HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-13-078 - Discussion Session Second Draft of the New Official Plan - Urban Structures & Institutional Uses
REPORT TO:
Planning & Strategic Initiatives Committee
DATE OF MEETING:
August 12, 2013
SUBMITTED BY:
Alain Pinard, Director of Planning
PREPARED BY:
Tina Malone-Wright, Senior Planner-519-741-2200 ext. 7765
WARD(S) INVOLVED:
AllWards
DATE OF REPORT:
July 18, 2013
REPORT NO.:
CSD-13-078
SUBJECT:
SECONDDRAFT OF THE NEW OFFICIAL PLAN
DISCUSSION SESSION
RECOMMENDATION:
For information.
BACKGROUND
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May 27, 2013 meeting of the
Planning & Strategic Services Committee and is now undergoing another round of public
review.Part of this review is to have two discussion sessions with Committee and Council in
August.The primary purpose of these sessions is to allow for more dedicated time to exchange
information onspecific topics and policy direction contained in the new Official Plan. A
REPORT:
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The following are the topics for the August 12, 2013 session on the new Official Plan:
Official Plan Document
Urban Structure
Institutional Uses
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Topics for the August 26 Council Strategy Session
Questions and Answers
Official Plan Document
The Official Plan is required to primarily focus on land use policies and this new Official Plan
continues to pursue areas of policy that this community has embraced for decades. This
includes directives for an urban structure that is transit supportive, with a compact built form, a
mixture of land uses and with downtown as the centrepiece. This new Official Plan also refines
our planning actions with respect to conserving the natural environment, supporting an
integrated transportation system including transportation demand management measures,
excelling at urban design, integrating arts and culture and conserving cultural heritage
resources. The new Official Plan includes a clear vision, guiding principles andgoals for a
complete and healthy community. The draft Official Plan is broken down into six sections which
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are outlined and detailed on page 2 of the Summary Document. Further orientation to the
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document will be provided at the August 12 session.
Urban Structure
model as
the preferred model for directing a significant portion of future growth and change in the City of
Kitchener. In this Official Plan theplanning framework has been refined in order to establish a
more hierarchical and linked urban structure.Therefined Urban Structure creates a rational
minute transit trip. The intensification areas serve different city, community and neighbourhood-
scaled planned functions and these areas and the associated policies support and implement
the Regional Community Structure and Growth Plan. The chart on pages 6 and 7 of
the Summary Document identifies all the urban structure components, their planned function
and theassociated land use designations.
Institutional Uses
In order to help address a number of issues with institutional uses (schools, religious
institutions, health/medical related uses, etc), certain revised approaches are recommended
within the new Official Plan. The second draft proposes to designate existing neighbourhood
scale conserve existing institutional sites within the built-up
area of the City, does not permit new institutional uses in the Industrial Employment Areas, and
allows institutional uses in a variety of other appropriate locations and designations (some of
which were not previously allowed).
Currently, where school sites are proposed in new subdivisions or where lands which are
designated for residential purposes and contain an institutional use which ceases, these sites
are typically redeveloped for residential purposes and the opportunity for the site to be reused
for institutional purposes is lost. Institutional uses in neighbourhoods are a valuable amenity to
the surrounding community and contribute to a walkable, complete and healthy Kitchener. The
new policies propose to protect lands designated for institutional purpose and establish criteria
to consider the redesignation of Institutional lands to an alternative land use. The new draft
proposes one land use designation for Institutional purposes only and limits the presence of
residential uses save and except residential care facilities.
Although institutional uses will not be permitted in the
uses will be permitted in the Mixed Use and Commercial Campus land use designations in
addition to the Institutional category. This matter, along with many other Official Plan topics, is
linked to the Zoning By-law and the review thereof. Additional information about institutional
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issues is identified in CSD-13-067 and will be discussed at the August 12 session.
