Peel Healthy Urban Development Evaluation Tool James Dunn, Marisa Creatore, Jonathan Weyman, Evan...
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Transcript of Peel Healthy Urban Development Evaluation Tool James Dunn, Marisa Creatore, Jonathan Weyman, Evan...
Peel Healthy Urban Development Evaluation Tool
James Dunn, Marisa Creatore, Jonathan Weyman, Evan Peterson and Richard Glazier
Prepared for Peel Public Health byThe Centre for Research on Inner City Health (CRICH) at St. Michael's Hospital
with support fromThe Ministry of Health Promotion
Overview
• Background & Rationale
• Development of Tool
• The Initial Tool
• Consultation & Assessment Process
• Moving Forward
Background & Rationale
Alarmingly high rates of obesity, type 2 diabetes, cancer, and CVD in Canada.
Being physical active can reduce the risk of these diseases by up to 50%.
However, 54% of Peel adults were inactive in 2003.
The region has some of the lowest active transport rates in Canada.
Background & Rationale
Peel Health Report (2005) suggests that sprawling, auto-oriented development could be a cause of these problems.
Peel Council approves Resolution 2005-1395, directing Peel Public Health to make planning recommendations that provide greater opportunity for active living.
CRICH hired to create an evidence-based planning tool to encourage activity-friendly development.
CRICH previously developed the Toronto Diabetes Atlas and indices of health of built environment
Development of Tool
Literature review conducted on over 200 research and best practices articles relating to health and the built environment.
Emphasis on research-based evidence and quantitative recommendations.
Established 7 elements associated with healthy communities in the literature (e.g., density).
Each element broken into quantifiable measures with significant associations with physical activity and health (e.g., net residential density).
Development of Tool
• Strength of evidence (both scientific and expert) analysis determined measures:
• inclusion or exclusion • designation as prerequisite (for approval) or
credit (for bonus certification)• Targets/ranges established using research-based
benchmarks, expert recommendations, and similar planning tools (e.g., LEED-ND).
The Initial Tool
• 7 built environment elements associated with active living:
• Density• (residential, non-residential)
• Service Proximity• (to a variety of services, to transit, to employment)
• Land Use Mix• (mixed land use, mixed building use, mixed housing types)
• Street Connectivity• (intersection density or block size)
The Initial Tool
• 7 built environment elements continued…
• Road Network & Sidewalk Characteristics• (complete streets, traffic calming, traffic speed & pedestrian-
priority, sidewalks & buffer strips, cycle-friendly design, lighting)
• Parking• (elimination of minimums, unbundled/shared, price & difficulty,
location)
• Aesthetics & Human Scale• (setbacks & streetwalls, height to width ratio, tree
placement/characteristics)
1. Density
• Increased density significantly associated with both walking outcomes and lower BMI.
• Interacts with Proximity and Land Use mix to determine the concentration and distribution of people and destinations in the built environment.
• Higher residential densities can better support a variety of services, jobs, and other destinations within walking/cycling distance of where people live.
1. Density
Current trends: Autocentric Suburbs Driveways dominate < 10 units/hectare
Drive-up services
Strip Malls
FAR < 0.5
1. Density
Suggested new requirements:
Residential
Net Dwelling Density 35 units/ha (as shown)
Non-residential
• Floor Area Ratio• > 0.7 FAR • Compact, walkable
2. Service Proximity
Objective & subjective distance to neighbourhood services was significantly associated variety a variety of walking outcomes.
The greater the variety of services close by, the more likely people can visit multiple destinations in the same walk/cycle trip.
Proximity is most important for daily destinations (e.g., work, grocery, school, transit).
2. Service Proximity
• Current trends:• Separated uses
• Distant Destinations
2. Service Proximity
Nearby Destinations Mixed Uses
New requirements: Proximity to a variety of services Proximity to employment Proximity to transit
3. Land Use Mix
• Interacts with Proximity and Density to determine the relative distance between people and destinations and between destinations.
• Aids in reducing trip distance on a multi-destination trip. • Tool encourages a mix of habitual (e.g., work, grocery) and non-
habitual (e.g., entertainment, parks) land uses• Outcomes:
• livelier (more people at more times) neighbourhood, • more convenient (live, work, play) neighbourhood, • safer (more surveillance at more times) neighbourhood
=> all of these features encourage activity
4. Street Connectivity
• Higher connectivity significantly associated with walking outcomes and lower BMI.
• Increased connectivity encourages active transport by providing a more direct route to and between any given destinations, thereby shortening distances.
• Increased connectivity also dissipates vehicular traffic and enhance non-vehicular networks through specialized pathways.
4. Street Connectivity
• Small blocks • Shorter, direct routes
4. Street Connectivity
580/km2 58/km2 5.8/km2
(Prerequisite: 75 intersections/km2)
5. Road Network & Sidewalk Characteristics
• Determines traffic calming and speed, sidewalks and buffers, cycle-friendly design, lighting, and street furniture.
