FAQs

Municipal plan reviews are common to ensure that land uses within a Municipality are consistent, effective, and help provide an environment that enhance the life of people living in the municipality. 

A renewal hints at a much larger objective and strives to fundamentally adapt the existing Municipal Plan to changing conditions locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.

The following list provides an overview of the wide-ranging issues that will be addressed in the work to review and renew the City of Mount Pearl Municipal Plan. This list is not exhaustive; however, it illustrates the holistic and practical approach to the project: 

• Consideration of environmental stewardship in light of climate change and resiliency

• Protection of natural heritage, water, and other resources for current and future generations; 

• Ensure the Waterford River is retained and enhanced as a focus for environmental health and stewardship, and a possible transportation mode

• Integration of innovative approaches to planning and permitting processes, including such things as mobile zoning, flexible zoning, gentle intensification, sustainability, walkable communities

• Identification of  appropriate locations for residential and commercial intensification projects in a manner that is sensitive to the character of surrounding neighbourhoods

• Provision of  an appropriate mix of housing choices, affordability, and densities, and which incorporate elements of universal design 

• Development of  a growth management strategy based on future residential and non-residential land requirements

• Preparation of user-friendly Development Regulations which include clear urban design goals and objectives

• Ensure subdivision design standards include economic considerations, sustainability, and quality of life principles

The Integrated Transportation planning process: 

This will be the first true Integrated Transportation Plan for the City of Mount Pearl. The following list of issues to be addressed is not exhaustive, but provides an overview of the topics that will be addressed in the final plan, including: 

• Assess existing transportation infrastructure including, but not limited to: road corridors, intersections, trails, sidewalks, bike lanes, transit operations, and parking supply.

• Consider multi-modal travels in a coherent manner for vehicles (automobiles, trucks, electric and gas and hybrid), transit services, cycles, scooters, and mobility aids.

• Address a wide variety of mobility purposes including business, leisure / recreational, commercial, emergency services, shipping, and more.

• Consideration of connected facilities for users of all ages and abilities in Mount Pearl, and for all seasons.

• Development of a transportation network vision that is consistent with community values, and that provides quality options for all residents considering all forms of mobility including accessibility and inclusion;

• Balance traffic modeling and forecasting with an integrated active transportation plan that understands the vision of a multi-modal (i.e. pedestrian, cyclists, vehicles, etc.) transportation network and anticipated community needs while preparing for emerging mobility trends.

• Developing an implementation plan which identifies short-term and long-term transportation network improvements for the City of Mount Pearl

In the context of roadway corridors, this approach uses the concept of a ‘Complete Street’ - streets that are safe for all users, regardless of age, ability, income, race, ethnicity, or mode of travel. By using a Complete Streets approach to designing road networks, we can create spaces that allow all users to thrive — not only motorists. 

The Mobility planning process:

If the Municipal Plan guides how lands are used in a municipality, the Integrated Mobility Plan strives to effectively guide how PEOPLE move between those land uses. In the past, this conversation almost exclusively focused on vehicular travel on roadways. Thankfully, it has finally been recognized that our transportation networks SHOULD NOT be about just moving vehicles, and it SHOULD be about moving people.

This type of mobility could take place by foot, on a bike, riding a bus, sharing rides or any combination of these modes of travel. Further, these trips may take place on, or adjacent to a road, or could occur on other dedicated corridors such as trail systems, park networks, or other off-road facilities.

By carefully considering each mode of transportation, where the trips start and end, and who are going to use each mode, we can build a much more effective, environmentally responsible, and vibrant mobility network that give people flexibility and freedom of choice to get from point A to point B.

Land use planning and urban mobility have always been directly tied together - one cannot operate without the other, and both cause change in the other. Nonetheless, there are innumerable municipal plan updates completed with minimal attention paid to mobility Considerations. And there are innumerable transportation plans prepared with limited or no consideration of land use planning adaptations. In essence, these plans assume that the other component is stagnant.

As both components inform the other, Mount Pearl has taken a progressive approach and elected to prepare both plans together. The MPRR and IMP will determine a common vision for the future mobility and growth management for the City of Mount Pearl.

The goal of intertwining land use and transportation planning is to:

• enable a creative approach to zoning for gentle intensification, infill development and re-development

• integrated and prioritizes new development in areas with access to public transit and active transportation,

• recognizes a continuing need for vehicular travel for various personal needs and goods movements by providing appropriate corridors, parking opportunities and route options.

The work will result in a long-term strategic plan for the City of Mount Pearl which will guide transportation decisions and influence land use by identifying transportation infrastructure requirements.

The new City of Mount Pearl Strategic Plan, called "Building Tomorrow", identified the City Municipal Plan and Integrated Transportation Plan as the two most important tools to achieve economic, fiscal, social, cultural and environmental sustainability for the City.

In order continue to provide the high level of services enjoyed by residents, the City needs to grow the City in a manner which respects the character of the City. The 2010 Municipal Plan started on the path of densification and intensification; however, new and creative tools are needed if the City is to implement this integral part of the City growth strategy for the next ten-year period.

The Tract/Fathom team will provide meaningful strong public consultation opportunities; including :

• Business Stakeholder forum 

• Business stakeholder survey

• Community survey:

  • Mail survey

  • Online 

• School Outreach

• Town Hall Forums

• Open House (s) 

• Jane Walks

• Residents can provide comment on this website