Topics for August 26th Council Strategy Session
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The following topics are to be discussed at the August 26, 2013 Council Strategy Session
regarding the new Official Plan:
Environment
Natural Heritage System Overview
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Locally Significant Features (Wetlands, Woodlands, etc) and Approach
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Sustainable Development (Water/Energy/Air Quality/Waste Management)
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Employment Areas/Uses
Other topic(s)
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As part of the August 12 session, Committee will have some time for other Official Plan
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questions or to raise topics for staff to consider either adding to the August 26 discussion
agenda or to address in any other appropriate manner.
Summary Document
A Summary Document was prepared in response to comments and
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ideas raised at the Planning & Strategic Initiatives Committee meeting on May 27 2013. The
purpose is to provide a general overview of the purpose and goals of the Official Plan along with
the highlights of the main contents and implementation tools.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
The Official Plan Review aligns with, and contributes
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
There are no new capital budget implications as part of this report.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
INFORM - this report is an information update only. The August sessions are a form of
CONSULT.
A formal public meeting
Official Plan. The intended timing for an advertised public meeting is early in 2014.
REVIEWED BY:
Brandon Sloan, Manager, Long Range and Policy Planning
ACKNOWLEDGED BY:
Michael May, Deputy CAO
Community Services Department
ATTACHMENTS:
(can be accessed at: http://www.kitchener.ca/en/insidecityhall/Official_Plan_Review.asp)
Summary Document, August 2013
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CITY OF KITCHENER
NEW
SECOND DRAFT OF THE
OFFICIAL PLAN
DRAFT SUMMARY DOCUMENT
A Complete & Healthy Kitchener
August 2013
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CITY OF KITCHENER OFFICIAL PLAN REVIEW
What is an Official Plan
Anofficialplanisalegalpolicydocumentthatdescribeshowlandshouldbeused,andimplementsa
planning,developmentandgrowthmanagementvision.
Anofficialplancontainspoliciestoensurethetimelyprovisionandadequacyofservicesandaddressa
social,economicandenvironmentalinterests.
OfficialPlanshavelegalstatusandderivetheirauthorityfromtheOntarioPlanningActandallmunicipalpublic
worksandby-lawsmustconformtoit.
Whyis a new Official Plan Needed?
was adopted by City Council in 1994 and
approved by the Region of Waterloo in 1995.
Much has changed in the past two decades that requires the City to review and
update the current Official Plan.
There has been considerable growth and change in the planning landscape with
respect to policy direction.
The Official Plan needs to be brought into conformity with provincial and
regional legislation that has been introduced or revised in recent years.
Provincial legislation includes: the Provincial Policy Statement and the Places to
Grow Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe.
Regional legislation consists on the new Regional Official Plan (ROP) which
was adopted by Regional Council on June 16, 2009 and approved by the
Province on January 24, 2011.
There are several master plans, studies and other City initiatives that have been
completed that need to be implemented in the new Official Plan and require new
policies and/or significantly revised Official Plan policies.
High level, strategic initiatives include the City of Kitchener Strategic Plan, A
Plan for a Healthy Kitchener, the Strategic Plan for Environment and the
Kitchener Growth Management Strategy.
New Official Plan (Draft)?
Toprovidesabasisfordecision-making
Toguidesthegrowthanddevelopmentto2031
Toestablishanurbanstructureandlandusecontext
ToprovideguidelinesagainstwhichtheCitycanevaluatethesuitabilityof
development
ToincorporateProvincialandRegionalplans,statements,andguidelines
Tomanageanddirectphysicalandlandusechange
What is the purpose of this Summary Document?
Thissummarydocumentisintendedtoprovideanoverviewofthekeyconceptsandcomponentsofseconddraftof
thenewCityofKitchenerOfficialPlananddoesnotincludespecificpoliciescontainedinthePlanitself.
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City of Kitchener Official Plan Second Draft Summary Document
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PRIMARYSECONDARY
AREASOTHER
INTENSIFICATION AREAS
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