The Policy Context

The Policy Context

The Policy Context

Planning and Growth Management Department Presentation to Planning Committee

February 7th, 2011

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AgendaAgenda

l The Official Plan (30 minutes)l Community Design Plans and Urban

Design Guidelines (30 minutes)

l The Zoning By-law (30 minutes)

l Housing (30 minutes)

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The City of OttawaThe City of Ottawa• Population - 900,000 • Area: 2,796 square kilometres (half the size of Prince Edward Island)• 5th largest City in Canada – both in Population and Land Area• 90 kilometres east to west • Ottawa's area is almost 80% rural

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Planning HierarchyPlanning Hierarchy

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Ottawa 20/20Ottawa 20/20

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The Official Plan OverviewThe Official Plan Overview

The Official Plan (OP) guides the physical growth and development of the municipality:

• Where land uses will go• Where services will be needed• What lands will be preserved from

development• What authority is delegated• How consultation will occur

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The Official Plan Overview Cont’d.The Official Plan Overview Cont’d.

• An Official Plan is a legal document • Authority comes from the Planning Act;• An Official Plan cannot control:

• The closure of schools• The cutting of trees• The provision of social services• The drainage of fields

l 5-Year Review completed in 2009 (OPA 76) and next one to commence in 2012

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The Official Plan Review: OPA 76The Official Plan Review: OPA 76

• Approved by Council June 2009• Approved by the Minister of Municipal

Affairs January 2010• Under appeal to OMB• Nine hearings scheduled over 27 weeks• Hearings to run December, 2010 –

November 2011.

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Key Strategic DirectionsKey Strategic Directions

The Official Plan meets the challenges of growth through to 2031 by pursuing strategic directions in four key areas:

1.Managing Growth2.Maintaining Environmental Integrity3.Providing Infrastructure4.Creating Liveable Communities

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1. Managing Growth1. Managing Growth

• Direct the majority of growth to the urban area where services already exist.

• Support growth in the Villages.• Urban area growth will be directed to areas

where density can be accommodated and served with quality transit, walking and cycling facilities.

• Downtown Ottawa will be a vibrant mix of thriving economic and cultural activities.

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Population ProjectionsPopulation Projections

Projected Growth in Population City of Ottawa, 2006 to 2031

2006 2011 2021 2031

Inside Greenbelt 533,000 540,000 562,000 591,000Outside Greenbelt,urban

252,000 291,000 367,000 432,000

Rural 86,000 91,000 102,000 113,000Total 871,000 923,000 1,031,000 1,136,000

Projected Growth in Households City of Ottawa, 2006 to 2031

2006 2011 2021 2031Inside Greenbelt 228,000 237,000 258,000 278,000Outside Greenbelt,urban

88,000 106,000 140,000 168,000

Rural 30,000 32,000 38,000 43,000Total 346,000 376,000 436,000 489,000

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Development Priority Areas and LRT StationsDevelopment Priority Areas and LRT Stations

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Density TargetsDensity TargetsMinimum Target Density*

Designation 2006 Density* At 2031 Post-2031Central Area 395 500Mixed-Use CentresTunney’s-Quad 207 250Lees 167 250Bayview-Preston 142 200Blair-174 106 200Baseline-Woodroffe 96 200Hurdman 54 200Confederation Heights 73 200Billings Bridge 130 160Cyrville 45 120Industrial 42 120Town CentresOrléans 48 120Kanata 33 120Barrhaven 11 120Arterial MainstreetsRichmond (north of Carling) 217 200Carling 183 200St. Laurent 92 120Bank 79 120Merivale-Clyde-Baseline 50 120Montreal East 41 120Community CoreRiverside South 0 80

*people and jobs per gross hectare

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2. Maintaining Environmental Integrity2. Maintaining Environmental Integrity

• Emphasizes transit, walking and cycling, and by policies that protect forests, wetlands and other natural environment areas to support Air quality.

• Provincially and locally significant wetlands and forests will be conserved.

• The City will direct land use and development in a way and to locations that maintain ecosystem functions over time.

• Greenspaces will be valued and protected.

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Greenspace Master PlanGreenspace Master Plan

l Council’s objectives for urban greenspace is to provide:“an adequate supply of greenspace, readily accessible to residents as a connected network of high-quality spaces planned and maintained on a sustainable basis”l Urban Greenspace Networks:

Increase accessibility to greenspace; Identify priorities for extending the network; Connect neighbourhoods to the network; Supports sustainability of natural lands.

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3. Providing Infrastructure: Transportation Master Plan3. Providing Infrastructure: Transportation Master Plan

The Official Plan directs the Transportation Master Plan to implement the following policies: l Transportation Demand Managementl Transportation System Managementl Walkingl Cyclingl Transitl Roads and Rights-of-Way Protectionl Other Rights-of-Way Protectionl Parkingl Movement of Goodsl Transportation Terminals

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Providing Infrastructure: Infrastructure Master PlanProviding Infrastructure: Infrastructure Master Plan

The Official Plan directs the Infrastructure Master Plan to implement the following policies: l Water supply and treatment;l Wastewater collection and treatment;l Stormwater collection and release;

The IMP sets policy to support intensification through Capacity Management Strategies for piped infrastructure

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4. Create Liveable Communities4. Create Liveable Communities• Growth will be managed in ways that create

complete communities;• Provide rural and urban economic activities in

suitable locations; • Maintain high quality of life;• Familiar landscapes and heritage buildings will be

maintained; • Rural communities will continue to be valued for

their distinct economies and lifestyles; • Increase the supply of affordable housing;• Create attractive communities;• Community building will be open and inclusive; • Agricultural lands, natural areas will be protected

and mineral resources will be protected for extraction.

