HomeMy WebLinkAboutDTS-06-076 - Downtown Urban Design Guidelines
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Development &
Technical Services
Report To:
Date of Meeting:
Development and Technical Services Committee
May 1, 2006
Submitted By:
Prepared By:
Ward(s) Involved:
Date of Report:
Report No.:
Subject:
Jeff Willmer, Director of Planning 741-2325
Cory Bluhm, Planner, 741-2776
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April 26, 2006
DTS-06-076
Downtown Urban Design Guidelines
Part 1 - Community Consultation Process
RECOMMENDA TION:
That the following report be received for information purposes.
BACKGROUND:
The Downtown Strategic Plan Volume 3 provided 'draft' urban design strategies and guiding
principles. Recommendations 27 and 28 tasked staff to finalize these strategies for both the
public and private realms.
"A made in Kitchener Approach" - These original strategies and principles were derived from
20+ years of public consultation, such as The Mayor's Task Force, Compass Kitchener and
CURA's pedestrian intercept study.
An internal working group has been established to steer and guide the finalization of the
Downtown Urban Design Guidelines, including:
. Cory Bluhm, Planning
. John McBride, Transportation Planning
. Ryan Mounsey, Planning
. Tim O'Brien, Community Services Design & Development
. Brian Page, Planning
. Eric Saunderson, Engineering
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REPORT:
Staff are proceeding with a two part consultation process for the development and finalization of
the Downtown Urban Design Guidelines:
Part 1 - Extensive Public Consultation
From May 8th to June 8th, staff will conduct an extensive public consultation on the Guiding
Principles and District Strategies. From this process, staff hope that Council will be able to
establish "community driven" overall urban design principles, which will guide all future physical
improvements to Downtown - such as fayade improvements, streetscape reconstructions, new
building construction, etc.
The following methods will be used to solicit community input:
. In-depth Online Survey
. Quick Online Survey
. Online Forum - where appropriate submitted comments will be posted, viewable by the
rest of the community
. Online Photo Forum - where appropriate submitted photos (likes, dislikes, places
around the world that are appealing) will be posted, viewable by the rest of the
community
. Information Mail-Out & Attached Questionnaire (approximately 500-1000 to Downtown
residents and random City residents)
. DVD Mail-Out & Questionnaire - a video montage of the guiding principles
(approximately 1000 to Downtown residents and random City residents)
. Mobile Polling Stations - questionnaires will be distributed to strategic locations
. Your Kitchener Market Open House - informal session on 1 Saturday in May
. Advisory Committee and Interest Group Sessions - ex: DAC, KDBA
. Evolution Newsletter Feature - June 1, 2006.
It is hoped that these methods will reach a diverse cross-section of the community, both
geographically and socio-economically. While vested interest groups will be consulted (such as
businesses, merchants and property owners), the methods and questions are focused more so
on the Downtown customer. The questions have been focused to determine which, if not all, of
the following proto-typical user groups Downtown should be designed for:
1. The Customer who wants a service oriented downtown (grocery store, hardware
store, etc)
2. The Customer who wants a downtown full of vitality (cafes, events, etc.)
3. The Customer who wants a traditional downtown (historic buildings, etc.)
4. The Customer who wants a large, urban downtown
5. The Customer who wants a creative downtown (galleries, studios, etc.)
6. The Customer who wants a multi-cultural downtown
Compilation of this feedback will be presented to DTS Committee and Council in August of
2006.
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Part 2 - Technical Peer Review
Following the establishment of the "community driven" guiding principles, staff will prepare the
urban design guidelines and principles. As this is more of a technical document, staff are
considering a peer review process, whereby objective architects, urban designers, landscape
architects, planners, engineers, etc., would be retained to review and comment on the
guidelines and standards. While some community consultation of these guidelines will occur,
professional third-party opinion will be more beneficial.
Future - Growth Management Consultation
Much of the feedback we receive can also be used as part of the public engagement on growth
management, which is likely to happen in the Fall of 2006. Some of the questions relate to the
preferred height and density of development Downtown, and many quality of life indicators.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
A maximum of $5000 has been attributed to this consultation, from the Planning Division's
operating budget.
COMMUNICA TIONS:
None
Cory Bluhm, BES
Planner
Jeff Willmer, RPP, MCIP
Director of Planning
Silvia Wright
Manager of Downtown Development
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