Development Charge Incentives

Smart Growth Criteria

Niagara’s Smart Growth Design Criteria were created as a tool to help both public and private stakeholders make more sustainable development choices in an effort to create vibrant urban centres, sustain a strong economy, ensure a healthy environment and combat urban sprawl.

Detailed Smart Growth Design Criteria Checklists are available for five categories of development:

1. Residential Development (all types under five storeys): One or more buildings or structures that is primarily used for residential purposes and is under five storeys. Examples: a townhouse or group of townhouses, a single detached dwelling, an apartment building.

2. Main Street/ Commercial Corridor (under five storeys): Typically includes the main street of a downtown with commercial use(s) at ground level and residential above and is under five storeys. Streets that are predominantly commercial/ office space, are under five storeys and located within the Central Area as defined by Schedule D of this By-law also fall under this category.

Examples: St. Paul Street in St. Catharines, Victoria Avenue in Niagara Falls, Ontario Street in St. Catharines.

3. Commercial Development (under five storeys): Development that is predominantly a commercial use and is located outside the downtown. Examples: commercial development along St. Paul Avenue West in St. Catharines, Pine Street North commercial development in Thorold, commercial development within the East Waterfront area in Port Colborne.

4. Employment Land Development (under five storeys): Existing and emerging clusters of economic activity and development such as advanced manufacturing, warehousing, research and development, offices and associated retail and business support.

5. All development that is five or more storeys: Any development (commercial, residential etc) that is five or more storeys.