Notice of Study Commencement

Cobourg, ON (December 2, 2025) – The Town of Cobourg would like to advise residents of work taking place for the Cobourg East Community Secondary Plan and Schedule “C” Municipal Class Environmental Assessment for proposed arterial roads within the study area.

The Study
The Town of Cobourg (Town) and County of Northumberland (County) have retained R.V. Anderson Associates Limited (RVA) and their subconsultant GSP Group Inc. to prepare an update to the Cobourg East Community Secondary Plan (CECSP) and conduct a Schedule “C” Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (MCEA) for the Secondary Plan recommended arterial roadways within the EA Study Area. The study area for the CECSP and EA studies are identified in the map.

The CECSP was adopted by the Town of Cobourg Council in 2005 (updated in 2018) to guide future planning and development in the area. Over the next year, the Town will update this Secondary Plan to prepare for the growth expected by 2051. The Secondary Plan Update will ensure that the expected growth is managed in a way that protects the natural environment, provides the necessary infrastructure and community services, and builds complete communities with appropriate densities, a range of housing types, and commercial and employment areas.

In addition to the CECSP update, the Project Team will be undertaking a Schedule “C” Class EA study for the recommended mobility improvements. Phases 1 and 2 of the EA study will be completed concurrently with the CECSP update. Mobility recommendations from the updated CECSP will inform the Class EA Phase 2 preferred multi-modal transportation solution that will be carried forward to Phases 3 and 4 in accordance with the Schedule “C” MCEA process. This solution may include a combination of improvements to existing facilities and/or the introduction of new facilities within the study area.

Process
The CECSP update will ensure consistency with the 2024 Provincial Planning Statement (2024), conform to the Official Plans for the County of Northumberland and Town of Cobourg in order to address accommodating growth to the year 2051.

The Schedule “C” Class EA study is being completed in accordance with Section A.2.9 “Integration with the Planning Act” of the MCEA (October 2000, amended in 2007, 2011, 2015, 2023 & 2024), which is approved under the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act. This study will satisfy Phases 1 through 4 of the MCEA process while consolidating the Planning Act approval requirements to identify opportunities to reduce duplication and coordination between the CECSP update and EA study.

The project team will examine a full range of alternatives and identify a preferred solution and design concepts for addressing the project’s needs. Upon completion of the study, an Environmental Study Report (ESR) will be prepared to document the Municipal Class EA planning and decision-making process and made available for a 30-day public review period. A Notice of Completion will be issued at that stage.

Comments Invited
You are encouraged to provide your comments so that these may be incorporated into the planning of this project. The Town will host two Public Information Centres (PICs) and offer online engagement opportunities. Stay tuned to the project webpage for more details: www.cobourg.ca/CobourgEast.  

If you have questions or comments regarding the study or would like to be added to the Project mailing list, please contact one of the project team members below.

If you have questions or comments regarding the study or would like to be added to the Project mailing list, please contact one of the project team members below.

Mila Khatri, MES, ENV SP
EA and Consultation Specialist
R.V. Anderson Associates Limited
289-348-1234 ext. 4501
mkhatri@rvanderson.com

Terry Hoekstra, C.E.T.
Deputy Director, Public Works
& Engineering Division,
EA-Lead
Town of Cobourg
905-372-9971 ext. 4371
thoekstra@cobourg.ca

Peter Deshane, C.E.T.
Manager of Infrastructure
EA-Lead
County of Northumberland
905-372-3329 ext. 2430
deshanep@northumberland.ca