It has been almost 60 years since the City of St. John’s adopted its first zoning by-law, and thirty years since the City’s first municipal plan was approved under the Urban and Rural Planning Act in 1984. Our existing municipal plan has been in place since 2003.
Envision St. John’s was developed as a result of a comprehensive, an intensive consultation process and a new understanding of St. John’s today, and tomorrow.
During the review process, residents told the City their vision for the City of St. John’s:
- They want a place where we enjoy a future of continued economic prosperity and diversity…
- A home where citizens have a strong sense of identity embodied in their understanding and appreciation for their cultural, natural and built heritage…
- A city of active, healthy citizens, living in affordable, accessible, complete neighbourhoods…
- A capital that attracts and welcomes investment, residents and visitors from the region, the province and the world.
Themes
Envision St. John’s is built on five key themes and one big idea – improving the City and improving our quality of life through effective, visionary planning. The five themes are:
- Valuing Environmental Systems;
- Developing Vibrant, Complete Neighbourhoods;
- Supporting a Strong, Diversified Economy;
- Investing in Transportation and Services; and
- Using Quality Urban Design.
The draft municipal plan, which has been tabled, is not a complete document; throughout 2014, City staff will be working internally and consulting with others externally before finalizing this document. Of course, many of the policies from the previous municipal plan will be carried over into the new plan. Furthermore, the City has begun work on revising the Development Regulations to align with the policies expressed in the new Municipal Plan. With the Municipal Plan as the guiding document, these Regulations will allow the City to develop in accordance with the principles expressed in the new Plan.
To be considered final, the municipal plan must be presented and approved at the Provincial level, at which time Envision St. John’s will become a statutory document, prepared and approved by Council in accordance with the Urban and Rural Planning Act (2000) for a ten-year period.
Actions
Already, many people have already seen and reflected on this document, but many more need to be provided the opportunity.
Over the coming months, we will begin a process to communicate the vision of this new municipal plan, confirming that it integrates well with the City’s other existing, new and developing plans, and providing an opportunity for our committees and working groups to assess how the vision outlined will impact the work they are doing. We will also hold public discussions on the plan in the fall, 2014.
To make sure your voice is heard, members are requested to please submit feedback on Envision St. John’s via email at municipalplan@stjohns.ca
