Cooks Mills residents say they feel disrespected after Welland council designated 33 hectares of farmland as gateway economic centre lands, paving the way for the city’s seventh industrial park.

On Tuesday, residents packed city council chambers as the municipality presented its draft official plan , which outlined the need for additional employment lands — areas reserved for commercial or industrial development to support future business activity.

An official plan contains goals, objectives and policies that define and support a community’s vision for long-term growth and development. It also considers environmental, economic, cultural and social factors.

The draft official plan has been underway since 2021. Next year, it will be sent to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housi

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