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The Waterfront: Strategic Plan Workbook Excerpts

IN THIS SECTION

WATERFRONT HOME

Find out about plans for shoreline restoration and waterfront pathway improvements

DEVELOPING STRATEGY

Background on consultation and process that developed the Waterfront Strategy.

RELATED LINK

WATERFRONT TRUST

Visit the Waterfront Regeneration Image: Waterfront Regeneration Trust Fund LogoTrust Web site for more information about the Waterfront Trail.

As Identified in the Community Strategic Plan adopted by Council on October 24, 2000.


KEY FACTS

  • The land use systems include housing/residential development, commercial development, institutions, an airport, industrial development, open space, parks and recreation and waterfront
  • Kingston's open spaces, parks, recreation facilities and waterfront are important resources and contribute significantly to the quality of life of the City's citizens and visitors
  • Our neighbourhoods include about 180 parks with over 2,500 acres of maintained grounds — in the inner-urban neighbourhoods, waterfront lands are a significant part of the park system
  • The Downtown has historic ties to the waterfront — these ties are manifested today in the concentration of hospitality services in the district
  • An estimated one million visitors are annually drawn by Fort Henry, the St. Lawrence River, boat tours, museums, the historic nature and ambience of the City, hotels, restaurants, shopping areas, the waterfront, some of the best fresh water sailing conditions in the world, and marinas
  • The Rideau Canal operates as a navigable waterway and is designated as a National Heritage Site which separates the rural areas of the former Townships of Pittsburgh and Kingston. This system forms a unique recreational corridor
  • Other recreational uses include the Little Cataraqui Region Conservation Area, golf courses and tourist camps
  • The City has an almost continuous public waterfront pathway extending from Cataraqui Bay to the Great Cataraqui Marsh

STRENGTHS

Photo: a waterfront pathway in Kingston
  • There is a "passion" for the area. Kingston is a gem of a city. One of the best in Canada. People love the ambience, the natural setting, the countryside, the waterfront, the history, the heritage buildings and much more
  • Natural and man-made assets include waterfront, open spaces, Rideau Trail, Trans-Canada Trail, etc.
  • Beautiful waterfront: open to residents and tourists to enjoy
  • Connections to the waterfront and unique services such as ferries, role in tourism, heritage
  • Resources are a strong base of community groups, artists and events, waterfront, downtown, heritage buildings/districts, institutions and neighbourhood facilities
  • Recognize economic value of tourism, an attracting feature for new residents

WEAKNESSES

  • Building high rise buildings along waterfront that block views
  • Lack of parking, big meeting facilities, appropriate waterfront development, transit
  • Official Plans not always followed as intended

OPPORTUNITIES

Photo: a waterfront pathway in Kingston
  • Do much more with waterfront: cycling paths, boating/sailing, linking facilities such as museums and Fort Henry
  • More pathways for walking, cycling
  • Promote healthy alternatives to the car: cycling, walking, and more accessibility for wheelchairs
  • Acquiring waterfront property (i.e. Lemoine Point) and extending trails (i.e. Trans-Canada Trail)
  • Linking neighbourhoods: public transportation paths for cycling/walking
  • Larger size and resources of new City: can co-ordinate efforts and planning
  • There are strengths to build upon and opportunities to pursue
    1. economic growth sectors such as tourism, knowledge-based industries/technologies, health and education
    2. arts, culture, recreation & leisure
    3. heritage
    4. co-ordinating the talents and energies of our people to achieve a common vision
  • There are specific issues that are foremost in our minds:
    1. transportation and accessibility
    2. sustainable growth: infrastructure, protection of natural resources and rural life
    3. protecting our quality of life and addressing the well being of all residents

THREATS

  • Unnecessary conflict between heritage and development interests: could be reduced by closer attention to comprehensive policies for heritage and downtown/waterfront development
  • Lack of: parking, big meeting facilities, appropriate waterfront development, transit
  • Vision of waterfront: will new developments detract from downtown?
  • Private control of waterfront

COMMUNITY STRATEGIC PLAN INTITIATIVES

Photo: a waterfront pathway in Kingston
  • The Community Strategic Plan was adopted by Council on October 24, 2000
  • The Plan identified 12 initiatives to be acted upon during the life of the Strategy. One of these initiatives — the Official Plan Initiative — entailed the development of a Waterfront Strategy. More specifically the initiative reads as follows:

    Official Plan Initiative

    The new City inherited several Official Plans. The community believes that these plans remain fundamentally sound and that their policies should be enforced. Nonetheless, a single updated and integrated Official Plan should be developed within a reasonable time frame, which includes:

    • a Heritage Strategy featuring design guidelines for heritage buildings/districts and the downtown;
    • Environmental Policies;
    • a Growth Management Plan;
    • a Waterfront Strategy;
    • an Open Space Plan; and
    • Policies appropriate to rural and urban needs.

The Official Plan will allow the community to build upon its strengths while protecting these assets for future generations.

 

This page last modified: January 30, 2012, at 10:08 a.m.