2025 Belleville Official Plan

Vision Statement

The City of Belleville is a diverse urban and rural community strategically located on the Moira River and Bay of Quinte, providing the benefits of a high quality of life, a broad range of economic development opportunities, valued natural and cultural heritage amenities and a full range of essential services. The Municipality shall strive to create a balance of economic, social, cultural and natural environments for the development of a sustainable well-planned, financially sound community that values its natural and cultural heritage and offers opportunities for its residents to prosper.

Growth pressures

It is the intent of this Plan to achieve an increase in the City’s density through the application of intensification and density targets. New development and new secondary plans are subject to the following minimum densities:

• The City’s minimum density for residential units over the forecast period is 14 units per gross hectare.
• The City’s target for intensification and re-development (including infill development) is 20% (660 units) over the 2016-2038 forecast period.
• The City’s target density for jobs is 15 jobs per net hectare on new (greenfield) employment lands over the 2016-2038 forecast period.

Settlement patterns

The urban service area will be the focus of the majority of future residential growth and non-residential development.

Opportunities for intensification and redevelopment will be encouraged and promoted through:

• the creation of new units, uses or lots on previously developed land;
• the development of vacant and/or underutilized lots within previously developed areas;
• accessory dwelling units;
• infill development;
• the expansion or conversion of existing buildings; and
• redevelopment and revitalization of brownfield sites.

Economic development

Employment opportunities will be provided through a balance of manufacturing, research and development, education, agriculture, tourism, and commercial and industrial uses in areas designated and determined to be best suited for each economic sector. The Municipality encourages the establishment of retail small businesses and service commercial small businesses in the community and promotes the downtown core as a major focus of economic activity. A well-rounded, vibrant community with economic opportunities for people of all ages will be an objective of the Municipality.

Social needs

While the City will offer an attractive location for retirees, it is intended that all age groups will find the City a pleasant and enjoyable environment in which to live.

The well-being of the City’s residents will depend upon the effective delivery of:

• professional health care services (i.e. a full range of professional medical service providers, public health programs, emergency care, full service hospital);
• affordable and well maintained housing for people of all ages, financial capacity and levels of independence (single detached dwellings, semidetached dwellings, townhouse dwellings, multi-unit dwellings, home sharing, nursing homes, long-term care homes, etc.);
• health and community services including those that rely greatly on the efforts and donations of volunteers from within the community;
• education that provides skills for healthy living, professional development, self-fulfillment and employment opportunities within the City;
• recreational programs and events that encourage physical activity and social interaction for all age groups;
• the incorporation of the principles of active transportation into municipal infrastructure projects, where possible and economical to do so;
• an accessible physical environment;
• cultural programs and activities that offer enrichment and education and that foster an appreciation of the City’s cultural heritage;
• a healthy environment and bio-diversity to be enjoyed by all;
• opportunities for investment to create employment for all ages and abilities, and services for the local population.

Housing

The Municipality will accommodate a range of housing choices to meet the growing and changing needs of the City. This will include single detached dwellings, semi-detached dwellings, townhouse dwellings, multi-unit dwellings and condominiums. The provision of these housing types will be varied, with some stock being provided on greenfield lands, and others in strategic infill locations.

The Municipality supports intensification as a means of achieving an efficient use of land and infrastructure, curbing urban sprawl, and creating more walkable neighbourhoods, while also meeting the projected needs of the City. The City Centre area is expected to accommodate a range of intensification types, including mid to high rise buildings, infill, adaptive reuse and redevelopment and live-work buildings.

Arterial roadways and corridors will accommodate intensification similar to the City Centre, decreasing in intensity further from the City Centre. Intensification will also be encouraged in underutilized areas throughout the City.

The Municipality will accommodate appropriate affordable and market-based housing consisting of a mix of residential types to meet long-term needs. Further, the Municipality is committed to increasing the supply of affordable housing units across the City. Boarding houses, (also known as rooming houses or multi-tenant houses, but referred to throughout this plan as ‘boarding houses’), can play an important role in delivering this.

Schedules