Tannery District Secondary Plan

Background

The Tannery District Sustainable Neighbourhood Master Plan establishes a comprehensive and implementable vision for the evolution of the Tannery District, a 12 hectare brownfield site located just outside of the downtown. The Master Plan is grounded in the 10 principles of One Planet Living, a framework for development that uses key performance indicators and targets to ensure environmental, social, cultural and economic sustainability. The Tannery District, which includes the historic tannery site and adjacent George Street HCD, represents an incredible opportunity to build on its strong historic roots to create a vibrant, innovative and highly-desirable transit-supportive neighbourhood.

The Plan, developed as a collaborative effort between the Town of Cobourg, the local community, and the Consultant Team, builds on the ongoing investment in the Tannery District, including a public design charrette (2009) and the resulting Community Improvement Plan. For the Town of Cobourg, the Sustainable Neighbourhood Master Plan represents an integral step in the revitalization of its downtown, and the development and promotion of new and diverse economic development opportunities. The Sustainable Neighbourhood Master Plan commenced in April 2017 and consisted of three phases:

• Phase 1 – Data Collection and Background Review
• Phase 2 – Preparation of the Sustainable Neighbourhood Master Plan
• Phase 3 – Policy Formulation

The Sustainable Neighbourhood Master Plan and corresponding Secondary Plan and Zoning By-law amendments will build on the goals of the Official Plan to establish a long-range vision for the Tannery District and provide the policy, governance, and implementation framework to properly guide future development and decision-making within the District. The goal of the Tannery District Secondary Plan to implement an innovative and implementable long-range vision for the Tannery District that recognizes the 10 One Planet Living principles to achieve the four fundamental pillars of sustainability: society, environment, economy and culture.

The Tannery District Sustainable Neighbourhood Master Plan illustrates the long-term vision for the Tannery District, supported by the following Priority Directions that reinforce the 10 Principles of One Planet Living, and provides the foundation for the Tannery District Secondary Plan:

1. Health and Happiness: Encourage active, sociable, meaningful lives in all aspects of community design to promote good health and well-being for people of all ages and abilities.
2. Equity and Local Economy: Create safe, equitable places for people of all ages and incomes to live and work which support diversity, local prosperity and international fair trade.
3. Culture and Community: Nurture local identity and heritage, inspire and empower the community and promote a culture of knowledge sharing and sustainable living.
4. Land and Nature: Protect, restore and integrate land and local ecological systems throughout the community for the benefit of people and wildlife.
5. Sustainable Water: Use water efficiently, protect local water sources and implement sustainable technologies in the private and public realm to reduce flooding and drought.
6. Local and Sustainable Food: Promote on-site food production and support sustainable humane farming and healthy diets of local, seasonal organic food and vegetable protein.
7. Materials and Products: Use recycled materials and durable materials from local and sustainable sources and promote products which help reduce consumption.
8. Travel and Transport: Reduce the need to travel, and encourage walking, cycling and lower carbon transportation options including transit and car and bike-share programs.
9. Zero Waste: Prioritize waste as a resource and reduce consumption, re-use and recycle to achieve zero waste and zero pollution.
10. Zero Carbon: Design, locate and manufacture buildings and open spaces to be energy efficient and supply energy on-site, and/or through partnerships with sustainable energy providers.

The Plan promotes a mix of land uses, including residential, employment, retail and community uses, as well as a connected network of streets, parks and open spaces. Transit-supportive densities are carefully distributed, and built form considered, to minimize impacts on adjacent stable residential areas. The redevelopment of the Tannery District, a former brownfield site, into a model sustainable neighbourhood demonstrates the Town of Cobourg’s commitment to sustainable growth, and establishes a strong precedent for future redevelopment efforts throughout the town.

Goal
The goal of the Tannery District Secondary Plan to implement an innovative and implementable long-range vision for the Tannery District that recognizes the 10 One Planet Living principles to achieve the four fundamental pillars of sustainability: society, environment, economy and culture.

The public engagement objective for Tannery District Secondary Plan project is to:

• Receive feedback from residents on the Tannery District Secondary Plan.

We're looking for your feedback:
To share your thoughts on Tannery District Secondary Plan please contribute to the following public engagement opportunities below, including:

1. Review the Tannery District Secondary Plan.
2. Share your feedback in the forum.
3. Ask a question.

Other Public Engagement Opportunities:

• Public Open House - Thursday, November 25, 2021 from 7 to 9 p.m.
• Public Meeting of Council - Monday, November 29, 2021 at 5 p.m.

If you require any of the information in an accessible format, please contact the Communications Department at communications@cobourg.ca.