HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-16-073 - Tall Buildings Statement of Expectations
REPORT TO: Council
DATE OF MEETING: October 24, 2016
SUBMITTED BY: Alain Pinard, Director of Planning, 519-741-2200 x7319
PREPARED BY: Dayna Edwards, Planner 519-741-2200 x7324
Adam Clark, Design & Vizualization Analyst x7027
WARD(S) INVOLVED: All Wards
DATE OF REPORT: October 19, 2016
REPORT NO.: CSD-16-073
SUBJECT: Tall Buildings Statement of Expectations
______________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT the Tall Buildings Statement of Expectations, attached as Appendix A to
report CSD-16-073, be approved; and
Urban Design Manual upon approval; and further
THAT staff complete the tall buildings study and create tall buildings design
guidelines prior to the end of 2017.
BACKGROUND:
In the fall of 2014, Council directed Staff to prepare Tall Buildings Design Guidelines for
the City of Kitchener. After conducting extensive research, it was concluded that
developing tall buildings design guidelines is a complex task that should involve
extensive study and engagement with stakeholders and the public. Staff came to the
conclusion that the successful long-term implementation of Tall Buildings Design
Guidelines requires a careful, staged roll-out in order to ensure necessary staff,
community and development industry support; and rigorous modelling, testing and
contextual analysis is required in order to have a guideline that is defensible.
The City, in consultation with stakeholders and the public are working towards the
approval of a Tall Buildings Statement of Expectations that will be become part of the
designed to introduce stakeholders and the community to design expectations for tall
buildings in Kitchener. It is intended that after further engagement and analysis of built
form in Kitchener, the Statement of Expectations will evolve into Tall Buildings Design
Guidelines, which will be unique and developed to be
*** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
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REPORT
What we are Doing and Why?
The City of Kitchener has seen the new development of tall buildings both within and
several years and we expect more to come in
the future. Kitc
but does not provide design guidance for tall building development. Design guidelines
that guide the future development of tall buildings will help achieve compatibility and
foster a positive relationship between new high-rise buildings and the surrounding
neighbourhoods.
In an effort to move towards the creation of Kitchener Tall Buildings Urban Design
Guidelines, a three-phased approach, as outlined in the figure below, will guide the
development process to achieve a guideline that is defensible and appropriate for the
Kitchener context.
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The Tall Buildings Statement of Expectations represents the first phase of our three
phased process. The Statement of Expectations intends to function as a qualitative,
educational document, introducing stakeholders and the community to what have been
identified as the key urban considerations and built form considerations of tall building
design. These Expectations will help guide tall building development and will inform
future Tall Buildings Urban Design Guidelines.
What is a Tall Building and Where Will the Statement of Expectations Apply?
All tall buildings within the City of Kitchener should be designed and developed to a high
standard of urban design; therefore the Statement of Expectations will apply to tall
buildings city-s nine (9) stories or greater,
which is consistent with the definition of high-
It is intended that the Statement of Expectations will become part of the Urban
Design Manual, which will act as a reference document for landowners and developers
proposing tall buildings within the city of Kitchener. By clarifying expectations, identifying
key considerations and providing design guidance, the Statement of Expectations aims
to shorten review times for planning applications, avoid appeals, and ensure that urban
design policies with the Official Plan and the Urban Design Manual are implemented.
Over the coming year, staff will continue the study of tall buildings by conducting 3D
modelling and contextual analyses; and will continue to engage the public and
stakeholders as we move towards the creation of Tall Buildings Design Guidelines. It is
intended that the future Tall Buildings Design Guidelines, will contain quantitative
performance standards that are based on best practices for tall building design in
Kitchener and in Ontario.
How Was the Statement of Expectations Developed?
The Tall Buildings Statement of Expectations was developed utilizing the feedback,
comments and priorities identified by the public and local stakeholders at a June 2016
-
The Statement of Expectations provides a holistic approach to how tall buildings should
be designed and developed. It identifies a range of principles of design such as:
achieving a built form that is compatible with the local area; creating safe and vibrant
streets; and, designing quality public and private amenity space. The principles of
design detailed in the Statement of Expectations are intended to be considered in
conjunction with one another to achieve high quality tall building design.
