NEIGHBOURHOODS January 31, 2017 IN THE PLANNING NeighbourGood - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

NEIGHBOURHOODS January 31, 2017 IN THE PLANNING NeighbourGood PROCESS London Planning Workshop

WHAT IS LAND USE PLANNING?  Land use planning can be described as a technical and political process that deals with the the ma management o of c change, including:  the use of land,  the well-being of people, and  protection and enhancement of the natural and cultural environments.

WHY WE PLAN  To manage the development of land and anticipate and prepare for the needs of the community  To safeguard resources  To balance the needs and wants of many while addressing important social, economic and environmental concerns  To set goals for the future and provide a strategy to accomplish them

HOW WE PLAN

HOW WE PLAN  Planning Act province gives power to the Municipality to documents  High Level (i.e. Official Plans &Secondary Plans)  Site Specific (i.e. Zoning, Site Plan, & Minor Variances)

HOW WE PLAN  Ontario Heritage Act gives power to the Municipality  City of London has a list of properties suitable for Heritage Designation  London Committee on Heritage (LACH), Residents & Staff  Designation by individual property or conservation district

HOW WE PLAN  Other Provincial Legislation  Municipal Act  Conservation Authorities Act  Environmental Assessment Act  Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act

WHAT WE AIM FOR form FIT intensity use

WHAT IS URBAN REGENERATION? “The rebirth or renewal of urban areas and settlements.”

HOW WE PLAN  Conservation  Intensification  Bonusing  Community Improvement Plans All of the Planning Processes includes lots of Public Consultation

KEEPING IN TOUCH  Planning Services includes the Urban Regeneration Team who have an outreach strategy that includes:  Assisting communities deal with potential changes in the built-up areas of the City of London,  Ensuring intensification projects are a good FIT, T, and  Updating Community Association Mapping  We have specific Urban Regeneration staff member for your Community Association  Have us visit your group  Give Us a Call 519-661-4980

THANK YOU

HOW DO WE FIT IN THE PROCESS?

HOW WE FIT planning applications Urban Forest Dundas Current Strategy Place project Transpor port- Environ- pla lannin ing atio ion mental & & urban dog Pla lannin ing Parks s parks & De Desig ign Pla lannin ing Long g secondary Range e Environ- London’s Community Pla lannin ing plans mental Energy Action Plan & & Programs ms Resea esearch Urban Regeneration interpretive Com Commun- media Cu Culture signs ic icatio ions Offi fice ce relations Urban Deve evelop- De Desig ign & & men ent Neigh ghbou our- downtown public site GI GIS Ser ervi vices hood, , development plans Childre dren and F Fire re SPARKS! Services applications

THE PROCESSES Secondary Plans City land disposition and acquisitions Heritage Conservation Districts Community Improvement Plans Planning & Development Applications

THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION PROCESS (OPTIONAL) Urban Regeneration relationship-building meeting Inquiry Internal review Application review Consultation Community meeting Issue resolution Statutory meeting

Neighbourhoods in the Planning Process: Scott Allen, MHBC Planning Consultant

Role of the Planning Consultant: Neighbourhood Planning • Preparation of Long-Range Plans  Official Plans  Secondary Plans, Area Plans  Community Master Plans • Developing Specialized Studies  Heritage Conservation District Plans  Community Improvement Plans  Environmental Assessments • Providing Expertise to Residents’ Associations  Plan and Proposal Review  Evidence at OMB Appeals • Participating in Consultation Programs for Development Applications

Infill and Intensification Projects: Neighbourhood Design Considerations • Alignment with Planning Framework — Official Plan/Secondary Plan Policies and Zoning Permissions — Urban Design Guidelines — Heritage Conservation District Plans • Evaluation of Neighbourhood Characteristics — Typical Building Form/Architectural Features — Street Network/Servicing Infrastructure — Assessment of Market Opportunities • Recommendations of Specialized Studies — Planning Justification Reports — Urban Design Briefs — Traffic/Servicing Reports • Review Agency/Community Input

