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Home My WebLink AboutDTS-09-158 - Official Plan Review Update I~rTCx~~R Development & Techrr~ca~ Services REPORT T0: Development & Technical Services Committee DATE OF MEETING: October 26, 2009 SUBMITTED BY: Alain Pinard, Interim Director of Planning PREPARED BY: Brandon Sloan, Senior Project Manager (741-2648) WARD(S) INVOLVED: All DATE OF REPORT: October 20, 2009 REPORT NO.: DTS-09-158 SUBJECT: OFFICIAL PLAN REVIEW UPDATE RECOMMENDATION: That Report DTS-09-158 regarding the Official Plan Review be received for information. BACKGROUND: Currently, our Municipal Plan is the Official Plan for the City of Kitchener under the Ontario Planning Act. It contains objectives and policies to manage Kitchener's future growth, advise how land can be used, protect the natural environment and ensure the timely provision and adequacy of services. Prepared with input from the community, the Plan coordinates future planning and development in order to ensure it meets specific needs. Although the Plan is concerned mainly with land use and physical development of the city, the underlying consideration in its formulation is the need to balance the social, economic, and environmental interests of the community. The Kitchener Municipal (Official) Plan was adopted by City Council in 1994 and approved by the Region in 1995. Every 5 years, a municipality is required by the Province of Ontario to review their Official Plans. As a result, in 2000 Council directed staff to prepare a review of our Official Plan. After beginning to review the Plan, planning staff were apprised in 2002 that there were significant changes pending in planning legislation and policy, both at the provincial and regional level. These changes resulted in the preparation and approval of the first Regional Growth Management Strategy (2003), the new Provincial Policy Statement (2005), the provincial Places to Grow Act (2005) and Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (2006), changes to the Planning Act through Bill 51 (Royal Assent in 2006, in effect January 2007) and the new Region Official Plan (2009). Given these numerous and profound changes, planning staff put the preparation of a new Official Plan on hold. 7-1 Notwithstanding the expected policy changes, planning staff did proceed with several specific Official Plan Amendments in order to complete projects or to address specific issues that arose. This includes the commercial policy structure (MPA #36), new downtown design policies (MPA #64) and changes resulting from the City's Triplex Study (MPA #75). Several components of the plan and mapping required minor edits which occurred as part of housekeeping amendments (MPAs #13, 50, 51 and 59). The provincial Places to Grow Growth Plan includes new measures for how communities should be planned and designed. Municipalities are undertaking a significant amount of studies and work to ensure compliance with the Places to Grow Growth Plan. Through Council's approval of the Kitchener Growth Management Strategy (KGMS) and Plan in 2009, a major component of reviewing the Places to Grow requirements at the local level is now complete. The KGMS provides recommended actions for preparing the necessary studies to comply with Places to Grow and provides some of the basis for the new Official Plan. Other requirements are still being sorted out at the regional level, such as specific greenfield density and intensification level targets. The new Regional Official Plan (ROP) also includes direction for area municipalities to complete a significant amount of work and policy direction as part of local level Official Plans. Although Kitchener completed several major policy directions that could influence the Official Plan, such as the Plan for a Healthy Kitchener and the Strategic Plan for the Environment update, there are still numerous other master plans and background studies required to be undertaken. All municipalities in the Greater Golden Horseshoe are spending a significant amount of time and resources to complete Places to Grow implementation, growth strategies, master plans and Official Plan reviews. REPORT: The current Official Plan Review is a Planning Division-led project having corporate implications. An Official Plan Coordinating Team has been established and consists of Alain Pinard, Interim Director of Planning; Leon Bensason, Interim Manager of Long Range and Policy Planning; Della Ross, Manager of Development Review; Tina Malone-Wright, Senior Planner; and Brandon Sloan, Senior Project Manager. Brandon Sloan is responsible for overall project management of the OP review. This consists of coordinating background studieslmaster