What is a Secondary Plan?
A Secondary Plan represents a land use vision for larger areas of the City where a comprehensive planning review is advisable to make sure new development is responding to the community need.
Secondary Plans forms part of an Official Plan and provide policies and mapping of the various land use components found within an area, such as natural and environmental features needing protection, transportation networks (roads, bicycle lanes and trails), open space and parks, as well as types and density of housing, commercial, mixed uses, and employment.
Secondary Plans are typically long-term plans that guide development and re-development over several decades. An approved Secondary Plan helps with capital planning for infrastructure and the long-term financing of upgrading various core infrastructure and services such as water, wastewater, storm water management and transportation related services.
Sometimes the City may make use of a similar process for a Neighbourhood Plan, which is typically a much smaller area, but would benefit from a comprehensive look at how the area would best be planned within the existing neighbourhood community.
Secondary Plan Engagement
Secondary planning includes robust community, agency and stakeholder consultation throughout the entire process. Public engagement may take several different forms, including stakeholder interviews, a Community Focus Group, Public Open Houses, and a statutory Public Meeting.
Our online engagement platform, Let’s Talk Niagara Falls, allows for continued access to information on the Plan’s progress including key documents and information, and serves as a portal for public input throughout the entire process. All parties making comments or participating in the engagement process will have their input considered by staff and reported to City Council prior to any recommendation on a Plan’s approval.
Secondary Plan Process
A Secondary Plan is implemented through a Planning Act process known as an Official Plan Amendment (OPA), which requires adoption from City Council. Recent changes by the Province remove requirements for Regional or Provincial approval of a Secondary Plan, provided the policies and plan conform to Provincial Plans and polices.
Approved Secondary Plans
The City has adopted four Secondary Plans previously, which have since been incorporated into the City’s Official Plan through consolidation updates. The plans would include:
Interested persons can find these respective Secondary Plan sections using the index of the current City Official Plan.
Active Secondary Plans
Currently, the City has three active Secondary Plans and one Neighbourhood Plan in process.
- Grassy Brook Secondary Plan: The City is currently working with Dillion Consulting on developing a Secondary Plan for the Grassy Brook area. More information and engagement opportunities are available on the Grassy Brook Let’s Talk page.
- Northwest Secondary Plan: In 2023, Council authorized the commencement of the Northwest Secondary Plan which is a recent urban boundary expansion area located south of Mountain Road, west of the QEW. Details and updates for this Secondary Plan exercise can be found on the Northwest Secondary Plan Let’s Talk Niagara Falls page.
- Garner West Secondary Plan: In 2023, Council authorized the commencement of the Garner West Secondary Plan which is a recent urban boundary expansion area located south of Lundy’s Lane (RR20), between Kalar and Beechwood Roads and extending down to McLeod Road. Details and updates for this Secondary Plan exercise can be found on the Garner West Secondary Plan Let’s Talk Niagara Falls page.
- Greater Niagara General Hospital site and surplus MTO Lands (Neighbourhood Plan): A Neighbourhood Plan has been authorized to proceed (January 2025). These (soon to be) former hospital lands, including some of the area’s other key properties, are well suited to provide short-term growth potential with the available core services already in place. It is imperative a Plan for the immediate Neighbourhood be undertaken to ensure future redevelopment follows a Council approved vision to work toward with the appropriate policy and zoning in place to stimulate redevelopment. Details and updates for this neighbourhood plan exercise can be found on the MTO/GNGH Neighbourhood Plan | Let’s Talk Niagara Falls site.
Into the Future
Planning staff anticipate seeking authorization for a Secondary Plan on the urban expansion lands south of the new South Niagara Hospital later in 2025.
Staff will monitor other areas of potential interest for Secondary or Neighbourhood planning, including potential for updating existing Secondary Plans that may hold additional potential for growth and development/redevelopment. Any such interests would be brought to Council through administrative reporting for Council’s direction.