Infill and Intensification Projects: Public Consultation Programs • Opportunities — Preliminary Discussions — Neighbourhood Information Meeting(s) — Informal (Follow-up) Meetings — Written Submissions — Public Information Meeting (before Planning & Environment Committee) • Intent — Convey Project Vision and Design Components — Demonstrate Alignment with Policies/Guidelines — Advise on Review Agency Comments — Identify Neighbourhood Concerns — Illustrate Measures to Mitigate Impacts — Explore Opportunities to Address Concerns

Infill and Intensification Projects: Comments on Neighbourhood Participation • Seek Early Contact with City Staff to Address Initial Questions • Appoint Representatives (Where Appropriate) • Convey Concerns to the Proponent and Seek Dialogue • Explore Opportunities to Resolve Concerns

Neighbourhoods in the Planning Process*  Conclusion: Neighbourhoods can and do play an important and constructive role in helping ensure that planning decisions are being made in the best long-term interest of the community. * Opinions expressed are those of the author, a dedicated amateur. Your experience may vary. Objects in mirror are closer than they appear. Buy low sell high, etc, etc.

Neighbourhoods & Planning Issues Hierarchy of Precedence / Deference:  Courts  OMB  Council  Individual councillors  Staff  Lawyer, Subject Matter Experts (consultants)  Proponent / Neighbourhood association  Other special interest groups  Un-organized neighbours,  Neighbouring property owner (not the proponent).

Planning Issues: Part of the Whole  T onight’s topic doesn’t capture the variety of other ways that neighbourhoods interact with the city.  It is likely (and to be hoped) that most interactions with the city involve things OTHER than planning issues.  If not, then there may be lots of potential for community building that is going un- exploited.

Most Issues aren’t Planning Issues  Municipal services: Police, fire, utilities, garbage pickup, potholes, street lights, libraries – typically service issues not planning issues.  Interactions with the C of L over planning issues are the sort of issues that can be problematic / troublesome / contentious / expensive, litigious, etc.

Neighbourhoods & Planning Issues  True planning issues, represent some actual change – e.g. zoning or Official Plan changes to allow some use / actively not previously anticipated or permitted  Neighbours DON’T GENERALLY LIKE change.  This is when associations hear about them.

Neighbourhoods & Planning Issues The London Plan  There is more flexibility than previously. For e.g., uses that combine previously separate uses are being encouraged in some areas (residential above commercial, higher densities, etc.)  New land uses in LP: can be expected to trigger resistance / push-back.

Neighbourhoods & Planning Issues The “In-between” time  While the LP approved but under appeal it is likely to be more confusing than usual, with uncertainty about which rules actually apply.  Opinion: Particulars of the LP will come as a surprise to many, especially when they see how population densities, intensification manifests itself near them.

Neighbourhoods & Planning Issues  Much of the ‘big picture’ stuff has been decided (LP), say in greenfield areas,  Not all planning issues are of interest to the community  Interactions / conflicts over planning are more likely to take place in urban neighbours than in suburban ones, owing to their stability, single family character, etc.

Neighbourhoods & Planning Issues  Individual residents or property owners may face changes of a very local nature; can be v. impt to them.  They may actively ‘promote’ these to community organizations as being of wider significance in the hope that they will get help defending their position.

Neighbourhoods & Planning Issues  Individuals may succeed in enlisting the help of the community association; particularly if the policy or principles or issue has applicability elsewhere.  Some ultra-local issues may come in ‘below the radar’ i.e. C.A’s. may surprised by them, with little time to react.

Neighbourhoods & Planning Issues  Groups always have the prerogative to involve themselves in these issues OR NOT.  Groups need to be rigorous in making these determinations for themselves  They can refuse or decline from getting involved in issues, OR if consensus seems unlikely.