A public consultation centre will be held at City Hall during Doors Open on Sept. 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to gain feedback on updates to the City’s Official Plan.
WHAT: Official Plan Review Public Consultation Centre
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 13, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
WHERE: City Hall (169 Front St.), SMB Meeting Room (3rd Floor)
An Official Plan is a local policy document that outlines a city’s long-term vision for growth, guiding decisions on land use, development and infrastructure planning. The objective of this update is to ensure it aligns with provincial planning direction and meets the evolving needs, priorities and aspirations of the City. Key discussion topics include:
· Growth Management: Belleville has updated City growth projections for population, housing and land supply. As we grow, we need to plan where growth will be focused in the City. We need to balance new development with the ability to provide municipal services
· Intensification: We recognize the need to plan for denser development in key areas such as the downtown. We will update policies to manage medium and high-density development, and residential and commercial (mixed) uses. We will consider how denser development can fit in with existing communities.
· Housing: Belleville is committed to providing a wider range of housing to meet the needs of residents with varying family sizes, ages, abilities and incomes, including affordable housing. The City will consider how to support development of affordable housing and “missing middle” housing forms.
· Agriculture and Rural: Farming is an important part of Belleville’s economy and protection of farmland is integral to the City. Changes to the Official Plan will consider the agricultural systems approach and outline how and when agricultural impact assessments will be used to ensure that farmland is protected in future.
There will be no formal presentations, so those interested can attend at their convenience. Project staff will be on hand to provide information and answer any questions.
To learn more, visit the Official Plan Review project page.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
