Let's talk about the Brantford Airport

Hi Pam. Thanks for your question and the opportunity to provide more information. Lands comprising the Natural Heritage System (NHS) are protected from development. Policies contained in both the County and City Official Plans intend to preserve wetlands, woodlots, rivers, and wildlife habitat and to ensure connectivity of natural systems.  

The City is not intending to re-designate or rezone lands within the Natural Heritage System for development purposes.

Thanks for the question and opportunity to provide more clarification. The transfer area includes the Airport property along with lands to the northeast connecting to the City’s western boundary. The transfer area aligns with the recommendations contained in the Brantford Municipal Airport Master Plan Update (2016-2035) which identified lands to accommodate the future expansion of the Airport.  Lands to the northeast were included to support a future runway extension, a new access onto Robinson Road, and land to accommodate a new air traffic control building. Lands to the south were included to establish a secondary access onto Colborne Street West and to maintain unobstructed approaches to the current/ future runways.

The transfer area also includes three additional properties, not included in the Airport Master Plan, but identified for a potential future road connection from Jennings Road to Colborne Street West. The city currently owns the largest of the three parcels and while we would like to maintain an option for a future road connection at this location, the preferred road alignment for the West Brant Access Route has not been finalized and is currently being considered as part of the on-going Municipal Class Environmental Assessment and is not included as part of the MOU or future restructuring agreement.

Thank you for your question. The City recognizes that future land use designations, aviation-related policies, zoning provisions and any special policy area would require further public consultation and statutory processes before they are considered or approved.

The current MOU and proposed boundary adjustment process is not intended to replace those future land use planning processes. Rather, it addresses the municipal governance question of whether the airport and surrounding lands should be brought into the City’s municipal boundary to better align ownership, jurisdiction, servicing, long-term planning and economic development responsibilities.

Discussions about the future of the Brantford Municipal Airport have been ongoing with the County for approximately six years. The process has reached this stage now as a result of those long-term discussions, the City’s Airport Master Plan, the City’s Economic Development Strategy and continued work between the municipalities.

There will be multiple opportunities for public input throughout the process. This includes the current Let’s Talk Brantford engagement, public open houses, future statutory public meetings related to the proposed restructuring agreement, and any future consultation required through the Official Plan review, zoning, land use policy or development approval processes.

All engagement will be carried out in accordance with applicable requirements, including the Municipal Act, statutory public meeting requirements and the City’s Community Involvement Framework. Feedback received through each stage will help inform future Councils' consideration.

Thank you for your question. The open house schedule was developed to provide two options including one in the afternoon and one in the evening, to help accommodate different schedules.

The Open Houses are also only one part of the engagement process. The public engagement period for this first phase is open for more than a month, and residents can review information, submit questions and provide comments directly through this Let’s Talk Brantford page throughout that time. 

There will also be additional opportunities for public participation in July, when both Councils are expected to hold statutory public meetings before any final restructuring agreement is considered.

Thanks for your question. The City intends is to bring these lands into the municipal boundary to support future airport expansion and the growth of aviation related businesses. We also plan to review the land use designation and zoning provisions, as part of the City's Official Plan Update and develop a special policy area to support aviation related uses. Updating the land use policies and zoning will require public consultation and a statutory public hearing where the public can provide input towards any proposed uses and zoning changes. The Official Plan update will take approximately 18 months to complete and is not expected to conclude until late 2027.  

Thanks for the question and opportunity to provide more clarification. 

The transfer area includes the Airport property along with lands to the northeast connecting to the City’s western boundary. The transfer area aligns with the recommendations contained in the Brantford Municipal Airport Master Plan Update (2016-2035) which identified lands to accommodate the future expansion of the Airport.  Lands to the northeast were included to support a future runway extension, a new access onto Robinson Road, and land to accommodate a new air traffic control building. Lands to the south were included to establish a secondary access onto Colborne Street West and to maintain unobstructed approaches to the current/ future runways.

The transfer area also includes three additional properties, not included in the Airport Master Plan, but identified for a potential future road connection from Jennings Road to Colborne Street West. The city currently owns the largest of the three parcels and while we would like to maintain an option for a future road connection at this location, the preferred road alignment for the West Brant Access Route has not been finalized and is currently being considered as part of the on-going Municipal Class Environmental Assessment and is not included as part of the MOU or future restructuring agreement.

Thanks for the question and opportunity to clarify. In municipal planning, Natural Heritage System (NHS) refers to connected environmental features such as woodlands, wetlands, watercourses, valley lands, habitat areas, and related buffers that are protected from development. 

Thank you for your question. The City understands that residents may have questions about the timing of this process and how discussions about the future of the Brantford Municipal Airport have unfolded.

The proposed boundary adjustment is connected to long-term planning work identified through the Airport Master Plan and the City’s Economic Development Strategy. Discussions about the airport’s future have been ongoing for several years, and the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding provides a framework for continued discussion between the City and County.

The City believes the airport has the potential to become an even stronger economic asset for the broader region, including both Brantford and the County of Brant. A strong and sustainable municipal airport can support local jobs, strengthen supply chains, help attract new investment, and support existing businesses that rely on aviation-related services.

Thank you for sharing your concerns. The City recognizes that homelessness, roads, waste management, traffic and financial sustainability are serious issues and continues to work on each of these priorities. 

The proposed airport boundary adjustment is being considered as part of long-term economic development planning. The airport has the potential to support new investment, jobs and assessment growth, which can help generate additional revenue to fund City services and infrastructure over time. The City also continues to work with and advocate to the Province for greater support for mental health, addictions and homelessness resources, recognizing that these challenges require coordinated action across multiple levels of government.

Thank you for your comment. Impacted residents will have ample opportunity to provide their input during the engagement period and public statutory meetings to be held over the next 2 months. Each of the properties impacted will be mailed and hand delivered notices providing detailed information regarding this proposal. They will also be invited to attend the in person Open Houses on June 11th at the Walter Gretzky Municipal Golf Course between 3-5 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. and again have an opportunity to share feedback at the public statutory meetings to be hosted by both Councils in July. The City will also accommodate in person meetings should impacted residents need alternate options to ask questions and. provide feedback.