The MTO/GNGH Neighbourhood Plan
The MTO/GNGH Neighbourhood Plan will be a land-use policy document with mapping schedules that will guide future redevelopment and become part of the City’s Official Plan through a Planning Act amendment process. The MTO/GNGH Neighbourhood Plan area currently consists of the Greater Niagara General Hospital site and its related operations, along with land previously owned by the Provincial Ministry of Transportation. As the hospital is planned to close, the City has a unique opportunity to consider how these lands should redevelop to best support the community. This will allow for a more efficient transition period for the lands to redevelop, including the potential for introducing housing and mixed uses at this strategic location. This process will consider opportunities, constraints and potential for integration with the surrounding communities to the best extent possible.
The Community Focus Group
The Community Focus Group will participate in a strategic planning exercise for the MTO/GNGH Neighbourhood Plan area that will help generate:
- A Vision Statement,
- Goals,
- Objectives and Priorities
Members of the Community Focus Group will require an open-minded approach that will help the City develop a long-term vision to benefit the neighbourhood and the community at large.
Participation
In addition to Community Focus Group participation in the exercise, an extensive consultation process is anticipated over the course of this project, which will include consultation with the general public (public open houses, surveys, and commenting requests), scheduled and structured meetings with stakeholders, outside agencies and municipal partners, all of which will be reported to Council.
The Community Focus Group is expected to participate in an initial facilitated strategic exercise that will follow a SWOC process (strengths, weakness, opportunities, and constraints) to help identify future development potential. The CFG will set out a vision statement, goals and objectives, as well as identify priorities for the City (or responsible agencies) to consider in the plan and policy development. The initial facilitated meeting will be scheduled for half a day to allow for extensive dialogue on subject matter areas of focus. The results of the strategic session will be reported to Council for their information and awareness on how the CFG sees this area of the City developing in future.
Subsequent meetings may be scheduled after hours to afford attending members more flexibility with personal schedules. Members will be polled with optional dates to gain optimal attendance. As many as two or three additional meetings may be warranted as the results of background study work may precipitate a need to revisit the direction taken on the Plan’s potential. At least one of the CFG meetings will be dedicated to a hands-on approach, emulating a design charette with several options for consideration being generated. Staff will consider the options and produce or synthesize a single draft land use concept from which measure of the vision statement, goals and objectives can be tested. An ideal outcome will have the endorsement of the CFG and be presented to Council as part of a Draft Official Plan Amendment.
The process of neighbourhood plan is estimated to take approximately a year, depending on background studies having concluded and a fulsome consultation schedule having been successfully completed. The CFG meetings would be scheduled at appropriate intervals aligning with the work program.
CFG Composition
The Community Focus Group will consist of a balanced volunteer profile of 10-12 members with varying interests that represent a cross-section of the community, ideally in the following categories:
- Long time area residents
- New area residents
- Property Owners (Note – a property owner representative may be considered; however, it is preferred an owner be the participant)
- Business/Industry Owners
- Residents at large
- Community Organization Representatives
- Residents at-large
- Seniors representative from the area
- Youth representative from the area
Submissions for participation in the Community Focus Group are not limited to those residing or owning lands within the Study Areas. Owner/developer participation (not agent representation) will be considered as well. Community organizations or other associations shall be limited to one representative per group or association.
Substitutions for meetings will not be permitted.
Representative Selection Process
Interested participants will be assessed against representation of the categories listed on the Request for Expression of Interest for the Community Focus Group and chosen based on group representation, background and identified specific interests. Should the number of interested participants within a representative group (as noted above) exceed the intended balance of the Group, participants that share similar interests and profiles, as assessed by the City, will be selected based on the date of submission.
Participants should provide a brief description of their background, specific interests, experience, and/or any other involvement within the Niagara Falls community, as well as whether they are members of a community group or other association active in Niagara Falls.
The names of those submitting their expression of interest and those selected to participate will become part of the public record and may be published in relation to this planning exercise.
