The Municipality of Clarington has released a comprehensive Secondary Plan outlining the future development of the former Goodyear Lands in Bowmanville. This ambitious project aims to transform the 15.5-hectare brownfield site into a vibrant, mixed-use community.
On Friday, the municipality announced it had stopped demolition works on the property by the owner (see story below).
“The Goodyear Lands will be planned and developed as a complete community which repurposes former industrial lands to create new housing units and jobs while creating accessible connections to the surrounding natural heritage system and traditional downtown,” according to Bowmanville East Urban Centre Secondary Plan, dated August 2024.
It said the new development will comprise a mix of mid-rise and high-rise forms, with high-rise buildings located at the core of the Character Area and a downwards transition to mid-rise towards the existing residential neighbourhoods to the east and north.
A network of new public streets will be established to improve the connectivity of the Goodyear Lands to its surrounding areas. A new parkette will be established at the centre of the Character Area to provide active and passive recreational space, and the new development will deliver new community facilities and services.
Podium-level School
These are planned to include a potential school site, required to serve the needs of the new residential community. It will be determined in consultation with the Municipality of Clarington and other stakeholders. The new school may be within the podium of a mixed-use building., the municipal document said.
New development at Goodyear Lands will provide for and be supported by new public realm opportunities, including new connections to the Bowmanville Creek and the surrounding natural heritage network, enhanced streetscape treatments, and a new public plaza.
The municipality said it will have regard for the heritage value of existing industrial buildings on-site and is encouraged, where possible, to retain and adaptively re-use heritage properties.
Area redevelopment is encouraged to incorporate active at-grade uses to generate pedestrian activity. Retail uses are encouraged at the core of the Character Area to support street animation and activity.
The municipality said the industrial history of the Goodyear Lands will be incorporated into the design of the public realm through landscaping, lighting, signage, heritage interpretation installations, public art, and/or other appropriate forms.
A Vision for the Future
The Secondary Plan sets out a vision for the Goodyear Lands as a complete community, seamlessly integrating residential, commercial, and green spaces. Key objectives include:
- Diverse Housing: A mix of mid-rise and high-rise buildings, with a focus on creating a diverse housing market.
- Enhanced Connectivity: A network of new streets to improve connectivity within the site and to surrounding areas.
- Public Spaces: A new parkette and public plazas, as well as enhanced connections to the Bowmanville Creek and surrounding natural heritage areas.
- Community Facilities: The potential for a new school and other community amenities to serve the growing population.
- Heritage Preservation: Retention and adaptive reuse of historic industrial buildings.
- Active Ground-Floor Uses: Encouraging retail and other active uses to create a vibrant street life.
A Catalyst for Growth
The Goodyear Lands redevelopment is expected to be a catalyst for growth in Bowmanville, attracting new residents and businesses to the area. The project will contribute to the town’s economic vitality and enhance its overall quality of life, the muncipal report said.
As the Municipality of Clarington moves forward with the planning and approval process, residents and stakeholders are encouraged to provide input and feedback on the Secondary Plan. The public consultation process will play a crucial role in shaping the future of this significant development, it added.