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
January 31, 2017 NeighbourGood London Planning Workshop
Land use planning can be described as a technical and political process that deals with the the ma management o
change, including:
cultural environments.
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
Planning Act province gives power to the Municipality to documents
Ontario Heritage Act gives power to the Municipality
Heritage Designation
Staff
district
Other Provincial Legislation
form use intensity
Conservation Intensification Bonusing Community Improvement Plans All of the Planning Processes includes lots of Public Consultation
Planning Services includes the Urban Regeneration Team who have an outreach strategy that includes:
the built-up areas of the City of London,
T, and
We have specific Urban Regeneration staff member for your Community Association
Urban Regeneration
Current pla lannin ing Deve evelop- men ent Ser ervi vices Transpor port- atio ion Pla lannin ing & De Desig ign Long g Range e Pla lannin ing & & Resea esearch Environ- mental & & Parks s Pla lannin ing
Neigh ghbou
hood, , Childre dren and F Fire re Services
Environ- mental Programs ms Urban De Desig ign & & GI GIS
urban dog parks downtown development secondary plans public site plans Dundas Place project London’s Community Energy Action Plan planning applications SPARKS! applications Urban Forest Strategy
Cu Culture Offi fice ce Com Commun- ic icatio ions
media relations interpretive signs
Community Improvement Plans
Heritage Conservation Districts
Secondary Plans
Planning & Development Applications
City land disposition and acquisitions
Inquiry Internal review Application review Consultation Issue resolution Statutory meeting
Community meeting Urban Regeneration relationship-building meeting
Neighbourhoods in the Planning Process: Scott Allen, MHBC Planning Consultant
Role of the Planning Consultant: Neighbourhood Planning
Official Plans Secondary Plans, Area Plans Community Master Plans
Heritage Conservation District Plans Community Improvement Plans Environmental Assessments
Plan and Proposal Review Evidence at OMB Appeals
Infill and Intensification Projects: Neighbourhood Design Considerations
— Official Plan/Secondary Plan Policies and Zoning Permissions —Urban Design Guidelines — Heritage Conservation District Plans
— Typical Building Form/Architectural Features —Street Network/Servicing Infrastructure — Assessment of Market Opportunities
— Planning Justification Reports —Urban Design Briefs — Traffic/Servicing Reports
Infill and Intensification Projects: Public Consultation Programs
— Preliminary Discussions — Neighbourhood Information Meeting(s) —Informal (Follow-up) Meetings — Written Submissions — Public Information Meeting (before Planning & Environment Committee)
— 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
Conclusion: Neighbourhoods can and do
* 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.
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).
T
It is likely (and to be hoped) that most
If not, then there may be lots of potential
Municipal services: Police, fire, utilities,
Interactions with the C of L over
True planning issues, represent some
Neighbours DON’T GENERALLY
This is when associations hear about
There is more flexibility than previously.
New land uses in LP: can be expected to
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.
Much of the ‘big picture’ stuff has been
Not all planning issues are of interest
Interactions / conflicts over planning
Individual residents or property
They may actively ‘promote’ these to
Individuals may succeed in enlisting the
Some ultra-local issues may come in
Groups always have the prerogative to
Groups need to be rigorous in making
They can refuse or decline from
Most groups = consensus-style
Note – Lg. board may help ensure that
Lack of consensus at the community
C of L (Staff & council) prefer to deal with organized
groups – makes things easier for them, if there’s one voice, one point of contact and if they can speak in unison.
This particular council, informed and supportive as they
all are of the London Plan are as receptive an audience as you as ever likely to encounter. This is the Golden Age for ‘citizen involvement / engagement’.
Your ability to influence events is commensurate with
how ‘universal’ the issue is. You’ll get further if you can argue that an issue is broad and not narrow. If the issue is strictly narrow, it may be dismissed as NIMBYism and ignored.
Issue Management 101:
Do the obvious stuff properly, be attentive to detail Start early as possible, don’t wait to get involved Reach out; understand what’s being proposed wrt L.P. Keep good notes; record interactions, save emails Make common cause with other groups (ULL) If you can argue that the issue is not narrow: better! Be prepared to spend the time / money necessary Look professional, irrespective of the merits of the case Don’t assume your argument is obvious, make the case!
Issue Management 101:
Record any / all commitments made by proponents in
public meetings. Follow these up IMMEDIATELY with planning staff, cc’ing proponent, councillor about what was heard / agreed to. THIS IS CRITICAL.
Participating from the outset (and officially) will ensure
that you’ve preserved your right to participate later on; you’ll have standing.
Your ability to influence the outcome is likely higher the
more the proponent is looking for from the city (consideration / breaks / bonusing, etc). The leverage both you and the city have is higher, if there is more at stake, more opportunities for horse-trading.
Issue Management 101:
Discuss (and hopefully decide) early on how important
the issue is to your community.
Discuss and decide (be as honest as possible) on the
exact nature of the issue (e.g. an infill development that doesn’t seem to fit in the hood, by virtue of its density, height, lot coverage, proposed us, etc.
Other observations:
Neighbourhood Associations have the luxury to take
positions that fall outside of the purview of the Planning Act, or the London Plan etc., in the same way that individuals can (and do!) object to development proposals for a whole host of reasons, some technical, some personal, some procedural (wasn’t told about this; inadequate notice, volume of material to be considered,
One feature of the LP is its comprehensiveness – it
covers all areas and by default, there will be things in it which be contradictory or conflicting.
Sorting these out can be expected to occupy lots of
time in the next 20 years – good luck!