Municipal Class Environmental Assessment

Most construction and maintenance activities undertaken by municipalities in Ontario are governed by the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (“the Municipal Class EA”) under the Environmental Assessment Act.

The Municipal Class EA groups projects into four schedules. In general, routine and low-impact activities are exempt from environmental assessment requirements, while a higher level of consultation, review, and approval is required for activities and projects that have greater potential for negative impacts. The four schedules are as follows:

• Schedule A: exempt from environmental assessment requirements

• Schedule A+: exempt from environmental assessment requirements, but it is recommended that the public be advised before implementation

• Schedule B: limited public consultation and environmental screening document required

• Schedule C: full 5-phase review process, including:

  • Several points of mandatory consultation with public and stakeholders

  • Preparation of an environmental study report

  • Project approval from the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks

For Schedule A+ projects, the Municipal Class EA encourages municipalities to consider the scale and impact of the project when determining the appropriate level of consultation with the public and stakeholders.

On July 8, 2020, the Ministry of the Environment and Parks released a proposed update to the Municipal Class EA. The 45-day comment period will end on August 22, 2020. At some point after this date, it is expected that the Ministry will announce whether the proposed update has been approved (or approved with modifications).

Walk Wheel Windsor (Active Transportation Master Plan)

The Active Transportation Master Plan, Walk Wheel Windsor, identifies Wyandotte Street East as a Regional Spine in the cycling network. Wyandotte Street East is identified as low priority for cycling infrastructure through the Riverside BIA and medium priority for cycling infrastructure through the Pillette Village BIA, as shown in Figure 2.