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Community Vibrancy

The Planning Division is responsible for various initiatives that aim to create more vibrant and attractive communities, including improvements to public spaces and places as well as private developments.

Recognizing that once built, a development or infrastructure project will be in place for decades, it is important to promote design excellence in terms of:

  • Function (how something works)
  • Order (how things are placed/sequenced)
  • Identity (how something connects within the context of its surroundings; how recognizable space/place is), and
  • Appeal (how people feel about it/are attracted to it/continue to come back to it)

The point is that the way something ‘looks’ and ‘works’ can be as important, if not more important than the land use itself. With that in mind, the County has implemented a number of key plans to guide design excellence.

A digram of a modern city

Urban Design Guidelines

Haldimand County strives to create more vibrant and attractive communities through the initiatives of Urban Design Guidelines. The Urban Design Guidelines are a tool used to ensure a high standard of urban design results from various development projects. These guidelines are applied during the evaluation of proposals in the development approval process and address elements such as building materials, exterior finishes, parking area design, building height and massing, etc.

A diagram of a vibrant street complete with boutique shops and pedestrians

Streetscape Plans

A streetscape plan identifies recommended improvements to the public places and spaces in the core areas of the County’s urban and hamlet settlements. The intent is to improve the physical and visible qualities of the core areas, protect and enhance attributes of the historical crossroads, and increase opportunities for shopping, tourism, and employment. Streetscaping elements can include lighting, street furniture, decorative crosswalks, and landscaping measures.

Urban Design Guideline & Streetscape Plan Reports

Haldimand County has developed streetscape plans and urban design guidelines for the public spaces in 5 of its 6 urban areas, and 6 of its 25 hamlets; all of which are outlined in the following two reports.

Haldimand County Streetscape Plan & Urban Design Guidelines Report

This report establishes the streetscape vision for the Community Improvement Plan Areas of Caledonia, Dunnville, Cayuga, Jarvis, and Hagersville. Furthermore, it provides design direction (Big Moves) on streetscape improvements that will enhance the public realm and improve the urban experience at the street level in Caledonia and Dunnville, to create better pedestrian places and directly contribute to community economic development.

Each urban area possesses its own Streetscape Plan.

Caledonia

Dunnville

Cayuga

Jarvis

Hagersville

Rural Streetscape Plans Report

The Rural Streetscape Plans Report includes the following 6 hamlet areas:

  • Byng
  • Fisherville
  • Port Maitland
  • Rainham Centre
  • Selkirk
  • York

Preparation of streetscape plans for the remaining areas may be initiated when required in future.