How Has the Document been Structured?
The document has been crafted to act as a tool for the development industry to use
during initial stages of tall building design. The objective is to provide a thorough, yet
practical document that functions as an educational piece, introducing stakeholders and
Guidance on the principles of tall building design has been provided with respect to the
following considerations:
Scale & Compatibility;
Public & Private Open Space;
Views, Sunlight & Skyview;
Microclimate, Four Season Design & Safety;
Sustainability; and
Built Form Considerations:
o Tower Separation Distance,
o Overlook,
o Tower Orientation,
o Tower Floor Plate,
o Ground Level and Podium Design, and
o Tower and Top Design.
Next Steps
The Statement of Expectations has been developed in conjunction with the community
and stakeholders, and will be tested over the coming year as we continue to study tall
buildings in Kitchener. Introducing the Statement of Expectations as a first step provides
an opportunity to test the design objectives, and continue to engage the community and
stakeholders, as we move towards the creation of Kitchener specific tall buildings
design guidelines by the end of 2017.
Over the coming years, new proposals for tall buildings will come before staff and the
Tall Buildings Design Guidelines are a critical tool for better managing new applications.
Positive feedback received from the public and stakeholders as part of our consultation
process has reaffirmed the importance of design guidelines. Through continued work on
the project over the past two years, staff are confident that a complete set of Tall
Buildings Design Guidelines can be presented to Council prior to the end of 2017.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
Strategic Priority 1 Open Government
Strategic Priority 2 Strong and Resilient 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 #26 Urban Design Manual Update. The Tall Buildings Study is an
interim update to the Urban Design Manual.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
The Tall Buildings Statement of Expectations No additional
capital or operating budget commitments are required.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
The Tall Buildings Study
INFORM
advance of the council meeting. Notice of this meeting and the completion of the Tall
Buildings Statement of Expectations were sent out to the project distribution email list.
CONSULT/COLLABORATE The Tall Buildings Statement of Expectations was
prepared utilizing feedback from the June 8th, 2016 open house and workshop which
attracted over 80 citizens and stakeholders. In addition to the open house and
workshop, the Tall Buildings Study was featured on Engage Kitchener for
approximately 2 months to receive additional public feedback. Though Engage
Kitchener the topic received 241 views and 29 annotated comments. All feedback was
summarized in a Feedback Report (Appendix B), and was used to guide the
development the Tall Buildings Statement of Expectations. In July a copy of the draft
Statement of Expectations was posted online for feedback.
Summary of Public/Stakeholder Comments
The majority of the comments received on the draft Statement of Expectations
document, were format or editorial suggestions, comments in support of the project, or
feedback for consideration as we move forward towards the creation of design
guidelines. Minor modification to the document resulted from the comments received. A
All of the comments and feedback received throughout the process have been
summarized in the Feedback Report
information and reference. The comments and feedback assisted in influencing and
formulating the creation of the Tall Buildings Statement of Expectations.
CONCLUSION:
Kitchener is growing. It is the largest city in Waterloo Region, in an area that has one of
the most robust economies in Canada. It is a key centre of the emerging Toronto-
Waterloo innovation corridor, bringing investment and talent to the downtown and
surrounding areas of the city. The future regional connections made possible by the
incoming LRT, and the megaregional connections coming via increased commuter rail
service to Toronto are creating significant incentive for compact, urban growth. This
growth is increasingly taking the form of tall building development.
After several months of public engagement and consultation, the Tall Buildings
Statement of Expectations has been created to guide the future of tall building
development in Kitchener. Over the coming year, staff will continue to study tall
buildings within the Kitchener context as we move forward with the creation of Tall
Buildings Design Guidelines.
Tall Buildings Design Guidelines are the blueprint for the future to help guide the
development of tall buildings and contribute to creating places in the city that are
vibrant, liveable and identifiable.
REVIEWED BY: Alain Pinard, Director of Planning
Janine Oosterveld, Manager of Site Development & Customer Service
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Michael May, Deputy CAO (Community Services)
Appendix A Tall Buildings Statement of Expectations
Appendix B Community & Stakeholder Engagement Feedback Report
Appendix C Summary of the Feedback Received on the Statement of Expectations