We want to hear from you!

The Garner West Secondary Plan Area is centrally located along the westerly built edge of the City. It is mostly bounded by Lundy’s Lane (Regional Road 20) at the north, Garner Road at the east, McLeod Road along the south and Beechwood Road along the west. The CN Rail line clips the northwest corner. The gross total Plan Area is composed of 183.5 ha. (453 ac.).

Existing use of these lands include:

• Environmental/natural features
• Cash crops
• Place of worship
• Niagara Falls Golf Club
• Kingsway Motel
• Limited Rural Residential

The City and the Niagara Region have completed several studies to inform growth at the Regional and City levels up to 2051. At the Regional level, this included the Municipal Comprehensive Review (MCR) and a new Official Plan which identified these lands as an urban expansion area. Additionally, the City has completed a Housing and Employment Strategy. The findings of these studies have pointed to the need for the City to accommodate a significant amount of new population and job growth over the next 30 years. In fact, the City is expected to grow to a total of 141,650 persons and 58,110 jobs at a minimum by the year 2051. With Provincial policy being modified and aimed at expediting housing builds, it is conceivable the forecast will be exceeded by 2051.

The overall objective of secondary planning is to create or contribute to the complete community concept, one that considers future neighbourhood structure that is well designed and developed to be vibrant, walkable, transit-supportive and respectful of the natural environment while contributing to help achieve the City’s 2051 housing and employment targets.

The goal for this project will see City staff work with Niagara Region, Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, Council, residents, partner agencies and stakeholders as part of a continual and transparent land use planning process to create a land use vision and policies to guide future development of the Garner West Secondary Plan Area.

Community Focus Group
October 6, 2023

Are you interested in actively participating and sharing your opinion on how you would like to see the Garner West area develop? The City is looking for 10 to 12 people to participate in a Garner West Secondary Plan Community Focus Group.

Focus Group members should be open-minded and receptive to discussing a variety of different views and opinions. Members will participate in a strategic planning exercise and provide input related to development options that result in the most appropriate community land use arrangement that supports the complete community concept.

Community Focus Group members will be asked to participate in approximately 3 to 5 two-hour meetings each during the planning exercise. Meeting dates will be determined at a later date and may be held in a hybrid format.

The Focus Group will consist of a balanced cross-section of the community in the following categories:

• Long-time residents from the immediate area
• New residents from the immediate area
• Property owners (Note – a property owner representative may be considered; however, it is preferred an owner be the participant.)
• Business owners
• Residents-at-large

Submissions should be received no later than October 20, 2023 and must include:

• Your name, address, phone number and email
• Which category you consider yourself to represent
• A brief description of your background, specific interest, or experience with this Plan area and/or any other involvement within the Niagara Falls community (please identify if you are a member of any community groups or associations active in Niagara Falls)

If you are interested in participating in the Northwest Community Focus Group, please submit your letter to Chris Millar, Senior Project Manager – Secondary Plans 4310 Queen Street, Niagara Falls, ON L2E 6X5 or email: cmillar@niagarafalls.ca

Accessibility Accommodation

If you require any accommodations for a disability to participate or attend meetings, kindly advise in your response so we can make appropriate arrangements.

Please see our attached Terms of Reference for the Community Focus Group for additional details, including composition guidelines and our selection process.

Not Interested in Being Part of the Focus Group but Still Want to Voice Your Opinion? For those not selected or not interested in participating in the Community Focus Group, there will be a variety of opportunities to offer feedback throughout the secondary plan process, including Public Open Houses, written submissions, and through this engagement.

Thank you!