Benefits of Open Space Planning

ATLANTIC GREEN FORUM AND DESIGN CHARETTESt. John’s, NL

OCTOBER 10 | 2012

Benefits of Open Space Planning

“The parks and trails that make up Corner Brook Stream have enhanced the quality of life, and general economic development from the perspective of attracting young professionals to the City.”

– Corner Brook Mayor Greeley

OPEN SPACE PLANNING |

“It is enticing to young families and attracts people to local businesses.”

– Keith Goulding,

President of Greater Corner Brook Board of Trade


ROLE OF OPEN SPACE PLANNING:

“to minimize people’s distress while maximizing interactions…”


A. Existing Conditions B. What is Open Space? C. Sustainable Communities and

Open Space PlanningD. Torbay Case StudyE. Challenges and Opportunities in NL


A | Existing Conditions


Land Development NE Avalon:• Occurring at unprecedented rate• Impacts on land use / function

(local and regional) unknown• Pre-emptive land strategies needed• Organize and balance developed

and undeveloped space


Land Development NE Avalon:• Poor OS planning eliminate

future opportunities• Eroding valued amenities such

as the Grand Concourse• Lack of protection leads to

destruction of natural environment


B | What is an Open Space? Why is it important?


Develop and Undeveloped Land• Agricultural• Recreational• Cultural • Terrestrial-Aquatic Systems• Wildlife Habitat• Urban Plazas• Streets


Cultural and Historical Land• Reinforce and retell the story

of community• Celebrate heritage of place

and people


Open Spaces are Networks• Physically and socially connects people

and communities• Negates sprawl that removes networks

and connections


Open Spaces create Opportunities • Enhances Individual and Community

Health/Well Being• Positive correlation exists between

well being and proximity to parks and green spaces


Open Spaces are Economic Opportunities• Developers• Municipalities• Individual home-owners• Higher equity the closer to green space• When we link open space to higher densities

greater economics through preservation.


Open Spaces differentiates Place• Enhances community attachment• Creates beauty (built and natural)• Encourages interaction• For everyone• Elevates distinctiveness• Makes place matter and increases local GPD


• Land development often externalizes costs to the natural environment.

• Land clearing overwhelms environmental features. Once gone, it is gone.

The Need: Preserve and Protect What is Valued


• Preservation of natural systems through strategies of:- watershed storm water management, - streamside protection measures, - tree retention and replanting policies, - site grading requirements and identification of sensitive areas.

• Emphasize the benefit of urban spaces as an integral part of the community.

The Need: Preserve and Protect What is Valued


Sustainable Communities and Open Space Planning

C |


• Manage future change: comprehensive, integrated and inclusive.

• From short term to long term.• Balance the natural and built physical environments.• Understand local assets: economic, social, cultural and

environmental. • Positively effect community design, function, prosperity

and livability.

Intent of SustainableCommunity Planning


Best first steps to Sustainable Open Space Planning:

1. Preserve and Protect what is valued. 2. Plan for an integrated system of parks, trails

and urban spaces (squares, streets, etc.)3. Put an Open Space Management Plan in

place to protect the resource.


Preserve and Protect what is valued.

1 |


• “Green” network• Non-developable lands identified and

protected• Waterway and coastal riparian zones, steep

slopes, sensitive habitats, existing recreation facilities, ceremonial lands, cemeteries, special places, viewing areas, etc.

Use Land, Water and Energy Resources


• Comprehensive land use mapping inventory:– property information; location, features

and acreage – area amount of environmentally sensitive

and recreational lands (knowing what is not developable helps to provide certainty of what is developable)

Use Land, Water and Energy Resources


Plan for an integrated system of parks, trails and urban spaces (squares, streets, etc.)

2 |


• Represent an appreciating asset• Proximity influences activity• Sought after recreation• Year-round recreation activity• Best examples in NL the Grand Concourse, Corner Brook

Stream and east Coast Trail.• Huge economic benefit.• Influence resident and businesses


Parks and Trails

To Ensure Success:• Design professionally with community input• Use to interpret and connect the community• As community grows so should your trail system• An Open Space Management Plan the best way

to protect your trail network


• Build a Green Infrastructure Network• Developed in context of Municipal Plan and Parks

and Recreation Master Plan• Identify a community wide integrated green

transportation system.• Ideally developed with Advanced Street Network

Plan.• Design opportunities to link to schools, local

commercial, institutions, etc.


Plan to:

• Prepare a short and longer term parkland acquisition strategy.

• Create a park hierarchy: regional, community-wide, neighbourhood wide and local.

• Link to regional networks: GCA, East Coast Trail• Make Distinct to Community


Plan to:

Put an Open Space Management Plan in place to protect the resource – Torbay Case Study

D |


Torbay Open Space Master Plan• Identified in Parks and Recreation Master• Proposed integration with Municipal Plan,

establish open spaces buffers and protect via development regulations

• Link developable lands and key recreation and community assets and facilities


TORBAY | OPEN SPACE MANAGEMENTExisting Open Space Typology


TORBAY | OPEN SPACE MANAGEMENTDevelopment Assessment


TORBAY | OPEN SPACE MANAGEMENTProposed Open Space Typology


TORBAY | Inner Loop Zoning Amendments


TORBAY | Outer LoopZoning Amendments


TORBAY | OPEN SPACEDevelopment Concept


TORBAY |Phase One Developments


Open Space Plan Status:• Land ownership mapping has been conducted for the

entire corridor.• Town seeking approval to access Crown Lands identified.• Access to additional lands as park of 10% development

requirement or through private owner agreement• Construction proposed to begin in Spring 2014



Challenges and Opportunitiesin Newfoundland and Labrador

E |

Challenges:• Urban and Rural Planning Act outdated• Principles of Sustainable Planning not adopted• No Regional OS Planning• Integrated Planning not the norm• Open Space allocated on per

development vs. community-wide system• Open Space not properly integrated with

new developments• Land ownership and mapping info lacking• Value of investment not clearly understood.


Opportunities:• NL Lands Acts and Riparian zone legislation • Legislate access to waterways, coastline and ponds• Significant amounts of Crown Lands available • Added equity for developer and enhanced tax base• Sought after by residents• Appreciating asset, positive impact on local GDP• Three champion projects: GC and CBS and ECT• OS Management Strategy part of St. John’s Mun Plan


ATLANTIC GREEN FORUM AND DESIGN CHARETTESt. John’s, NL

OCTOBER 10 | 2012

Benefits of Open Space Planning

Benefits of Open Space Planning

Design

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