HomeMy WebLinkAboutIntroduction of Green Development Policies Plan ReviewKitchener Official Plan Review
Project Work Programme -RGDP
Project Title:
Review of Green Development Policies (RGDP)
Project Leads:
Elizabeth Brown, Planner
Project Team:
Carrie Mussleman, Senior Environmental Planner
Lenore Ross, Urban Designer
Matt Ruetz, Building Division
Peggy Forrest / Mario Petricevic, Facilities Management
Resources:
Barbara Steiner, Senior Environmental Planner
Planning Student
Other Support/Contacts:
Brandon Sloan, Senior Project Manager
Alain Pinard, Interim Director of Planner
Leon Bensason, Interim Manager of LRP&P
Tina Malone-Wright, Senior Planner
Environmental Committee
John Lubczynski, Planner, Regional Municipality of Waterloo
Project Links
Green City
Corporate Services Energy Management
KGMS/KGMP
ROP
OP Review – Natural Heritage System Assessment
OP Review – Housing Profile / Inventory
CMF
LEAF
Strategic Plan for the Environment – Implementation Plan
Citizens’ Report on Air Quality in Kitchener, 2006
Purpose
The purpose of this project is to review existing Official Plan Policies regarding “Green”
development, including energy production and conservation, air quality, water
conservation and waste management in order implement Goal 1: Actions 2 and 3 of the
Kitchener Growth Management Strategy, to follow-up on a number of policies found
within Sections 3, 5 and 6 of the new Regional Official Plan, to implement Policy 1.8 of
the Provincial Policy Statement 2005 and Policy 4.2.4 of the Places to Grow Act, and to
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address any Planning requirements under the Green Energy Act, 2009. Any new or
revised Official Plan policies that would be explored would address requirements for,
and/or logical implementation at, a local (municipal) level of government through the
various development application processes.
Project Background
The City of Kitchener Official Plan has included the objective to control pollution of the
environment with some balance between technology and cost since at least 1975, and
added a number of energy policies into the plan by means of an amendment in 1984.
However, changes in legislation, applicable plans, policies, strategies and technologies
relating to “green” building, energy conservation measures, water protection and air
quality protection measures in the last ten years have necessitated a comprehensive
review of the City of Kitchener’s Official Plan policies relating to “green” practices and
conservation.
The Kitchener Growth Management Strategy (KGMS), adopted by Kitchener City
Council on January 26, 2009, included a goal directing that all policies that impact the
built form should be reviewed and updated as part of the Official Plan review to
incorporate the “best green practices” and “green building techniques” wherever possible.
On May 14, 2009 the Act to enact the Green Energy Act, 2009, and to build a green
economy, to repeal the Energy Conservation Leadership Act, 2006 and the Energy
Efficiency Act and to amend other statutes received Royal Assent in the Ontario
Legislature. This Act included changes to the Planning Act intended to facilitate the
development and implementation of renewable energy undertakings.
Furthermore, on June 16, 2009, the Regional Municipality of Waterloo adopted a new
Regional Official Plan (ROP). This plan includes several policies specifically relating to
alternative and renewable energy developments, sustainable waste management, and
source water protection. These policies included direction for the City of Kitchener, as
an area municipality, to adopt policies implementing or in keeping with the policies
outlined by the Region in their Official Plan.
Work Program
The project is expected to occur in two phases. Initial work will involve background
review, research, work programme preparation, project team formation, determination of
objectives and expected results and determination of project requirements. Linkages with
other master plans or reviews will be identified, and components of the work programme
that rely on info from those master plans or reviews may not be available until those
projects are closer to completion.
The second phase will involve additional research and consultation in order to develop
draft policies for the Official Plan that satisfy any legislative requirements as well as
meeting the overall objectives and goals of the Plan.
A separate project will be the development of implementation tools for the policies
created in the second phase.These tools may include new or amended regulations in the
Zoning By-law and/or updates to the Urban Design Manual and the Neighbourhood
Design Manual.
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Staff proposes the following as a general timeline for this project:
Draft Work Programme Reviewed by OP October 29 or November 19, 2009
Coordination Team
Initial Team Meeting, assignment of tasks Late November
Team Meeting, follow-up to review Mid-January
information collected
Information taken to Environmental February 18 Meeting
Committee
Preparation of Draft RecommendationsFebruary through April
th
Draft Policy Recommendations to April 15, 2010 (last meeting before Earth
nd
Environmental Committee Day, April 22)
Public Open House / Forum Early to Mid-May
thst
Final Recommendations June 2010 (7 or 21 DTS Committee
Meetings)
Preliminary Project Objectives
1.Investigate legislative requirements for policies regarding alternative and/or
renewable energy systems, air quality, water conservation and waste management
a.ROP
b.Green Energy Act, 2009
c.PPS
d.P2G
e.City of Kitchener plans, strategies and guidelines
2.Investigate “green” building best practices, certification systems and “sustainable”
urban form design. If timelines permit, consider expected updates to the Ontario
Building Code that are energy conservation related.
3.
a.Review existing City of Kitchener Official Plan policies,
b.Review policies of local similar-sized communities.
4.Undertake a preliminary review of existing City of Kitchener Zoning By-law
regulations, Urban Design Manual and Neighbourhood Design Manual to identify
any required supporting Official Plan policies
5.Determine final recommendations for changes to the Official Plan. This may include
new and/or revised policies (i.e. a policy that may permit the City to establish a CIP
for green technology/building city-wide).
Consultation
Communication and engagement with various departments, agencies and stakeholders
will be required as part of the completion of this project. Internal communication within
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work team is expected. Environmental Committee will be consulted on two separate
occasions. Broader public consultation is expected by means of an open house and
possible website. Final report to DTS Committee and Council is expected in June 2010.
Resources and Cost Estimates
There is an expectation that the majority of the first two phases of the project will be
undertaken with existing Planning Division staff resources. Staff time will be required of
the Project Lead, Environmental Planning staff, Urban Design staff, Development staff,
and students. Working meetings will be required involving staff from outside of the
Planning Division.
Given the ongoing advances in green building design and alternative and renewable
energy systems and technologies, opportunity exists to tap external research resources. A
tentative budget of $20,000 in 2010, not including staff costs, is estimated for this project.
This budget will be used to cover open house materials and expenses. Additionally, a
portion of these funds may be used for review or research from a local consultant (low-
medium priority).
Deliverables
The result should be a Project Summary Report and recommendations for any new or
revised Official Plan Policies, land use designation changes and/or mapping amendments.
This Project Summary Report will include a summary of any community involvement
and feedback received throughout the sub-project process.
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