Merritt, Mountain and Chesnut Street improvements / extensions

Municipal Class Environmental Assessment Study

The City of St. Catharines has initiated a Class Environmental Assessment to evaluate and recommend road improvements along Merritt Street, from Walnut Street to Glendale Avenue, and to consider extending Mountain Street, from Glendale Avenue to Chestnut Street. Additionally, the City is moving forward with implementation of the extension of Chestnut St. from Hastings Street to Brookdale Avenue, as included in the City’s Transportation Master Plan. The purpose of this study is to evaluate options, recommend preferred solutions and mitigate any potential negative environmental impacts posed by the proposed works.

Study Area

Merritt Street is a mixed-use corridor. The majority of the area is zoned Medium Density Mixed Use, with two properties zoned Community Institutional. The City aims to improve the quality and appearance of this corridor as a transportation route, including improved pedestrian and cyclist amenities. Merritt Street does not have designated bicycle lanes, however the road is identified as an existing bike route in the City’s Official Plan.

Chestnut Street is in a predominantly Low Density Residential area with some Medium Density Mixed Use properties at the intersection of Chestnut Street and Merritt Street. The City plans to extend Chestnut Street, from Hastings Street to Brookdale Avenue, connecting the east and west portions. Chestnut Street does not have bike lanes, however the possibility of adding them will be examined during this study.

There is currently an existing access driveway to the Mountain Locks Plaza, and other land owned by the City, to Chestnut Street. The study will examine creating an extension of Mountain Street from Glendale Avenue to the Chestnut Street extension on these lands.

Process

The project is being planned under ‘Schedule B’ of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process (October 2000, as amended in 2007, 2011 and 2015). This notice signals the commencement of the study, which will define the problem / opportunity, identify and evaluate alternative solutions, and determine a preferred solution in consultation with the City of St. Catharines, regulatory agencies, affected stakeholders and the general public.

Public and review agency consultation is a key element of the process and input will be sought throughout the study. Two Public Information Centres will be held virtually, which will provide an opportunity for members of the public to review the alternative solutions and provide comments.

At the study conclusion, the Class EA process will be documented in a Project File, which will be made available for a minimum of 30 calendar days for public review and comment. A Notice of Study Completion will be issued at that stage.

Project Updates

More information will be uploaded to this website as the project progresses.

Notice of Public Information Centre #1

Municipal Class Environmental Assessment for Merritt Street Road Improvements and Mountain Street
and Chestnut Street Extension

The Study

The City of St. Catharines has initiated a Class Environmental Assessment to evaluate and recommend road
improvements along Merritt Street, from Walnut Street to Glendale Avenue, and to consider extending Mountain Street, from Glendale Avenue to Chestnut Street. Additionally, the City is moving forward with implementation of the extension of Chestnut St. from Hastings Street to Brookdale Avenue, as included in the City’s Transportation Master Plan. The purpose of this study is to evaluate options, recommend preferred solutions and mitigate any potential negative environmental impacts posed by the proposed works.

The Process

The study is being carried out as a Schedule 'B' project in accordance with the requirements of the
Municipal Class EA process, which is an approved process under the Ontario Environmental Assessment
Act. This study will address the requirements of Phases one and two of the Municipal Class EA process. Once the study is complete, a Project File will be prepared and available for public review and comment. A Notice of Completion will be issued at that stage.

How to Participate

Public and review agency consultation is a key element of the process and input will be sought throughout the study. Two Public Information Centres (PICs) will be held, which will provide an opportunity for members of the public to review the alternative solutions and provide comments. The City of St. Catharines is presently planning to host Public Information Centre (PIC) #1. The purpose of PIC #1 is to introduce the project and share information on its current status, present design alternatives, and obtain input from the public and stakeholders. PIC #1 will be held in-person at the EOC Meeting Room at Fire Station 4, located at 427 Merritt Street. You can participate in this PIC by attending the in-person presentation and/or by viewing information materials on the project webpage.

Virtual Consultation Platform: 

Information materials related to the project and PIC #1 are available on the EngageSTC webpage at engagestc.ca/merritt-chestnut­-mountain. An are for public comment is provided on the page and will remain
available until Nov. 20, 2022.

In-Person Presentation: 

The PIC will be held at the EOC Meeting Room at Fire Station 4, located at 427 Merritt Street, on Nov. 15, 2022, from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The Study Team will be present to answer questions and take comments regarding the project. Comments received before, during and after PIC #1 will be reviewed and addressed at a later date.

Stay Connected

If you would like to receive future notices via email, or if you have any questions or comments, please contact one of the Study Team Members identified below:

Comments

The public will be notified of the PICs through advertisements in local newspapers and on the City’s website. In addition, notifications will be hand-delivered to residents in the study area. Comments received will be reviewed and their consideration documented in the Project File. Information will be collected in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. With the exception of personal information, all comments will become part of the public record.