Planning

A view of Saint John from the west, in the vicinity of Lorneville, showing highway signs against a clear blue sky.

Spruce Lake Industrial Park expansion to be slowed down

October 21, 2024 by Iona Coe

Saint John City Council received recommendations at their meeting of Tuesday October 15th to allow for more discussion about the proposed expansion of Spruce Lake Industrial Park.

Due to the numerous potential issues having been voiced by local residents, including environmental impacts and the effect on housing prices, the hearing scheduled for November 12th has been postponed. Additionally, a task force is to be established, to include local residents.

The industrial park is located to the west of the city, near the community of Lorneville. The recommendations came from the meeting of the Planning Advisory Committee of the previous week, which heard the various concerns of local residents about the proposed expansion. As yet, no timeline has been set for the proposals to be considered by the council.

A man sits in an office at a computer with a graphic reading "Your Voice Matters".

Public sessions in coming days ask residents to weigh in on future of Tantramar

August 16, 2024 by Erica Butler

Three public sessions in the next four days aim to gather ideas and feedback from as many residents across the municipality as possible, and an online survey and ongoing idea portal will help gather input from those who can’t make it in person.

Tantramar’s Manager of Tourism and Economic Development Ron Kelly Spurles is helping coordinate the sessions and consultant Craig Pollett of Strategic Steps Inc. is running the consultation sessions as part of the larger strategic plan development.

Pollett says the sessions will have a “casual approach” with local music and refreshments on hand. “We want [residents] to have a little bit of fun while they’re thinking about the future of their community,” he told CHMA.

A picture of a streetscape in a mid sized Canadian city. In the foreground is the rough road and sidewalk with a construction sign. A car sits at the stoplight and construction is taking place beyond the light. There is a multistorey tall building at the end of the street and several small 2-3 story buildings lining the street.

In uncertain times, City seeks residents to help shape new city plan

July 22, 2024 by Dan Kellar

Work on Kitchener 2051, the city’s next 25 year official plan has commenced, and staff have opened applications for residents who would like to work in a community working group who will provide guidance throughout the process.

In the press release, Rosa Bustamante, Kitchener’s Director of Planning and Housing Policy said “Kitchener 2051 is an opportunity to tackle these issues head-on, ask big questions, and prepare us for an uncertain future”. With work starting in the fall, the press release says the community working group will “exert real influence through their expertise and insights”.

This show features an interview with Natalie Goss, the policy and research manager for the City of Kitchener. Goss discusses the scope of “Kitchener 2051”, how the plan will be adapted as we move through dynamic social and ecological conditions, and how folks can get involved in shaping the city’s new 25 year official plan.

A barn with a red roof next to a chain linked fenced animal enclosure. There is a large spruce tree in the middle of the shot. The foreground is green grass and the background is blue sky with a white cloud and a condo tower.

Public consultation to begin on the future of Waterloo Park’s Eby Farmstead

May 17, 2024 by Dan Kellar

On May 14th Waterloo council unanimously approved a recommendation directing staff to move forward with community engagements over the future of the Eby Farmstead within Waterloo Park.

The farmstead consists of an equipment barn and several fenced animal enclosures which house a small herd of farm animals for 5-6 months each year.

Robin Milne, Waterloo’s Director of Parks, Forestry and Cemetery Services told council that they want to have a plan for the Eby Farmstead by the end of the summer ahead of the process for the 2025 Waterloo Park plan. That could include “improved amenities to keep the farmstead, or reimagining the space.”

Details on the Eby Farmstead public consultation process are available on engagewr.ca.

A woman with light brown hair and glasses stands in front of a large window. She is standing in front of a u-shaped desk in municipal council chambers.

New five-year strategic plan will ‘set the tone’ for Tantramar

April 26, 2024 by Erica Butler

By the end of this year, if all goes as planned, the new municipality of Tantramar will have a new five-year strategic plan.

Community and corporate services director Kieran Miller told council on Monday that staff have recommended hiring Strategic Steps Inc. to run the process to arrive at a new plan, including consultations with staff, council and members of the public.

Strategic Steps is based in Alberta, but has an Atlantic office based in St. Johns, Newfoundland.

“I’m glad that this is happening just to set the tone for what our municipality will be looking at for the next five years,” said Tantramar mayor Andrew Black on Monday, adding that the “comprehensive public consultation process” included in the project is “vitally important, considering our new boundaries.”

A group of cyclists, many wearing blue jerseys are standing with their bikes on a city street in front of a low rise building.

Waterloo gears up to host the Ontario Bike Summit

March 20, 2024 by Dan Kellar

Sustainability and innovation through cycling is the theme of this year’s Ontario Bike Summit from April 3rd to 5th in Waterloo.

This is the 15th annual summit, and over 250 delegates are expected. The event is organized by the province-wide cycling advocacy group Share the Road coalition.

According to the city’s press release, “municipal staff and leaders from across Canada and internationally, [will] share ideas, best practices and opportunities for progress in cycling.”

This show features interviews with Patrick Bergsma of Cycle WR and Christopher Hodgson, manager for Active transportation for the City of Waterloo. They each discuss the upcoming bike summit, thoughts on the city’s progress on their active transportation and cycling networks, and ideas and actions to make streets safer for all users. Bergsma also highlights the locally developed Cycling Guide app which according to its website “create routes that prioritize cycling infrastructure or roads with less car traffic”.