Fonthill development designs receive accolades
Pelham’s east Fonthill mixed use centre master plan has been recognized as one of the top documents in the region for design for 2016.
The town received the Niagara Community Design Award from Niagara Region in the policy and plans category for the ongoing development along Regional Road 20 and Rice Road.
“It’s very gratifying to win these design awards,” said Mayor Dave Augustyn. “There’s been a lot of work on the east Fonthill area.”
Augustyn called the area a “distinct and different” development that will accommodate walking and cycling throughout its entirety, and which includes the new commercial area with Food Basics, but also a planned community centre arena and other buildup along Rice Road. The environment is being taken into consideration for all of the plans.
Each of these things is considered in the design award category. The award is given to an official plan, neighbourhood or secondary plan, design guideline, community improvement plan, master plan or development plan with a focus on “smart growth principles,” such as walkability and mixed use areas. How much the public is consulted during the process was also taken into consideration when choosing
Other award winners
St. Catharines
Village on the 12, St. Catharines John Brant Public School, Fort Erie 176 St. Paul St.,
St. Catharines Regent at James, St.
Catharines 24 Wanda Rd.,
John Brant Public School, Fort Erie
the award winner.
Augustyn said including each of those details was important when putting the plan together.
“It’s important because we want the best development for our community,” he said, adding that the community not only hopes for the best, but expects it.
This development came to be after Pelham’s urban boundary was extended. Augustyn said there have been several consultation meetings with the public, including the mayor’s youth advisory council.
“As we make a community and improve the community, these are long-lasting planning decisions that will have repercussions for many years,” he said. “We want to include not only those that have been here for a while living in town, but also those that are younger and saying this is their community, too.”
The planning award is one of three that Pelham has received in recent years. The town was recognized in 2014 for the east Fonthill secondary plan and urban design guidelines, which the master plan is a part of, and in 2015 Fenwick was awarded the Public Realm Improvement Award for its streetscape upgrades.