Cainsville Premier Employment Hub Comprehensive Land Use Strategy

When

June 9, 2026
4:00 PM
County of Brant Council Chambers, 7 Broadway Street West in Paris
Live stream available on the County’s YouTube Channel at brant.ca/Live

Project File Number: OPA8-26-BK

Staff Contact: Brandon Kortleve, Manager of Policy Planning, Policy Planning Division (brandon.kortleve@brant.ca)

What is this about?

The County of Brant is proposing an amendment to its Official Plan, A Simply Grand Plan, 2023, under Sections 17 and 22 of the Planning Act. The changes are being brought forward to implement the Cainsville Premier Employment Hub Land Use Strategy, enabling the long-term development of Cainsville as a fully serviced, employment-focused hub with a high standard of urban design, infrastructure coordination, and environmental and cultural heritage stewardship.

Changes are proposed to include new and revised policies related to land use designations, employment area protections, servicing, development phasing, and permitted uses. The amendments introduce detailed direction for employment typologies, minimum lot sizes, density targets, branding, and design, while also including policies for existing supportive uses such as commercial areas. Overall, these updates aim to support coordinated, long-term employment growth, ensure efficient use of infrastructure, and provide clearer guidance on how development should proceed within the Cainsville settlement area.

A copy of the proposed official plan amendment will be posted for public review beginning on May 26, 2026, and will be found on the project page. The draft Strategy will also be released for public review at a later date and will also be made available on the project page.

Who can attend?

Any person may attend the Statutory Public Meeting and make a verbal presentation. Written submissions must be made to the Planning Division one week prior to the meeting at the address above.

What will happen at the meeting?

A public meeting is an opportunity for members of the public to learn more about the proposed development. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear a brief presentation about the development, ask questions, and/or make statements either in favour of, or in opposition to the development. The County of Brant Council will review the proposal, supporting documents and listen to all public presentations. No recommendations are made at this meeting.

When are recommendations made?

A County of Brant Council meeting to vote on the recommendations will be scheduled in the future, and new notice will be provided of the next meeting date and time. If you wish to be notified of any Public Meetings or Council Meetings regarding this application, or to be notified of the decision on the proposed application, you must sign the register provided at the Public Information Meeting or make a written request to the County Clerk at clerks@brant.ca.

Where do I send written submissions?

Any persons may provide a written submission, or request to appear as a delegation either in support of or in opposition to the proposed application. Written submissions or in-person delegation registrations will be accepted by mail, e-mail or transcribed message by staff up to the Thursday before the Council meeting. Please forward your requests or submission to clerks@brant.ca or policy@brant.ca.

Who can appeal a Decision?

The applicant, the Minister or a specified person or public body as per the Planning Act may appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT). To learn more about your appeal rights, visit brant.ca/planningapplications

How can I learn more and share my feedback?

• Share your comments or questions online
• Email policy@brant.ca
• Mail/In-Person at 66 Grand River St. N, Paris, ON. N3L 2M2
• Call us at (519)-442-7268 or 1-(226)-387-9360

For more information about this matter, including information about appeal rights, please contact policy@brant.ca.

Date: Tuesday, November 11, 2025

Time: 6:00 pm

Location: County of Brant Council Chambers (7 Broadway Street West, Paris)

The meeting can also be viewed online on the County of Brant YouTube Channel at brant.ca/Live.

County of Brant Council - November 11, 2025

What is this about?

A draft Cainsville Premier Employment Hub Land Use Strategy is now complete and will be presented on Council on November 11. The Strategy includes subject matters such as a Preferred Land Use Concept and Urban Design Guidelines. The Strategy and feedback received on it will be used to inform the creation of planning implementation tools including an official plan amendment and zoning by-law amendment.

A sincere thank you to everyone who joined us on September 10, 2025, for the Cainsville Premier Employment Hub Land Use Strategy Public Workshop.

We were pleased to see strong community participation, with more than 60 members of the public registering across the afternoon and evening sessions, along with members of County Council. Your input and perspectives are vital to shaping the future of Cainsville’s employment lands.

View the workshop presentation and concepts presented.

