Council Highlights from the June 20, 2022 Meeting

Rethinking economic development: Clarington to create a plan moving forward

Council has adopted, in principle, a new Economic Development Strategy that will help guide the Municipality as it plans for future growth and development in Clarington. The Strategy is rooted in the objectives for economic development set out in Clarington’s Official Plan, recognizing the need to consider various key factors when planning community development and growth. Those factors include sustainable development, healthy communities, growth management and economic development – all working together to ensure that Clarington’s future success is properly planned and managed.

As set out in the Official Plan, Clarington’s focus is to encourage investment in our community and ensure more diverse employment opportunities, support small business retention in our downtowns and promote and support arts, culture, and tourism. Clarington is a rapidly growing community, and the Economic Development Strategy aims to balance that growth with the desire to maintain the rural charm and “small town” feel that our residents want to keep. The Economic Development Strategy shines a spotlight on some “major catalyst projects” that have the potential to drive and support Clarington’s long-term economic prosperity. The Strategy outlines specific goals on how Clarington can support these key catalyst projects, including:

• Ontario Power Generation headquarters in Courtice,
• Courtice Waterfront and Energy Park Secondary Plan,
• The plans for the areas where the future GO Train Stations will be located in Bowmanville and Courtice,
• Broadband Infrastructure,
• Goodyear Site and Bowmanville Hospital Development,
• Canadian Tire Motorsport Park,
• Agricultural Diversification,
• Tourism.

The Strategy will also look at the need to expand the availability of serviced employment lands, enhance the development approval process, and develop a nuclear energy cluster of companies. Clarington Council has directed staff to advance these catalyst projects and prepare an implementation report to further the goals of the Economic Development Strategy to inform Council’s 2023-2026 Strategic Plan.

For more information, read Staff Report CAO-005-22.

Waterfront Trail to see new safety, etiquette, and wayfinding signs

Clarington residents will soon see new signs along the Waterfront Trail reminding pedestrians and cyclists to slow down and yield to pedestrians. The signs were developed in conjunction with Clarington’s Active Transportation and Safe Roads Advisory Committee Sign Group. The Group has also identified the location for the 30 new “Bikes yield to pedestrian” signs and the 20 new “Slow down caution” signs.

For more information, read Council resolution #C-139-22.

Bowmanville Boat Launch and parking lot rehabilitation moved to 2023 budget

The Bowmanville Boat Launch will remain closed until repair work can be completed in 2023. The boat launch closed in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and has remained closed as it is not safe for public use. The work will include accessibility improvements and overall rehabilitation of the launch. Work on restoring the Bowmanville Boat Launch has been delayed because of the rising cost of construction due to inflation, material and labour shortages and the rising cost of oil. The Municipality must also follow the guidelines and restrictions for in-water works set out by the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry. These restrictions are in place to protect fish from the impact of any work during critical times, including spawning migrations. The additional funding will be included in the 2023 budget, and, pending approval, work to repair the boat launch is set to begin in July 2023.

For more information, read Council Resolution C-154-22.

Clarington is moving forward with the construction of the Newcastle Community Park

Clarington is moving forward with the construction of Phase 1 of the Newcastle Community Park. As a result of community feedback and recommendations made in the 2020 Outdoor Recreation Needs Assessment Study, the scope and the vision for the new park has changed to include illuminated baseball, pickleball and tennis facilities along with the newly completed skateboard park, site furnishings, plantings, and pathways. With the changed scope for this park and the rising cost of construction due to inflation, material and labour shortages and the rising cost of oil, Council has approved a larger budget to ensure this project is completed. The Newcastle Community Park is largely funded through development charges that have been or will be collected through new growth in Clarington. Construction is anticipated to start in September.

For more information, read Report FSD-029-22 and Council resolution C-152-22.

The next Council Meeting is on Monday, September 19, 2022.