September 2005Urban Planning Carleton University 1 Official Plan for An Urban Area What is an Official Plan? The Process for Developing an Official Plan Special considerations Ottawa Example

September 2005Urban Planning Carleton University 2 Official Plans According to provincial government, local governments would develop "official plan" as a policy document for community development Official plans are to be approved by the provincial government and are tools for: –Planning public facilities and infrastructure –Drafting zoning by-laws –Control of land subdivisions

September 2005Urban Planning Carleton University 3 Official Plan – cont’d Contents of official plan are: –Goals and objectives –Policies and principles of land use planning –Environmental issues –Infrastructure and transportation –Measures and procedures to attain the objectives of the plan –Measures and procedures for informing and obtaining the views of the public –Phasing and stages

September 2005Urban Planning Carleton University 4 Process for Official Plan Development 1.Preparation 2.Circulation to interested parties (individuals or agencies) 3.Modifications and changes according to recommendations 4.Notice sent to the public to announce open meeting(s) 5.Get public feedback and modify accordingly 6.Adoption of the official plan by council 7.Approval by provincial government

September 2005Urban Planning Carleton University 5 Introduction to Official Plan: Ottawa (formerly the Regional Municipality of Ottawa- Carleton RMOC) From City of Ottawa Sources

September 2005Urban Planning Carleton University 6 Introduction to Official Plan: Ottawa “The Planning Act requires all regional municipalities in Ontario to adopt Official Plans and to keep them up-to-date. The Planning Act also identifies matters of provincial interest which are further defined by the provincial policy statement. All plans must have regard for the policies in this statement.”

September 2005Urban Planning Carleton University 7 Introduction to Official Plan: Ottawa – cont’d Prior to the formation of a single tier city, the Regional Municipality of Ottawa- Carleton had the responsibility to develop the Official Plan. “The Regional Official Plan contains council’s objectives and policies for managing growth in Ottawa-Carleton to the year 2021.”

September 2005Urban Planning Carleton University 8 Introduction to Official Plan: Ottawa – cont’d The Official Plan document consists of many sections. These include: –Regional Development Strategy –Community and the Built Environment –Economic Activity –Natural Environment –Regional open space and cultural heritage –Agricultural Resource Areas –Mineral Aggregate Resources –Transportation –Environmental services –Development constraints Schedules include: -Glossary -Official Plan Monitoring Program

September 2005Urban Planning Carleton University 9 New Official Plan for the City of Ottawa Change from the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton (including local municipalities) to the new City of Ottawa. In April/May 2001, worked started on the preparation of a new high level Official Plan for the city of Ottawa. A “Smart Growth” summit was held in June 2001 in support of the preparation of a new Official Plan.

September 2005Urban Planning Carleton University 10 Smart Growth “Smart growth, also called Smart development, … capitalizes on the economic benefits of growth to enhance the quality of life while anticipating and avoiding the unintended effects on the community, such as environmental pollution and urban sprawl.”

September 2005Urban Planning Carleton University 11 Smart Growth – cont’d “Many North American cities concede that uncontrolled growth in the past has translated into substantial costs today in the form of unattractive downtown areas under-utilized services, environmental loss, inefficient sprawl, single-use communities and endless stretches of congested roads. Smart growth calls for renewed recognition of the interrelationships among the economy, the natural environment and the community.”

September 2005Urban Planning Carleton University 12 City Official Plan (Regional Official Plan) Covering Urban Area and Related Rural Area

September 2005Urban Planning Carleton University 13 What are the Goals of the Official Plan? (See City of Ottawa Official Plan Website 1.Safety, public health, balanced communities 2.Maintenance of desirable characteristics and integrity of established communities 3.Employment; economic activity 4.Maintain Greenbelt 5.Range of housing types Main Urban area Kanata Orleans South Urban community

September 2005Urban Planning Carleton University 14 Goals of the Official Plan - cont’d 6.Enhance central area as the region’s focus for economic, cultural & political activities 7.Open space & natural environment to bolster the economic, social & environmental health of the region 8.Ecosystems (natural systems) 9.Conserve agricultural resources 10.Protect mineral resources for long-term use

September 2005Urban Planning Carleton University 15 Goals of the Official Plan - cont’d 11.Heritage resources (preserve & enhance) 12. Protect people from natural ad human-made hazards 13.Provide infrastructure effectively and affordably 14.A “balanced” transportation system – for all users; minimize economic, social & environmental impacts.

September 2005Urban Planning Carleton University 16 Development Concepts for the Ottawa- Carleton Region Considered in Early 1970s

September 2005Urban Planning Carleton University 17 Following In-filling, Multinucleated Urban Structure is Likely to be Common Place Ottawa Jobs & housing balance Kanata “This is an extremely remarkable development … It is really critical in managing growth and dealing with gridlock” (Mayor of Kanata)

September 2005Urban Planning Carleton University 18 Achieving Liveable Cities With Shrinking Resources

September 2005Urban Planning Carleton University 19 Achieving Liveable Cities with Shrinking Resources Conserve key strategic resources of land, air, water, energy and financial capital Environmentally, socially & economically sustainable in the long run

