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Reports and Studies:

  • Northwest Planning and Servicing Study

    • A brief description
    • Study (20mb ~ pdf)
      • June 2008
    • Appendices (36mb ~ pdf)
      - (It is recommended that you Download the 2 files above to your computer because of the size. Just right click on the file above and Save Target As.....)

 

Brownfield Strategy/Community Improvement Plan

Brownfields are abandoned, idle or unused industrial and commercial lands that are perceived to have environmental contamination due to historic activities.  In recent years, a number of factors have led to the recognition of the need for a brownfield policy as well as a comprehensive strategy in order to assist with the remediation and redevelopment of brownfield properties so that they may be returned to productive use within a community.  To this end, the Provincial government has passed the Brownfields Statutory Law Amendment Act that encourages the revitalization of contaminated land and makes other amendments relating to environmental matters.  In addition, Provincial Statutes such as the Planning Act and the Municipal Act have been amended.

The City of Welland initiated the preparation of a Brownfield Strategy/Community Improvement Plan (CIP) to address the City’s needs from a policy and implementation perspective as well as identify fully serviced commercial/industrial properties within the municipality which are available for immediate redevelopment.  Welland, like many other municipalities, has a number of brownfield locations.  In fact, it is estimated that some 200 + hectares of brownfield sites exist along the Welland Recreational Waterway and throughout the City.  Brownfield sites may be as small as a vacant gas station with remaining underground storage tanks or as large as hundreds of hectares once occupied by a thriving industry.  Economic benefits can be realized from remediating brownfield sites, allowing development in areas already serviced by both hard (roads, water, sewers etc.) and soft services (schools, library, recreational facilities etc.).  

On May 1, 2007 Council adopted the City’s Brownfield Community Improvement Plan and endorsed the City’s Brownfield Redevelopment Strategy.  The Community Improvement Plan is an innovative document which will clearly ensure that the City of Welland will be “. . . the municipality that other municipalities measure themselves by, to be the benchmark. . .” for Brownfield redevelopment and sustainability.

The City of Welland Brownfield Community Improvement Plan (CIP) presents the rationale behind the redevelopment of brownfield sites in Welland and actions and strategies which will direct, co-ordinate and promote brownfield redevelopment.  In addition to the Brownfield Community Improvement Plan, a Brownfield Redevelopment Strategy containing background information used to prepare the CIP has been prepared.

The CIP contains a package of financial incentive programs and a municipal leadership strategy to promote the redevelopment of brownfield sites in the City.  The CIP will apply to a Community Improvement Area designated by By-law as the area covered by Official Plan Amendment No. 120.  Official Plan Amendment No. 120, adopted by City Council on January 23, 2007, sets out community improvement policies.

The Brownfield CIP Financial Incentive Programs are:

  • Environmental Site Assessment Grant Program;
  • Brownfields Tax Assistance Program;
  • Brownfields Rehabilitation Grant Program;
  • Brownfields Planning and Building Permit Fees Refund Program; and,
  • Brownfields Development Charge Exemption Program.

Note:  The Leadership of Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Program has been incorporated within the Brownfields Rehabilitation Grant Program, the Brownfields Planning and Building Permit Fees Refund Program and the Brownfields Development Charge Exemption Program.

Community Improvement Plan/Strategy - Presentation - May 1, 2007 (228kb ~ pdf)

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Commercial Strategy

The preparation of a Commercial Strategy for the City was initiated in 2007.  This Study is to provide input to the commercial components of the new Official Plan by recommending Commercial Land Use Policies and Designations for the City through the identification of planning issues arising from the analyses of information gathered as part of the Study.

The Strategy is to examine the current and potential future trends, patterns, needs and locational criteria of the retail industry in the Region of Niagara and in the City of Welland.  The effect of socio-demographic characteristics on retail trends is to be identified.  In addition, the role of commercial areas in mixed use intensification and the opportunities for such development in Welland are to be examined.  As well, the role of commercial areas in certain industrially designated locations is to be analyzed.

The Strategy is to evaluate the supply and demand of retail/service commercial space across the City.  It will include the compilation of inventories of retail/service space (vacant and occupied as well as vacant designated commercial lands).  These inventories will enable the retail and service commercial space needs of the current and projected population of the City to be determined, as well as permit an examination of the supply and demand over the entire City as well as in specific areas.  Finally, issues and opportunities regarding the location, scale and amount of retail and service commercial space will be identified so that an optimum retail development structure can be established.

To these ends, the City retained Dillon Consulting and W. Scott Morgan and Associates to prepare the City’s Commercial Strategy.  On April 8, 2008, representatives of these firms presented to Council key findings regarding retail commercial systems in the City.  Subsequent to this presentation The Regional Commercial Systems Study (7 Mb PDF) has been released. A final report regarding this study was presented to and adopted by Council on June 10, 2008.  The Commercial Strategy Study: Policy Directions Report, November 2008, which includes Official Plan policy recommendations, was adopted by Council on December 9th, 2008. The policies put forth through this process will be subject to public input in 2009.

 

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Development Charges

Development charges are imposed on the development of land within the City of Welland.  The City has initiated its review of its Development Charges By-law pursuant to the Development Charges Act, 1997.

The following Draft Background Study and proposed By-law are available for interested parties to review.  A Public Information Meeting will be held on April 16, 2009 in the Community Room, Welland Civic Square commencing at 7:00 pm.  All interested parties are invited and encouraged to attend this meeting to provide their comments and input on the Draft Background Study and proposed By-law to the consulting team and members of City Staff.

The Statutory Public Meeting has been scheduled for May 5, 2009 in Council Chambers, Welland Civic Square commencing at 7:00 pm.  It is Staff’s intent to prepare a Report for Council’s consideration regarding Development Charges taking into consideration comments received from interested parties.

 

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Northwest Planning and Servicing Study

The City of Welland has completed a Study to review planning and servicing issues related to existing and potential development within the northwest area of the City.  The Northwest Planning and Servicing Study focuses on the development of infrastructure systems for water, wastewater, roads and stormwater management.  Other major components of the Study include a review of the Provincial Policy Statement and Regional Policy Plan, and environmental investigations to identify and protect significant natural features.  This Study contains conclusions/recommendations for servicing of existing and potential development within the Study Area.

The Northwest Area Planning and Servicing Study has been conducted in accordance with the requirements of a Schedule "B" master plan project as defined in the Municipal Engineers' Association Municipal Class Environmental Assessment Document (October 2000, as amended in 2007). The Class EA Process included public and review agency consultation, an assessment of the impacts of the proposed improvements, and identification of measures to mitigate any adverse impacts.

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