After months of consultation and preparation, the city’s Downtown Waterfront Master Plan is finally complete and is available for the public to view. This 20-year vision created by staff, in partnership with a consultant team led by Brook McIlroy, has completed the 10-month study for the North Bay Downtown Waterfront Master Plan.
The study, which was commissioned in Spring 2016, consulted the public over the course of five workshops, focus groups meetings, and an online questionnaire. During the planning process, the plan followed guidelines provided by the community during early consultation session, which included:
- Celebrate North Bay History/Indigenous Culture
- Introduce New Year-Round Destinations
- Support a Mixed-Use Downtown
- Focus Design on Environmentally Sustainable Buildings, Parks and Streetscapes
- Encourage Diversity in Building Design and Form
- Create a Connected Downtown Circulation Network
- Follow an Economically Feasible Approach to Implement the Vision
It’s also important to note the Master Plan includes the preferred alternative for King’s Landing, the expansion with naturalized wave break, priced at approximately nine and $14 million to build, as well as between $180,000 to $210,000 a year to maintain, according to the consultant's report.
According to the report, which numbers at over a whopping 100 pages, the implementation of the Master Plan has the potential of significant economic benefits in:
- Attracting new businesses and creating jobs;
- Encouraging private sector investment;
- Impacts of construction;
- Expanded opportunities for local residents;
- Increases in tourism;
- New or expanded festivals and events; and
- Opportunities for the local film and television industry.
In the report, proposed projects are detailed and prices are projects in the last few pages. Notable projects proposed in the report include a Splash Pad on the waterfront with an estimated cost of $1.7 million and a park pavilion building at $3.6 million.
The Splash Pad, which was often suggested by community members during the public consultation sessions, would be a skating trail in the winter, a theme of multi-season use the Master Plan strived to create.
The final draft of the Downtown Waterfront Master Plan will be presented to Council on March 1, at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers. An Open House will be held at 5 p.m. at City Hall prior to the meeting to give members of the public the opportunity to review the Plan and ask questions.
Should Council approve the plan March 1, projects presented in the plan would proceed at the whim of councilors.