September 2005Urban Planning Carleton University 20 Attributes of Liveable Cities: High quality of urban life, clean & healthy places; high degree of personal safety & security Wide choice of housing & sustainable travel options Efficient operations; deliver municipal services at fair and reasonable prices

September 2005Urban Planning Carleton University 21 A Process of Change to Achieve Liveable Cities Source: Transportation Association of Canada (TAC) (1998)

September 2005Urban Planning Carleton University 22 PRINCIPLEYESTERDAYTODAYTOMORROW 1.Urban Development Low density, single use, unrestricted urban sprawl with inefficient use of resources. Some town centres, infill and redevelopment, but continued sprawl and inefficiencies. Efficient, compact, mixed use form with pedestrian, cycle and transit friendly design, and increased personal safety. 2. Municipal Infrastructure Urban sprawl without regard to underutilized infrastructure. Little or no change.Full use of infrastructure through compact development, infill and redevelopment. 3. Integrated Planning Land use and transportation decisions often made independently. Some integration between land use and transportation planning. Fully integrated land use, transportation, environmental and financial planning within the municipality. 4. Coordinated Planning Each municipality in the urban area followed own course Some regional coordination of land use and transportation planning (where authority exists or cooperative mechanisms are in place). Fully coordinated land use, transportation, environmental and financial planning across the urban area, through new cooperative mechanisms or governance structures.

September 2005Urban Planning Carleton University 23 PRINCIPLEYESTERDAYTODAYTOMORROW 5.a) Development Pricing Suburban infrastructure and services subsidized by property taxes in central areas. Suburban infrastructure & services still subsidized, but with some full cost charges on raw land development. All development charges based on lifecycle costs. Rehabilitated infrastructure in central areas. 5.b) Transport Pricing Unrestricted road expansion paid from public budgets and auto dependence Limited road expansion, maintenance backlog, declining transit funding, & increased auto dependence. Transport increasingly treated as a utility, with user charges dedicated to quality system delivery, offering choice and affordability. 6. Air Emissions Unrestricted growth in auto travel, smog gases & greenhouse gases. Attempts to control smog through better technology. Healthy air quality and less greenhouse gas emissions through new technology and less need for auto use. 7. Consultation Policies, decisions & actions with little public input or understanding of long term consequences. Increasing public consultation at the official planning stage and increased understanding. Extensive consultation with public and developers throughout the entire process, with costs and benefits widely communicated and understood.

September 2005Urban Planning Carleton University 24 Interesting Information Available Toronto Vancouver Singapore

September 2005Urban Planning Carleton University 25 DEVELOPMENT OF THE OFFICIAL PLAN Ottawa Example

September 2005Urban Planning Carleton University 26 Role of the Official Plan (Source: The official plan is a growth management tool. It contains City Council’s policies for managing the physical developemnt of Ottawa. Official plan – directs the physical developemnt of the city It is supported by: - the transportation master plan - the environmental management plan - infrastructure master plan

September 2005Urban Planning Carleton University 27 Growth Management (as defined by the City of Ottawa) “Growth management is about: - anticipating change, and - providing the basis for responding to that change”. “It is about setting priorities, maintaining options and enhancing options and enhancing the high quality of life in the city”.

September 2005Urban Planning Carleton University 28 Challenges Ottawa in 2020 Population growth from 800,000 to 1.2 million (50% growth) - 400,000 more residents (6 times the size of Kanata) - 190,000 new homes - 200,000 more cars and trucks - 100,000 more residents across the river in gatineau

September 2005Urban Planning Carleton University 29 Challenges (Contined) Ottawa in 2020 (Continued) More demand for stores, schools, ice rinks, parks, public transit, bridges. More potential for ecosystem degradation and water pollution. According to the City of Ottawa, “our challenge is to develop plans, policies, by-laws, programmes and alliances that respond flexibly to change, and speak to all of our vision, not just a part of it”.

September 2005Urban Planning Carleton University 30 Time Frame & Flexibility City of Ottawa’s “Official Plan contains policies for managing growth to the year 2020”. The plan is based on the possibility that “the population of Ottawa could reach 1.2 million by 2020”. The philosophical thrust of the plan “

September 2005Urban Planning Carleton University 31 Official Plan Vision (City of Ottawa) Uniquely Ottawa - Proudly the Nation’s Capital - Maintaining a Vibrant Downtown - Enjoying Our Built Heritage - Having a Distinctive Rural Area - Shaped by the Rivers and Canal

September 2005Urban Planning Carleton University 32 Official Plan Vision (City of Ottawa) Liveable Communities - Promoting Communities of Distinctive Character - Developing Attractive and Well Designed Communities - Fostering Opportunities for Economic Activity - Communities designed for Walking and Cycling - Requiring Compact Mixed Development

September 2005Urban Planning Carleton University 33 Official Plan Vision (City of Ottawa) Liveable Communities (Continued) - Making available a Variety of Housing Choices - Transit, Road and Greenspace Linked Communities - Creating and Sustaining Healthy Communities - Conditions that make for Safe and Secure Communities

September 2005Urban Planning Carleton University 34 Official Plan Vision (City of Ottawa) A Green City - The Splendour of a Green City - Recognizing and Building a Greenspace Network - Focussing on Development in Harmony with the Environment - Action to Protect Groundwater and Surface Water - Lifestyle Supportive of Clean Air, Water and Earth