Neighbourhood Planning

What is a Neighbourhood Plan?

A Neighbourhood Plan provides detailed information about land uses and policies that are relevant to that specific area. Each Neighbourhood Plan has a coloured Land Use Map and development policies which are implemented through the Zoning By-law, Official Plans and Secondary Plans. Neighbourhood Plans may also include other related documents such as Urban Design Guidelines, Streetscape Master Plans or Transportation Master Plans.

For example, a parcel of land may be designated in the Neighbourhood Plan as “Attached Housing”, namely townhouses. The written policies would identify the preferred density, form and type of housing and vehicular access. Design Guidelines might define the common design elements within the block or street section.

Neighbourhood Plans have been prepared for over 70 of the 137 neighbourhoods in the City of Hamilton. The plans first date back to the early 1970’s. Most of the areas where there is considerable potential for redevelopment have approved Neighbourhood Plans. Neighbourhood Plans are periodically reviewed and updated.

How Are Neighbourhood Plans Prepared?

Planning and Economic Development staff act as facilitators to the neighbourhood’s Citizen Advisory Committee to prepare the Neighbourhood Plan. Essentially, the Plan is created by the citizen’s. Input is also provided by affected departments and agencies. The process used to prepare a plan is the following:

Step 1 - Data Collection

• Statistics, site surveys, policies
• Collection of background information
• Comments from municipal departments

Step 2 - Plan Preparation Citizen's Advisory Meetings

• Orientation and discussion
• Development of goals and objectives
• Submission of briefs by members
• Formulation of alternative plans

Step 3 - Feedback/Comments with a Draft Neighbourhood Plan

• Circulation to municipal departments and agencies for comments

Step 4 - Public Meeting Approval at Planning and Economic Development Committee

• Authorization of public meeting on the proposed plan

Step 5 - City of Hamilton Staff Review with a Report

• Final plan and report presented
• Plan approved

Step 6 - Planning and Economic Development Committee Review

• Revisions to the plan, and final report presentation
• Written submissions invited from the public

Step 7 - Hamilton City Council

• Adoption of the plan

Step 8 - Implementation Tools

• Official Plan
• Secondary Plan
• Zoning By-law
• Site Plan Control
• Administrative procedures
• Public and Private Initiatives
• Capital Budget Expenditure

How Are Residents Involved?

Residents of the neighbourhood and other citizens may comment in a number of ways. They may be selected to sit on the neighbourhood’s Citizen Advisory Committee which is responsible for the preparation of the Plan with the assistance of staff. Once the plan is drafted, everyone is invited to attend the public meeting or meetings held to discuss the proposed Plan. These meetings were advertised by means of notices mailed to residents and/ or placed in the newspaper. Written comments may also have been sent to the Planning and Economic Development Department. Staff are committed to meaningful public input. Hearing comments from residents and the general public, who are knowledgeable about local issues, is important.

How Are Plans Approved?

Neighbourhood Plans are approved by the Planning and Economic Development Committee, and adopted by City Council. They are guided plans to be used in evaluating development applications, and are subject to chance. Unanticipated proposals may be considered appropriate; therefore, the Plan would have to be amended accordingly.

How Do Neighbourhood Plans Relate to Other Planning Tools?

A Neighbourhood Plan is only one of several related planning tools, with others including Official Plans, Secondary Plans, Zoning By-laws, Subdivision approval and Site Plan Control.

Note: Neighbourhood Plans are not formally adopted under the Planning Act as amendments to the Official Plan.