Tract, Stantec hired for northeast Avalon regional plan
Municipalities NL submits proposed regional approach to province
Work is underway to finish the on-again, off-again northeast Avalon regional plan (NEAR).
The overarching planning document would guide development, infrastructure and land use for 15 municipalities in the region, from larger urban areas such as St. John’s and Mount Pearl to smaller communities such as Bauline.
It’s been more than a decade in the making, and work on it stopped in recent years, but Municipal and Provincial Affairs (MAPA) Minister Kristalynn Howell is rebooting it.
Municipalities Newfoundland and Labrador (MNL) is co-ordinating the work of the northeast Avalon regional plan steering committee, chaired by Municipal and Provincial Affairs, with representatives from each of the municipalities.
“We are currently working with Tract Consulting (project manager) and Stantec (principal planner) on a plan to restart the process and conclude the work on the NEAR plan,” an MNL spokesperson said in an emailed statement on Monday, Aug. 1.
“A proposed approach has been recently submitted to MAPA and we are waiting for their response. The steering committee will have to meet to discuss the work to date and the best path forward. No date for the meeting has been determined yet, but communications to the participating municipalities will be distributed shortly to start that process.”
An emailed statement from a Municipal and Provincial Affairs spokesperson on July 15 said previous discussions on the development of a new plan suggested the plan would identify common goals for the municipalities that reflect the demographic and economic future of the region.
“While a plan has yet to be developed, the department has indicated it is supportive of working with municipalities on completion of a plan if that is something they wish to pursue,” the spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, the St. John’s urban region regional plan is currently in force, and municipal plans prepared by municipalities within the region must conform to that plan.