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Home My WebLink AboutCSD-16-015 - Planning Around Rapid Transit Stations (PARTS) - Central Plan REPORT TO: Planning & Strategic Initiatives Committee DATE OF MEETING: May 2, 2016 SUBMITTED BY: Alain Pinard, Director of Planning, 519-741-2200 x7319 PREPARED BY: Tina Malone-Wright, Senior Planner 519-741-2200 x7765 WARD(S) INVOLVED: Wards 9 and 10 DATE OF REPORT: April 6, 2016 REPORT NO.: CSD-16-015 SUBJECT: Planning Around Rapid Transit Station Areas (PARTS) PARTS Central Plan ______________________________________________________________________ RECOMMENDATION: THAT the PARTS Central Plan, attached as Appendix C to report CSD-16-015, be approved; THAT staff prepare the appropriate Official Plan Amendment, i.e. new Secondary Plan, the corresponding Zoning By-law amendment and related urban design guidelines, which will include additional public engagement and consultation, to implement the PARTS Central Plan; THAT staff pursue the creation of a new public urban space, in the Innovation District or surrounding area, within the next 10 years; THAT staff pursue the preparation of a detailed Streetscape Master Plan and cost estimate for Breithaupt St (from King/Moore to Weber St) with the updated urban design guidelines for the PARTS Central Plan area, report back to Council for consideration of the project and that the prioritization of any resultant public works be considered within a subsequent Capital Budget Forecast; AND FURTHER THAT the other streetscape, public realm and transportation network opportunities identified in the PARTS Central Plan be prioritized for consideration in a future work plans and Budget Forecast processes. BACKGROUND: In September of 2014 CSD Report CSD-14-090 provided Council with information and an update of Phase 2 of the Planning Around Rapid Transit Stations (PARTS) project with the conclusion of the five corridor-wide initiatives that were identified in Phase 1 of PARTS. The report also marked the launch of the first rapid transit Station Study Area *** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. *** Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance. 1 - 1 Plan (PARTS Central Plan) which was also identified in Phase 1 of PARTS as the highest priority station study area plan to be undertaken and completed. REPORT: The ION has the potential to be a major factor in the long-term growth and continued economic prosperity of our area. With it comes the potential for continued change in areas close to the stations. The primary purpose of the PARTS Central Plan is to ensure and provide a proper framework and direction to guide growth and stability within the central rapid transit station area along with recommendations for capital projects to ensure that this area develops in a way that is transit-supportive and adds value to our community. In November of 2014 the City of Kitchener embarked on the detailed planning for the future of land and infrastructure within a ten (10) minute walk of each of the six (6) ION station stops in the Central area utilizing an integrated Environmental Assessment and Planning Act process. This process involved an extensive and collaborative community consultation exercise involving various stakeholders, including property owners, residents, business owners, and development interests over approximately sixteen (16) months. As a result of the extensive public consultation and engagement, the PARTS Central Plan has been completed. The top three (3) highlights of the plan are as follows: The identification of areas the focus for growth, change and intensification and the conservation and protection of stable established neighbourhoods (see map Areas of focus for growth and intensification and identification of the stable established neighbourhoods). -connected PARTS Central area accommodating all modes of transportation while supporting the ION. A public realm vision, streetscape plans and urban design guidelines to support place-making, walkability, connectivity and ensure the Central area is an attractive place to live, work, shop and play - Parks and Public Realm Vision Enhancements and Opportunities). The PARTS Central Plan outlines a number of opportunities that could be implemented to assist in making the central area a vibrant, liveable and lace. One such tool for implementing the PARTS Central Plan includes the preparation of an Official Plan Amendment and corresponding Zoning By-law Amendment to facilitate the vision for land use, urban design, natural and cultural heritage and transportation policies. Any Official Plan/Zoning By-law Amendment that is undertaken to implement the PARTS Central Plan will involve further direct public engagement and consultation. It is anticipated that this work will start immediately in summer 2016 and end in the first part of 2017. 