What’s Next

The next step for the project is to carefully evaluate all the feedback collected from:

• Members of the public
• External agencies
• Indigenous communities
• Other community partners

This feedback will help us create a Preferred Land Use Concept, which will be presented to Council. Once a date is confirmed, we will post the meeting details on Engage Brant and notify project subscribers.

The Preferred Land Use Concept will form the basis for updates to the County’s Official Plan and Zoning By-law. These updates will go through a Statutory Public Meeting, giving the community another opportunity to review and provide input before any changes are finalized.

Subscribe for updates by adding your email to the Stay Informed box on this page and click subscribe.

You’re invited to join us for the Cainsville Premier Employment Hub Public Workshop!

Workshop details

Date: Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Location: TF Warren Group Cainsville Community Centre, 15 Ewart Avenue

Choose the session that works for you

• Afternoon: 2:00 – 3:30 pm
• Evening: 6:30 – 8:00 pm

Both sessions will cover the following:

• Share what we’ve heard so far
• Present three draft land use concepts for the Premier Employment Hub
• Discuss key ideas such as roads, land use, green space, and future development
• Invite your feedback through small group discussions

How to register

Reserve your spot by registering on Eventbrite before Monday, September 8, 2025.

Register at CainsvilleEmploymentHub.eventbrite.ca. (Once you click to visit the website, please click the orange "Get Tickets" button to register.)

Your feedback will help us design a comprehensive strategy that shapes Cainsville’s future. We hope to see you there!

Can't attend the workshop?

If you’re unable to attend, we still want to hear from you! A survey is available to gather your feedback on the draft land use concepts.

• Complete the online survey. Survey closes Friday, September 5, 2025.
• You can also complete the survey over the phone by calling 519.44BRANT (519.442.7268) or 1.855.44BRANT (1.855.442.7268).
• Have a question or comment about the Cainsville Premier Employment Hub.? Let us know.

Stay Informed

Subscribe for updates by adding your email to the Stay Informed box on this page and click subscribe.

Thank you to those who participated in one-on-one phone conversations with Donna Hinde, a member of the consulting team, on June 16, 2025. Your insights and perspectives on your interests related to the Cainsville Premier Employment Hub are greatly appreciated and are helping guide the direction of this important strategy.

What We Heard

Interested community partner feedback as well as input from the public highlighted several key themes:

• Municipal servicing is essential to enable future development. Without reliable infrastructure, development opportunities remain limited.
• Landowners noted that the specific type of employment use, such as who the end-user will be, often cannot be confirmed until a tenant is secured.
• There is strong support from industrial landowners for the County to be proactive in accommodating new industrial users quickly and efficiently.
• Warehousing and logistics are in highest demand for employment-related land uses in the area.
• Residents expressed serious concerns about traffic safety, including the need to improve pedestrian and vehicle safety, and to reduce speeding throughout the community.

What’s Next

The project is now entering its next phase of planning and consultation. Here's what to expect:

• A Key Directions Report will be presented to the Administration and Operations Committee of Council on July 15, 2025. Meetings are open to the public and can also be viewed on the County of Brant YouTube Channel at brant.ca/Live.
• A finalized Employment Hub Market Study and Background Report will be posted on this page for public review.
• The project team will develop three draft land use concepts, which will be shared for community feedback.
• Engagement will continue through meetings with interested community partners, including Indigenous Communities, the City of Brantford, utility providers, and business owners.
• A Community Workshop will be held on September 10, 2025, at the TF Warren Group Cainsville Community Centre.
• A preferred land use and design strategy will be identified based on feedback and technical analysis.
• A comprehensive Cainsville Premier Employment Hub Strategy, including Design Guidelines, will be prepared.
• To bring the strategy to life, Official Plan policies and Zoning provisions will be created.
• A Phasing of Development Strategy will outline how and when different areas will be developed.

Read the complete Summary of Vision Progress and Next Steps.

Be the first to receive updates by adding your email to the Stay Informed box on this page and click subscribe.

Register for One-On-One Conversations

You are invited to register for a 15-minute one-on-one phone conversation with Donna Hinde, a member of the consulting team, on June 16, 2025 to talk about your interests with respect to the Cainsville Premier Employment Hub.

Please email brant@planpart.ca with your preferred time and the best number to reach you.

Level of Engagement

For more information, please read the County of Brant's Community Engagement Framework.