Model Urban Design Guidelines
All Niagara Region projects

About the project

The Model Urban Design Guidelines promote best practices for urban design features that are characteristic of Niagara. They guidelines are intended to:

• Establish local urban design policies and guidelines
• Develop district plans and secondary plans
• Inform the design of development projects subject to the Planning Act
• Be a reference for good urban design practices in the absence of local design guidelines

An update to the Model Urban Design Guidelines is available and provides enhanced descriptions, images and diagrams to address:

• New community design trends that emphasize community, healthy and resilient places
• General urban design trends in architectures, landscape architecture, planning and transportation planning
• New forms of development that can benefit from guidelines
• Greater emphasis on infilling and mixed uses, and associated built-form, site design and landscape design considerations
• Greater densities, missing middle forms and tall buildings
• More sustainable development guidelines to address climate change adaptation and resiliency
• Guidelines that focus on new approaches to parking, transportation demand management and active transportation
• New trends in street design and complete streets
• Guidelines that can lead to alternative development standards

Urban design benefits

Applying a design led approach with good urban design practices has the potential to create value for communities, individuals, the economy and the environment. The potential benefits include:

• Better public health
• Greater social equity
• Enhanced land values
• A more vibrant local economy
• Reduced vehicle emissions
• More sustainable use of non-renewable resources

Project timeline