Waterfront plan nears completion: design will guide planning for 20 years.

• Author: Kelly, Lindsay
• Position: North Bay

After months of consultation, North Bay's Downtown Waterfront Master Plan will be ready for public viewing this February, and the city expects council approval by spring.

The 10-month consultation and design phase got underway last year under the direction of Brook McIlroy, which held a series of consultation sessions through the summer and fall.

A final design, said Bev Hillier, the city's manager of planning services, will bring a more cohesive look to the waterfront, creating a stronger link between it and the nearby downtown.

"We have a great downtown, and so this was an opportunity to look at the downtown, and not just the waterfront, and to see how the two spaces can really connect together," she said.

"There's been some work on the former rail lands piece around the museum, and there's been some work done specifically on the waterfront, but the idea of this was about tying all of that together and thinking about how everything connects and where we want to go for that next 20 years."

Past work on the rail lands, which the city acquired from Canadian Pacific in 1999, includes the addition of a biking trail, a walkway, two carousels, a kids' train, and the museum, which was formerly the CP train station. The city also built an underpass so pedestrians could access the waterfront from the downtown.

A comprehensive consultation process took place involving stakeholders, members of the public, through online surveys, and with Indigenous partners, and so the final plan will be a true reflection of what the public wants to see on the waterfront, she added.

Last fall, the city presented three draft schematics, all with different layouts, dubbed Oak Park, Central Park, and The Pier. Each of the plans differs slightly, but all share some common elements: a splash pad/skating rink, more seating and trees throughout the area, and a mix of public and private sector investment.

The plan's overall goal is to enhance existing elements to create a sense of place that can be enjoyed year-round, Hillier said.

Private development in the area is already well underway. It includes a $20-million, 100-unit Homewood Suites hotel featured a Starbucks coffee shop and a restaurant. The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit is constructing a two-storey, headquarters with 59,000 square feet of space. And Marina Point Retirement Residence is spending $24 million on a major expansion that will add 113 units to its complex.

After some additional consultation...