Civil Municipal - May 2024

“We have projects underway that involve large tracts of land being developed into communities with their own ‘downtown’ areas. These plans include retail spaces on the ground floor with apartments or condos above, mimicking a bustling urban core.”This strategy increases housing availability and enhances the quality of life by providing accessible services and amenities. Moreover, Mayor Steele highlights developments in the Humberstone district, a historic area undergoing significant transformation. “There’s a project in the pipeline that will replace two older buildings with a new structure featuring retail spaces on the bottom and six to eight stories of apartments above,” he says. This development is instrumental in bringing new life to established neighborhoods and attracting more residents and businesses. POLICY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT In Port Colborne, the strategic intersection of policy and economic development is steering the city toward a future marked by diverse and sustainable growth. CAO Luey details the critical role of policy in shaping the city’s development, focusing on upcoming revisions to the official and zoning plans. “We are revising our official plan to align with provincial density targets and regional planning directives,” he explains.This process, vital for the city’s future, will dictate how neighbourhoods evolve and integrate different types of housing and commercial spaces to meet growing demands. “The aim is to create a policy environment that supports the mayor’s vision of a mixed-use, diverse community where people can live their golden years without the burdens of property upkeep,” Luey adds, emphasizing the planned integration of residential units above ground-floor commercial spaces across the city. This model benefits older residents, providing them with accessible living options close to amenities. Turning to economic developments, Bryan Boles, 145 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 05 PORT COLBORNE, ON