• All influence the safety, comfort, convenience, and enjoyment of active transportation or recreational activity.
• Key to provide for all users, not just cars.• If you build it, they will come – more lanes, more
parking, etc. invites more cars.
5. Road Network & Sidewalk Characteristics
• Incomplete Streets
• Built for the car• Single use(r)
Complete Streets
• Built for people• A true public space• Prerequisite in tool
6. Parking
• Parking minimums are a key factor in limiting densities, as they increase land requirements per unit, which also...
• Increases development costs• Encourages peripheral development• Decreases housing affordability• Contributes to urban heat sink problem• Increases demand on storm water infrastructure• Degrades the pedestrian environment
6. Parking
• We recommend eliminating the minimums.• Replace with maximums or only supply parking
where revenue covers costs.• Encourage car-sharing, car-free housing, public
transportation, and other health-friendly initiatives.• Other options include: unbundled parking in all
multifamily dwellings, shared parking, market rate parking zones, and other programs.
7. Aesthetics & Human Scale
Determines the scale/size and design of the built environment.
Controlling for aesthetics reduced the walkability difference of a low vs high SES neighbourhood to insignificant.
Building to a human scale is essential for pedestrian comfort, safety, and enjoyment.
Urban trees are vital contributors to city aesthetics, the environment, and the economy.
7. Aesthetics & Human Scale
Large setbacks: Increase distances Degrade pedestrian world Allow parking lots in setback
7. Aesthetics & Human Scale
Shorter setbacks (required): On human scale, increased densities, shorter tips People places, window shopping, surveillance/safety, Street enclosure, social cohesion & interaction
Consultation & Assessment Process
Dan Leeming of the Planning Partnership Meetings with key stakeholders
– Planning staff at Peel region– Planning staff from municipalities (Mississauga, Brampton,
Caledon)– private planning firms
Gap analysis of municipal & regional by-laws and planning standards;
Review of relevant provincial legislation & regulations + modifications of tool for conformity
GIS validation & comparison to existing areas
Consultation & Assessment Process
Key Outcomes from Consultation & Assessment:• Jurisdiction of measures
• By-law vs developer vs public department• Most measures controlled by by-laws that do not
correspond with the targets.• Some measures calculated differently than in existing
processes.• Opposition from current mandates & directives (e.g.,
transportation safety/efficiency vs. walkability)• Suitability for infill vs. Greenfield
Moving Forward
Peel Public Health to seek continuity between tool-recommended standards and:
Official Plan(s) Municipal by-laws Transportation & other public standards Provincial legislation & regulations
Governments at all levels can lead by example and by normal channels
They are major property developers in many areas Private sector will follow?
Modification of tool for infill development – initial priority on greenfield new- build
The End.
2.a. Proximity to a Variety of Services and Employment
Prerequisites: > 70% of residents within 800m of 5 public
services. > 70% of residents within 800m of 7 retail
services. Centre of community within 800m of the
same number of full-time jobs as 50% of the number of total dwelling units.
Centre of community within 800m of the same number of dwelling units as 50% of the number of full-time jobs.
4. Street Connectivity
Low connectivity
Longer, indirect routes
5.a. Complete Streets
Complete streets are those designed for all users, not just cars.
Separate travel lanes reduce conflicts between users and greatly increase convenience for walking and cycling.
Lower speed limits greatly increase safety and comfort for pedestrians and cyclists.
Lower volumes offer more pedestrian-oriented spaces with increased opportunity for play and socializing in the street.
5.a. Complete Streets
00-15km/h – Lanes: 1-2. Lane width: ≤ 3.2m*. Sidewalks: 0-2. Bikes Lanes: 0-2.
16-30km/h – Lanes: 1-2. Lane width: ≤ 3.2m*. Sidewalks: 1-2. Bikes Lanes: 0-2.
31-40km/h – Lanes: 1-2. Lane width: ≤ 3.2m. Sidewalks: 2. Bikes Lanes: 1-2.
41-50km/h – Lanes: 2-4. Lane width: ≤ 3.2m. Sidewalks: 2. Bikes Lanes: 2.
All new local roads ≤ 40km/h All new non-local roads ≤ 50km/h * Single lane roads may be ≤ 5m should it accommodate two-
way traffic (e.g., woonerf or other low volume, low speed road).
7.a. Building Setbacks
Prerequisites: Detached residential ≤ 7.6m Attached & multifamily ≤ 4.6m Commercial & light industrial ≤ 3m ≥ 70% commercial/mixed-use flush to
sidewalk Main entrances cannot face parking
7.a. Building Setbacks Commercial: Activity nodes Human scale Street enclosure
7.a. Building Setbacks Commercial: Strip malls Failed mixed use Drive-ups & -throughs