City of Moncton Downtown Community Improvement Plan – A Master Plan for the “Downtown Core” Revitalization

The City of Moncton will develop a downtown improvement plan that will identify priority brownfield areas for redevelopment and identify measures to promote their redevelopment such as a financial incentive model and urban design concept plans. The plan will also take into account climate change and adaptation mitigation strategies to ensure a more sustainable redevelopment of the downtown environment. The proposed Downtown Community Improvement Plan will serve as a Master Plan for the city centre’s revitalization. The plan will provide a shared vision with several City Departments, as well as develop an action plan that leads to a coordinated implementation strategy for revitalization. The proposed financial incentive program will encourage infill development where it is most needed. The city will also undertake a full inventory of the underutilized downtown, addressing issues that relate to municipal services, street network and linkages, and a mitigation flood management strategy. The Petitcodiac River runs directly through the city centre, and updated zoning standards will help promote more responsible approaches to stormwater management (e.g. riparian buffers, detention basins, and sewer rehabilitation and renewal programs). Following the development of the financial incentive model, the plan will assess opportunities and constraints facing investments in revitalization, which will be vetted with major land owners and the public. One outcome of this consultation will be architectural and urban design concept plans that will improve the physical and visual appearance of the downtown and which can be marketed to the public and potential investors. The consultation process itself will also increase community awareness of the economic, environmental and social benefits of brownfield redevelopment as well as the development of the city’s financial incentive program. Support for the Downtown Improvement Plan comes from existing municipal policies and plans, such as Moncton’s Integrated Community Sustainability Plan (GMF10197) and the City’s Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Flood Management Strategy. (Project description from original funding application)