plans (referred to as `subprojects'), project management, budgeting, communications, and leading several subprojects. Tina Malone-Wright is responsible for preparation of the Official Plan document and leading select subprojects. Several subprojects are led by various individuals within the Planning Division or within other divisions or departments. Project teams are utilized to complete the work. The list of subprojects for the Official Plan Review is attached as Appendix "A". These subprojects or studies include the Comprehensive Review of Employment (Industrial) Lands, a Transportation Master Plan, the new Parks Master Plan, Designated Greenfield ArealDensity Assessment, and the identification of a local-level Natural Heritage System. There is also a significant amount of work that needs to be undertaken to meet the timing for the Southwest Urban Area Studies and Fischer Hallman Corridor Secondary Plan. Given the breadth of background studies that are typically needed for preparing a new Official Plan and the tight timeframe to complete the plan (the ROP identifies a two year deadline from June 16, 2009), coordination and prioritization are important. Several projects will have to be prepared after completion of the new Official Plan in 2011. This includes conducting a major review of all of our 7-2 Secondary Plans, and the preparation of new Secondary Plans in Major Transit Station Areas or other central areas of the city. The general timing of the Official Plan Review process is outlined in the chart below. The details of public engagement, beyond what is expected to occur in each of the subprojects, are currently under preparation as part of a Project Communication Plan (see Communications section of this report). General Official Plan Review (2009-2011) Process: Background Studies/Master Plans (Subprojects) Southwest Urban Area Studies/ Fischer Hallman Corridor Secondar Plan Ongoing -Fall 2010* Early 2010 -Early 2011 Draft Official Plan preparation Dec 2009 -Dec 2010 Public Review Januar 2011 -June 2011 Approval Required June 2011 *Several Background Studies/Master Plans will result in reports to Committee/Council, which may include recommendations for new Official Plan policy direction and endorsement of principles to be considered in the OP review.. Issues and Expectations Typically, a municipality will take several years to complete a review of its Official Plan. The timing to complete the subprojects and complete a review of the Kitchener Official Plan (by June 2011) is aggressive. Although there may not be a large amount of time available for extensive engagement, the local community and stakeholders have been consulted on visioning and numerous master planning efforts in the past several years (e.g. Plan for a Healthy Kitchener, Strategic Plan for the Environment Update, etc.). In addition, there will be opportunities for public involvement in several of the subprojects and during the review of the Official Plan. The Official Plan is required to focus on land use policies, and the expectation is that the new Official Plan will continue to pursue areas of policy that this community has embraced decades. This includes directives for a built form that has nodes and corridors, mixed use, and a continued focus on downtown. The new Official Plan is also expected to refine our planning actions with respect to conserving the natural environment, improved transportation demand management, urban design and conservation of heritage resources. In addition to supporting rapid transit and intensification objectives, the direction in the new Plan may also include policy direction for the future "completing of communities". Additional issues or expectations forthis Official Plan Review may include: ^ The greenfield density and intensification targets for each municipality (requires resolution within the year). This will have implications to the built form and service requirements for new subdivisions and the entire city. ^ A revised parks classification system. ^ An updated approach to transportation master planning. ^ Increased emphasis on place making. ^A review of our city's urban structure including the role of transit corridors. ^ A limited scope of work is expected on downtown policies given there was a recent review. 