What We Heard: University Area and Cowan Heights Neighbourhood Plans

The City of St. John’s has released What We Heard reports summarizing findings from public engagement which took place in November and December of 2024 on the development of plans for both the University Area and Cowan Heights neighbourhoods. 

Once complete, the plans will translate the vision and high-level policies from the Envision St. John’s Municipal Plan to local policies and improvements for each neighbourhood. These plans set out objectives and policies for: land use mix, height and densities for new development, transportation, open space and protection of natural and cultural heritage features. 

The What We Heard documents will be shared at the Committee of the Whole meeting on Tuesday, February 4, 2025. 

Highlights of What We Heard include: 

University Area: 

• Housing need is growing in the neighbourhood: There is rising demand for affordable rental housing for students, newcomers, and small households, with a need for smaller, high-quality homes as enrollment and infrastructure grow.
• Parks, trails, and recreation are top amenities: Residents value greenspaces like Kelly's Brook and Pippy Park, with a desire for more parks, dog parks, playgrounds, and community gardens.
• A mobility shift is needed in the area: Traffic and parking issues highlight the need for improved transit, snow clearing, safer crossings, and expanded active transportation paths.
• Intensification is key to help support sensitive growth: Support for increased density along Elizabeth Avenue and Freshwater Road, with added services, parks, and grocery access.

Cowan Heights: 

• Parks and trails are the heart of the neighbourhood: Cowan Heights has connected parks and trails, with access to Bowring Park. Improvements in amenities and wayfinding are needed as the community grows.
• Enhancing safety and access for walking and wheeling is a priority: Improvements in pathways, accessibility, and pedestrian crossings are needed, with calls for traffic calming, lighting, and better connections.
• Safety is a growing concern: Rising crime, home maintenance issues, and rats are concerns.
• Intensification should be focused on the edges of the neighbourhood: Support for increased density and mixed-use development near the Village Shopping Centre, with a focus on walkability and maintaining area character.

Promotional efforts resulted in 1,800 visits to the Cowan Heights project page and 1,600 visits to the University Area project page. In total, over 4,800 comments were provided for both plans through surveys, online project pages, email, phone, pop-up events and meetings. Representatives from community groups, city committees, city staff, and working groups were also consulted. 

The City of St. John’s has a strategic direction to be a Sustainable City, planning for land use while preserving and enhancing the natural and built environment for residents. The University Area and Cowan Heights neighbourhood plans play a key role in advancing this direction.

Related Links: 

• What We Heard Report – University Area
• What We Heard Report – Cowan Heights

• Engage St. John's Project Page - University Area
• Engage St. John's Project Page - Cowan Heights
• Envision St. John's Municipal Plan
• Media Release: City Seeking Feedback on University Area and Cowan Heights Neighbourhoods