Northeast Avalon
Regional Plan
Background
Land use planning within the Northeast Avalon Region has been managed through the St. John’s Urban Region Regional Plan since 1976. While there have been some significant amendments to the Regional Plan over the years, it has not been subjected to a comprehensive review since its adoption.
The 1976 plan set out the framework for development by:
- Establishing urban limits and a development hierarchy
- Identifying major transportation plans, such as the Outer Ring Road
- Establishing parameters for regional water and sewer infrastructure
- Protecting existing and future water supply areas
- Identifying areas for regional industrial growth
- Preventing inappropriate growth in the airport environs
The Plan also reflects a number of provincial interests such as
- Protection of regionally significant aggregate resources
- Preservation of agricultural lands
- Identifying and reserving existing and future provincial and federal parks and natural areas
The 1976 Regional Plan envisioned urban development concentrated in the regional centre of St. John’s and Mount Pearl. Conception Bay South was identified as a subregional centre. Development in the other communities in the region was to occur within the limits of existing infrastructure through infilling. Major industrial lands were identified in Paradise and around the airport environs. Water and sewer infrastructure was designed to accommodate development up to the 190m contour elevation.
Much of the infrastructure envisaged in the Regional Plan has been put in place, including roads, water treatment and distribution systems, and trunk sewerage services.
The Northeast Avalon Regional Plan being developed right now will pick up from the existing Regional Plan, ensure it reflects the current realities of today and plan for a sustainable future.
