Urban Design

Certain new developments within the city are subject to urban design guidelines.

Urban design guidelines are intended to enhance the quality of development within the city by focusing on the context of new buildings, how those buildings look from the street, how new buildings relate to existing buildings, and how the street itself is improved or enhanced by new development.

Urban design guidelines address the massing and proportion of a building, the location of buildings and parking areas on the site and landscaping. Certain locations within the City are also identified as nodes and gateways (eg. major intersections, entry points to downtown) requiring enhanced site and building design to highlight the importance of these locations.

Approved urban design guidelines are in effect for the following development types at specified locations.

Downtown St. Catharines

• Downtown Urban Design Guidelines

Residential Uses

• Guidelines for Single Dwellings on Small Infill Lots in Traditional Neighbourhoods
• Guidelines for Single Dwellings on Small Infill Lots in Suburban Neighbourhoods
• Guidelines for Townhouse Dwellings on Private Roads in Suburban Neighbourhoods
  

Commercial Uses

• Design Guidelines for General Commercial Uses in Commercial Corridors
• Urban Design Plan for the Westgate Business and Professional Park

Where do urban design guidelines apply?

Traditional neighbourhoods, suburban neighbourhoods, commercial corridors and node and gateway locations are defined on the Urban Design Location Map and described on the accompanying location descriptions

• Urban Design Location Map
• Urban Design Location Descriptions

Additional Urban Design Guidelines are intended to be approved by Council in phases. 

• Approved Urban Design Guidelines