. Land Uses…………………………………………………………... Lot Creation………………………………………………………... Group Homes………………………………………………………. SECTION 10 SCHOOLS........................................................................................ (ii) SECTION 11 TRANSPORTATION…………………………………………….. Traffic Circulation………………………………………………….. Alternative Modes Of Transportation……………………………… Parking……………………………………………………………… Canadian National Railway………………………………………… The Niagara District Airport……………………………………….. Inter-City Transportation…………………………………………… SECTION 12 DEVELOPMENT POLICIES…………………………………… Development Program……………………………………………… Population And Density……………………………………………. Servicing……………………………………………………………. Community Improvement………………………………………….. Energy Conservation……………………………………………….. SECTION 13 IMPLEMENTATION…………………………………………….. Purpose……………………………………………………………… Zoning ………………………………………………………………. Holding By-Laws…………………………………………………… Subdivision Control………………………………………………… Special Provisions………………………………………………….. Interim Control By-Laws…………………………………………… Temporary Use By-Laws…………………………………………… Site Plan Control……………………………………………………. Non-Complying Uses………………………………………………. Consents……………………………………………………………. Property Standards…………………………………………………. Boundary Interpretation…………………………………………….. Committee Of Adjustment…………………………………………. Processing Times…………………………………………………… SECTION 14 SCHEDULES……………………………………………………… Schedule A Planning Divisions …………………………………. Schedule B Land Use Plan ………………………………………. Schedule C Environmental Constraints…………………………. Schedule D Park Deficient Areas ………………………………. Schedule E Bicycle Paths & Pedestrian Walkway System …….. Schedule F Natural Environmental Features …………………… Schedule G Development Areas ………………………………… Schedule H Ultimate Road Right - Of -Way Widths ………….. Schedule I Airport Zoning Regulations………………………… Schedule J Niagara Escarpment Designations ………………….. (iii) SECTION 15 SECONDARY PLANS The Central Area Secondary Plan………………………………….. Schedule 15-A Land Use Plan…………………………………… Schedule 15-B Transportation System…………………………… Schedule 15-C Pedestrian System……………………………….. SECTION 16 The Port Dalhousie Neighbourhood Plan………………………….. Schedule 16-A Land Use Designation……………………………. Schedule 16-B Bicycle Path and Pedestrian Walkway System……………………. SECTION 17 The West St. Catharines Secondary Plan………………………….. Schedule 17-A Land Use Designations………………………….. SECTION 18 Hartzel Road - Merritton Area Secondary Plan ………………….. Schedule 18-A Planning Areas ………………………………….. Schedule 18-B Land Use Designations…………………………. Schedule 18-C Connectivity & Streetscaping Improvements……. SECTION 19 The Queenston Area Secondary Plan …………………………… Schedule 19-A Planning Areas …………………………………. Schedule 19-B Land Use Designations ………………………….. Schedule 19-C Connectivity & Streetscaping Improvements ……. (iv) SECTION I - PURPOSE AND EXPLANATION 1.1 PURPOSE The Official Plan is a document that sets out, by means of land use designations and policies, a comprehensive framework which will guide the future development of the City of St. Catharines. It will also assist Council, other public agencies and the private sector in their consideration of public and private development proposals. The Official Plan outlines the long term vision for St. Catharines' physical form and community character. It is intended to reflect the collective aims and aspirations of the citizens of St. Catharines as to the quality of life to be preserved and fostered in terms of the social, economic, and natural environment of the Municipality. 1.2 COMMUNITY GOAL STATEMENTS The following statements outline the community goals necessary to achieve a desired quality of life in St. Catharines and are the basis in which the policies in this plan were formulated. These statements also reflect the directives outlined in the City's Community-Based Strategic Plan. Quality of Life"Create a physical, economic and social environment that gives the residents and employees of the Community an ideal place for living, working and recreating, and promoting a sense of history and identity." Agriculture "Recognize our agricultural lands as one of the most significant resources in the Province and provide