Study to begin for waterfront hotel site

Staff are recommending that council begin the Waterfront Hotel Lands Study, in light of interest by the hotel owners to redevelop at some point. Given the location of the site in the heart of downtown, adjacent to Spencer Smith Park, our Official Plan requires that a Master Plan must be completed before any redevelopment can occur.(See attached map for study area, in blue, and the Waterfront Hotel lands, in red).The terms of reference stipulate that a staff team led by the city's Special Business Area Coordinator manage the process with assistance from a Stakeholder Advisory Committee that includes citizen and business representatives, myself, as Ward councillor, a representative of the developer and others. There will also be at least four public meetings to provide input on development principles as well as specific development concepts.The process will result in the preparation of three development options, with a preferred option being presented to council for approval, and written into the Official Plan and Zoning bylaw.The goal is to produce a development plan that is supported by the community, the developer and city council and staff, and avoiding an appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board.The next step is to issue a Request for Proposal for an outside consultant (paid for by the developer but selected and managed by staff).Read the staff report: Development & Infrastructure Committee Feb. 9, 2015, Item 7My Take: I look forward to engaging residents, the developer and other stakeholders in setting a public vision for this critical piece of our downtown waterfront.