1 - 2 Other short-term recommendations include the Breithaupt Street streetscape, creating new public realm/park space in the Innovation District, improvements to Lancaster Street, consideration of public realm including wider sidewalks and cycling infrastructure in redevelopment and reconstruction projects, and to continue facilitating weekend and/or special events in the central area. Short-term implementation of some of the opportunities will occur in the context of changes to Master Plans and other policy documents. Other short-term opportunities will be referred to the capital budget process wherein the specifics of the opportunity can be reviewed in more detail, and where appropriate, be recommended for inclusion in the capital budget. Further still, other short-term opportunities could be realized through the development/redevelopment process. Long-term opportunities will be considered in future capital budget processes as the need to review arises. ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN: Strategic Priority 1 Open Government Strategic Priority 2 Strong andResilient Economy Strategic Priority 3 Safe and Thriving Neighbourhoods Strategy 3.3 - Manage growth, curb urban sprawl, and foster more mixed-use development, ensuring new development is integrated with the diversity and character of the surrounding community. Strategic Priority 4 Sustainable Environment and Infrastructure Business Plan #52 Central Stations RT Station Area Plan. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: The PARTS Central Plan contains the vision and framework to further help shape investment in the central area. Implementation of the Plan will occur over the short and long-term and is envisioned to be accomplished through both public and private investment. The preparation of the PARTS Central Plan utilized $83,000 from the Planning Studies Growth: PARTS Central capital account (transportation consultant, community engagement, visualizations, sanitary modeling, project expenses). There should be some surplus funds for a partial close- Staff intends to prioritize the Streetscape, Public Realm and Transportation Network opportunities identified in the PARTS Central Plan. Much of the public work is likely more than 10 years into the future; however, any recommendations for investment anticipated sooner will be analyzed, costed and reviewed through a future budget. Breithaupt Street is recommended as a high priority and early win for creating a more pedestrian-friendly and multi-use space that can capitalize on nearby private and public investment. The next step is to prepare a Streetscape Plan which will provide a cost estimate for future consideration. The preparation of the Streetscape Plan will be carried over from the PARTS Central budget into the implementation phase and thus will not require any additional funds. 1 - 3 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: The PARTS Central Plan engagementutilized the INFORM advance of the council / committee meeting. Notice of this meeting and the completion of the PARTS Central Plan was provided by social media and also sent out to the project distribution email list. CONSULT/COLLABORATE The PARTS Central Plan was prepared utilizing an integrated Environmental Assessment and Planning Act process. There was extensive public consultation and collaboration over a period of sixteen (16) months including three (3) community engagement sessions, November 19, 2014, May 26, 2015 and December 9, 2015, stakeholder interviews, site walks, the use of social media/email, including a new tool called Story Map, a presentation at the Downtown Neighbourhood Alliance meeting in May of 2015, presence at Neighbourhood Strategy events, the Christkindl Market and the preparation of a pamphlet for distribution. All of the comments and feedback received throughout the process have been summarized in Feedback Reports, prepared by our consultant Facilitator of Community and Stakeholder Engagement, and for information and reference. The comments and feedback assisted in influencing and formulating the creation of the PARTS Central Plan. CONCLUSION: After several months of public engagement and consultation the PARTS Central Plan has been created to guide development and change in and around the six (6) ION Stops, support the ridership of ION and ensure that the PARTS Central area is an attractive place to live, work, study, shop and play. The City of Kitchener has been a leader in managing growth and that leadership will continue with the approval and implementation of the PARTS Central Plan to guide development, growth and change in the central area. The PARTS Central Plan is the blueprint for the future to help realize the vision and goals for the central area and guide and contribute to making the PARTS Central area a vibrant, liveable and in the City of Kitchener. REVIEWED BY: Brandon Sloan, Manager, Long Range and Policy Planning ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Michael May, Deputy CAO (Community Services) Appendix A Mapidentifying the areas the focus for growth and intensification and identification of the stable established neighbourhoods Appendix B Parks and Public Realm Vision Enhancements and Opportunities Appendix C - PARTS Central Plan: http://www.kitchener.ca/en/livinginkitchener/resources/PLAN_PARTS_Central_April13_Web_reduced.pdf 1 - 4 1 - 5 Appendix B 1 - 6 Appendix B 1 - 7