A Master Community Plan (MCP) is a detailed land-use planning and policy document that will expand the urban growth boundary while providing guidance for community development. It is an evidence-based document, built on background research and studies. The MCP, which will be aligned with Provincial policies and legislation, will also support amendments (changes) to existing planning documents such as the Official Plans of the Regional Municipality of Niagara and Township of West Lincoln.

The MCP will identify the preferred approach to phasing that will guide future development and address all infrastructure requirements for any selected urban expansion area(s). The MCP will include the location of roads, distribution and density of land use, water and wastewater (including stormwater) servicing, environmental protection, and sustainable design policies.

More detailed land-use vision and planning policies are needed to accommodate forecasted future population and employment growth within Smithville. The objective of the MCP is to comprehensively plan for sustainable growth and expansion in the Smithville urban settlement area. In order to achieve this, the following objectives will be met:

• Plan for a compact, complete, healthy, and resilient community.
• Identify the community structure for Smithville.
• Ensure that the new neighbourhoods and employment areas are developed in a phased and sustainable manner.
• Establish land-use designations, a road/ transit/ cycling/ trail, and servicing network, an open space system, and major community facility requirements.
• Identify and plan to achieve appropriate targets for intensification and density.

The study area consists of the current Smithville urban settlement area and the Smithville Development Study Area (SDSA). The SDSA encompasses 425 gross hectares of potentially developable land and is roughly bounded by Young Street to the north. The eastern boundary generally follows the existing Smithville Urban Boundary to the east, except where it extends further east and north of the Hydro Corridor. The SDSA boundary is also defined by North Creek to the south, and South Grimsby Road Six to the west.

The existing built-up area of Smithville is the Township’s primary urban centre. It is characterized predominantly of residential uses with some commercial, employment, institutional and recreational uses. The SDSA is characterized primarily of lands currently in agricultural production. They remain predominantly undeveloped, aside from buildings and structures associated with agricultural operations and natural heritage features.