7-3 ^ Specific themes or policies of the Official Plan will be of interest to specific interest groups, such as the natural environment policies, cycling, community gardens, etc. ^ Any issues with respect to the southwest edge of the city that is outside the City Urban Area (according to the ROP) are not expected to be dealt with as part of this Official Plan. There is still additional Regional study and discussion required for this area. ^A comprehensive review of existing and potential new Secondary Plans is expected after this Official Plan. This Official Plan should establish the desired urban structure and policy direction for undertaking this work. Also, the Secondary Plan review is a major endeavour that should be given additional time for public involvement. ^ The new Official Plan will be aligned with more recently established visions and strategies FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: The Official Plan Review (and KGMS Implementation) will require funds from the existing Planning Studies Capital account. The 2009 Development Charges (DC) Background Study/By- law identifies funds to be used towards Planning Studies ($216,000 in each of 2010 and 2011). A portion of this amount is intended to be used towards the Southwest Urban Area Studies/Fischer Hallman Corridor Secondary Plan, with the remainder dedicated to the Planning Division-led studies/subprojects and the Official Plan document. Engineering studies/ subprojects related to the new Official Plan are also identified in the 2009 DC Study (totalling $800,000 over 2009-13). This includes a Transportation Master Plan, Southwest Transportation Network Study and aCity-wide Sanitary Capacity Analysis. The written component of the Official Plan, and as much of the subprojects as possible, are intended to be completed with existing staff resources. Some technical expertise from consultants will be required. Partnerships with the Universities or other options will be explored. COMMUNICATIONS: This report is an information update only. A formal public meeting is required at the outset of the Official Plan. The intended timing for an advertised public meeting is early in 2010. There will be numerous opportunities for stakeholder and public involvement. This will occur through the subprojects and primarily during the public review of the draft Official Plan expected in January- June 2011. Open houses, newsletters, etc. will be undertaken in advance to inform the public. A formal Communications Plan is to be prepared for this project. A significant amount of community visioning and master planning has occurred in the last several years, and much of this can be distilled into land use policies in the new Official Plan. REVIEWED BY: Tina Malone-Wright, Senior Planner Leon Bensason, Interim Manager of Long Range & Policy Planning ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Jeff Willmer, Interim General Manager Development and Technical Services Department Attachment: Appendix "A" -Official Plan Review Subprojects 7-4 Appendix "A" KITCHENER OFFICIAL PLAN REVIEW (2009-2011) SUBPROJECTS Project Lead Proposed Timing 1. Parks Master Plan CSD-Parks End 2009 2. Comprehensive Review -Employment Lands Planning June 2009-Early 2010 3. Designated Greenfield Area Assessment Planning Fall 2009 4. Natural Heritage Systems Assessment Planning Fall 2009-June 2010 5. Comprehensive Review -Intensification Areas Planning Fall 2009-Dec 2010 Report: Principles June 2010 6. Review of "Green" Development Policies Planning Fall 2009-Earth Day 2010+ 7. City-wide Sanitary Capacity Analysis Engineering Fall 2009-Summer 2010 8. Southwest Urban Studies/FH Secondary Plan Planning Fall 2009-Early 2011 Phase 1 &2: Community-level Planning Jan 2010-Summer 2010 Phase 3: Detailed PlanslDesign Fall 2010-Early 2011 Phase 4: Final Recommendations By June 2011 9. Secondary Plans -Minor Review Planning Nov 2009-June 2010 10. Community Infrastructure Plan Planning Fall 2009-Early 2010 11. Social/Demographic Profile Planning Jan 2010-June 2010 12. Housing Profile/Inventory Planning Jan 2010-June 2010 13. Transportation Master Planning Eng.ITrans. PI. Early 2010-Early 2011 14. Transportation Demand Management Plan Eng.lTrans. PI. Pending 15. Commercial Policy Review Planning Early 2010-Fall 2010 Assessment of Municipal Plan (TBD) Planning TBD OP Document Preparation Planning Fall 2009-Fall 2010 OP Document Internal Review Fall 2010 OP Document Public Review Jan 2011-June 2011 7-5 SUBPROJECTS AFTER 2011 OFFICIAL PLAN Project Lead Proposed Timing 16. Secondary Plans -Major Review Planning Post 2011 (2012-2016) 17. Secondary Plans -Major Transit Station Areas Planning Post 2011 18. Review of "Green" Development Implementation Planning Post 2011 19. Environmental Management Plan Post 2011 20. Cultural Heritage Landscape Inventory Planning Post 2011 21. City Wastewater Infrastructure Plan Engineering TBD 22. City Water main Infrastructure Plan Engineering TBD Other 2011 Official Plan Implementation TBD 5-Year OP Review: Update any Background Studies 2014-2015 5-Year OP Review: Plan Preparation 2015-1016 7-6