City Releases What We Heard Reports for Rennie’s River, Central and Mundy Pond Neighbourhoods

Green graphic with text that says "What We Heard: Rennie's River, Central and Mundy Pond Neighbourhood Plans"

The City of St. John’s has released What We Heard reports summarizing findings from the second phase of public engagement which took place in February and March 2026 on the development of plans for the Rennie’s River, Central and Mundy Pond 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, May 12, 2026.

Highlights of What We Heard include:

Rennie’s River:

Retain natural spaces and enhance community places: Residents value Rennie’s River parks and trails and want a balance of preserving natural spaces while improving local parks with a variety ofamenities and more community gathering opportunities.
Prioritize safe, year-round mobility: There is strong support for safer, more accessible year-round travel with improved crossings, lighting, snow clearing, transit stops, and more pedestrian and cycle-friendly design.
Provide local access to amenities and services: Residents want more local services and amenities, including mixed-use areas and small-scale commercial uses across the community.
Recognize unique areas within the plan: There is general support for tailoring planning approaches to reflect the distinct character and needs of different areas within Rennie’s River.
Focus growth and intensification: There is support for focusing growth in key areas like Churchill Square, Elizabeth Avenue, and Torbay Road, with attention to managing impacts and including diverse housing options.

Central and Mundy Pond:

Enhance and expand parks and community spaces: Residents value local parks and want them improved for flexible use, with more recreation opportunities and additional green spaces near new development.
Improve mobility for all modes of transportation: There is strong support for safer, more connected walking and cycling networks with better separation from vehicles and improved winter and intersection conditions.
Improve neighbourhood perceptions of safety: Residents have a desire for a neighbourhood that “feels cared for”. Residents want to see activation of vacant sites, and improved lighting, especially around public spaces and pathways.
Enable intensification in appropriate areas: There is general support for thoughtful intensification with more housing diversity, balanced against concerns about height, traffic, and neighbourhood impacts.
Support amenities and services close to home: Residents want more small-scale local services like cafés, grocers, and healthcare within walking distance to better serve everyday needs.

The Central and Mundy Pond neighbourhoods are being studied together due to their proximity and many shared characteristics.

Promotional efforts resulted in 2,357 visits to the Rennie’s River project page and 1,560 visits to the Central and Mundy Pond project page. Feedback was gathered for both plans through surveys, focus group sessions, virtual information sessions, developer and community interviews, open houses, and pop-ups.

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 Rennie’s River, Central and Mundy Pond neighbourhood plans play a key role in advancing this direction.

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