Ontario Street Urban Design Vision and Streetscape Master Plan

How to Get Involved

Are you interested in providing your feedback on this project? Information about this project, including online surveys, will be updated on this page so you can access it at your convenience.

Also see the Public Engagement Summary document, as of August 2022.

Ontario Street Urban Design Vision & Streetscape Master Plan

This document represents the collective vision for growth and urban design along Ontario Street. It was approved by the Town of Lincoln Committee of the Whole for consideration on September 7, 2022.

The Master Plan is now available for viewing.

Previous Public Engagement Opportunities

• A Virtual Public Open House took place on June 1, 2022. Thank you to all who attended and shared their input on the Preliminary Urban Design Vision that incorporated all input received to date as the project has been undertaken.
• Online Community Survey - December 2021 - February 2022
• Landowner and Business Owner Survey - February 2022
• A Virtual Public Open House took place on February 16, 2022. Thank you to everyone who participated and provided their feedback and insights to help inform this project.

You can also register as a delegate to any of the Council meetings where this project is being discussed or contact the project leads noted on the right-hand side of this page.

Read a summary of recent public consultation in Staff Report PD-30-22 - Ontario Street Visioning and Streetscape Master Plan – Project Update. 

Introduction and Study Location

Study Area LocatioThe Town of Lincoln, in collaboration with Niagara Region, has initiated an exercise to prepare an Urban Design Vision and Streetscape Master Plan for Ontario Street (Regional Road 18) in Beamsville.

At just over 2 kilometres in length, the study area encompasses the segment of Ontario Street that runs from the south edge of the South Service Road in the north, to the King Street intersection (Regional Road 81) in the south.

Vision for Growth and Urban Design Along Ontario Street

The Province forecasts population and employment growth coming to Niagara. The Town of Lincoln is in a unique situation where it must focus this growth inward as the urban boundary is restricted from expanding by the Greenbelt Plan and the Niagara Escarpment Plan. This means that growth will need to be accommodated within the existing built-up areas, such as Beamsville through intensification opportunities.

As a primary linkage between the Queen Elizabeth Way (Q.E.W.) highway into Beamsville and the downtown area, Ontario Street requires a long-term strategy to not only accommodate growth and a range of land uses, but also to develop a cohesive and attractive streetscape identity that welcomes visitors and appeals to residents. The location of the future GO station within the study area is another important factor. The streetscape design will support all modes of travel and connections to higher order transit.

As Ontario Street is a regional road, Niagara Region is partnering with the Town on this initiative to provide insight and regional direction for implementing their complete streets program within the study area. The urban design vision will consider design of both the public realm and private realm along Ontario Street. There is an opportunity for this vital intensification corridor to enhance sense of place and aesthetic appeal, where a greater mix of uses and intensification could be accommodated. The Complete Streets approach to the design of roads and streetscapes ensures that the needs of all road users are considered. This includes pedestrians, cyclists, transit users, and vehicles ranging from personal use, commercial, service, emergency and transport. As redevelopment and intensification occur over time, the Master Plan for the corridor will also account for established neighbourhoods and properties that abut the study area, with respect to built form transition and land use compatibility.

Purpose of the Project

The project aims to incorporate relevant Town, Regional and Provincial policies, plans and guidelines, and best practices in Urban Design to establish a guiding vision for the anticipated growth and intensification along the corridor. The vision will consider future improvements and traffic calming measures along the corridor, as well as guide policy that will facilitate higher density residential development and office, commercial, and employment uses as part of a transit-oriented design and complete community approach.

This direction has already been encouraged through the completion of the Beamsville GO Transit Station Secondary Plan, which was completed in 2018. This corridor is also one of very few areas to accommodate redevelopment and anticipated intensification within Lincoln. Due to the nature of the existing landscape and established residential neighbourhoods, there is a need for a design approach to be contextually sensitive, and development opportunities should be considered in a thoughtful manner. This project will also inform public realm improvements that will aim to optimize operation of the corridor, increase vibrancy and beautify the area.

It is important for the Town to proactively plan for growth at the local level. This urban design vision and streetscape master plan will help manage change over time. It will ensure active transportation connections, healthy and vibrant public realms and appropriate transitions between new development and existing development can be achieved.

Key Players

Participation and input from the following groups will be crucial to making this project a success:

• Town of Lincoln
• Niagara Region
• Metrolinx (GO Transit)
• Beamsville residents
• Beamsville stakeholders
• MTO
• CN Rail
• Utility companies (hydro, gas, telecom, etc.)