GO Hub and Transit Stations Study

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1 GO Hub and Transit Stations Study Planning and Economic Development Committee Niagara Falls Transit Station Secondary Plan Official Plan Amendment (OPA 125) Slide 1

2 Why a secondary plan? Municipalities are leveraging transit investment to drive growth Provincial investment presents a unique opportunity to proactively plan land uses, transportation networks and infrastructure around the GO station The Province s Growth Plan directs municipalities to plan for intensification around GO stations Evolving transit hub in Kitchener (GO rail and LRT station) Transit stations and surrounding lands serve an important function within the regional transportation system A secondary plan is the best mechanism to proactively plan for change and enables the City to set its priorities for change Slide 2

3 Provincial policy context Provincial Policy Statement (2014) Promotes the creation of complete healthy communities Growth Plan (2017) Prioritize intensification and higher densities to make efficient use of land and infrastructure and support transit viability Slide 3

4 Amendment Process Niagara Falls Transit Station Secondary Plan Slide 4

5 Public engagement highlights Communications Strategy Online Survey Paid Facebook ad Personalized postcards Downtown posters Facebook & Twitter notifications By the numbers 274 online survey respondents 265 public sign-up for s Face-to-face meetings 161 total public sign-in for events Slide 5

6 Niagara Falls Transit Station Secondary Plan Slide 6

7 What we heard Protect stable residential neighbourhoods Existing land use permissions for low density land uses are unchanged Maintain and utilize the existing VIA Station Policy outlines desired role and function of the existing VIA Station heritage building Improve wayfinding and navigation Policy provisions for clear signage around the station and to key destinations Opportunity to leverage proximity to the U.S. Ensure existing employment can continue to operate Existing employment permissions are retained Clarified employment conversion process Attract station users to the Downtown Policy and guidelines which enhance the pedestrian experience along streets Policy preserves the character of heritage buildings in the Downtown Distinguished priority and design is given to active transportation users Slide 7

8 Amendment modifications Region staff have proposed 204 modifications to the Niagara Falls Transit Station Secondary Plan (OPA 125). Modifications are shown in Appendix 1 of Report PDS All modifications are technical in nature and do not change the intent of the policy. Example 1: Example 2: City and Region staff have met and agreed upon all modifications. Slide 8

9 Next steps Slide 9

10 Supplementary Map 1: Transit Station Secondary Plan Area

11 Supplementary Map 2: Transit Station Secondary Plan Area Modification 203 Legend adjustment - replace Industrial designation title with Employment. Modification 204 Add Special Policy Area to the legend and place overlays on the map for Special Policy Areas 7, 41, and 62 of the City s Official Plan. These overlays will reflect those illustrated on Map 4.

12 Supplementary Map 3: Public Realm Improvement Strategy

13 Supplementary Map 4: Downtown Node and Transit Station Secondary Plan Height Strategy Area