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How We Make the Official Plan “Real”How We Make the Official Plan “Real”

l Through the Development Review Process:

l If there is a request for height or density is it near rapid transit?l Are we achieving our density targets?l Are we achieving a mixed use to encourage “live, work, play”?l Will the proposal respect the neighbourhood’s character?l Is there adequate servicing capacity in the area?l Are the environmental tenets of the Official Plan being

respected – how can we make the project more sustainable?l Are we providing an array of housing supply - affordabilityl How can we best incorporate good urban design?

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l Through undertaking transportation planning studiesl Based on the prioritization of the Transportation Master Plan

l Through examining other servicing alternatives and public works implications

l Through protecting or acquiring environmentally sensitive lands

l Environmental Impact Statementl Urban Natural Features Strategy

l Considering municipal budget implications

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Through plans and strategies:

• Community Design Plans and Secondary Plans

• Urban Design guidelines• Zoning By-law• Specific development applications

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Community Design PlansCommunity Design Plans

Community Design Plans (CDPs) are developed to translate the principles and policies of the Official Plan (OP) to the community scale. They are developed where significant change might occur:

• Town Centres• Mixed-use Centres• Traditional and Arterial Mainstreets• Developing Communities (Greenfield Areas)• Villages (if expansion is planned)

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Community Design Plans completedCommunity Design Plans completed

• Barrhaven South• Beechwood• Carp Road Corridor• Village of Carp• Village of Constance Bay• Downtown Ottawa Urban Design Strategy• East Urban Community (Phase 1)• Fernbank• Greely• Leitrim• Richmond Road/Westboro• Riverside South• South Nepean Town Centre• St. Joseph Boulevard• The Escarpment Area District Plan• Uptown Rideau• Village of Richmond

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Proposed CDP’s:Proposed CDP’s:

The following CDP’s are proposed to be completed in this term of council:Carling-Bayview, West Wellington, Old Ottawa East, Mid-Centretown, Scott Street/Tunney’s Pasture, East Urban Community (Phase 2), Bank Street (Rideau River to Ledbury) and Stittsville Mainstreet.

Also, the following Transit-oriented development plans will be completed over this term of council:lVia Station, Hurdman, Lees, Blair, Cyrville.

In addition, the zoning on several Mainstreets will be examined.

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Secondary PlansSecondary Plansl Secondary Plans provide specific policies for areas identified within an Official Plan as requiring more detailed direction on topics such as land use, urban design and transportation.

l A Secondary Plan is typically adopted as an amendment to the City’s Official Plan and outlines the goals, objectives and policies governing the development and redevelopment of land for the area to which it applies.

l There are currently 27 Secondary Plans and equivalents in the Official Plan. (Volumes 2a,2b,2c of the Official Plan)

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A CDP versus a Secondary PlanA CDP versus a Secondary Plan

Community Design Plansl The Community Design Plan is a

framework within which decisions are made;

l Provides all policies or strategies in one comprehensive plan;

l Adopted as a Council Policy;l Listed, but not part of the OP; l Cannot be appealed to OMB;l Implemented through the

Zoning By-law;l Changes to an CDP require

Council approval and may require changes to the Zoning By-law;

l Lower cost to amend.

Secondary Plans l It is a set of detailed land-use

policies and designations within the jurisdiction of the Planning Act;

l Provides only land use policies; i.e. very defined in scope;

l Adopted as part of OP;l Part of the OP; l Can be appealed to OMB;l Implemented as a separate legal

document;l Changes to a Secondary Plan

require an OP Amendment and may require a Zoning By-law amendment;

l Higher cost to amend.

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Wellington CDP ExampleWellington CDP Example

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Urban Design GuidelinesUrban Design Guidelines

Urban Design Guidelines are used for reoccurring development types to assist in providing upfront expectations to developers and to provide consistent direction to similar development applications:lLarge-Format RetaillDrive-Through FacilitieslGas StationslGreenfield NeighbourhoodslRural VillageslTraditional MainstreetslInfill HousinglHigh-Rise HousinglArterial Mainstreets

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Guidelines Example – Large Format RetailGuidelines Example – Large Format Retail

Objectives of Design Guidelines:l To achieve interesting, high-quality architectural

design for large-format retail buildings;l To enhance landscaping, public open space, and

environmental performance of such developments;l To create comfortable and attractive pedestrian

environments;l To enhance the streetscape along public streets and

contribute to a high quality public spacel To protect and enhance the character and quality of

the districts and neighbourhoods where large-format retail developments are located;

l To promote development patterns that allow for future intensification.

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Zoning By-LawZoning By-Law

l Zoning By-laws assist in carrying out the planning objectives of Council, expressed through the Official Plan.

l The Zoning By-law is a set of regulations that controls development in a specific geographic area

l Zoning By-laws are enabled by the Ontario Planning Act

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Zoning By-Law in EffectZoning By-Law in Effect

• June 25, 2008 - City Council enacted a new Comprehensive Zoning By-law for the City

• October 23, 2008 - the Ontario Municipal Board approved the initial provisions of the Comprehensive By-law. As of October 2010, 95% of the new By-law is now in effect.

• Ontario Municipal Board will render decisions on remaining appeals in 2011

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Zoning By-lawZoning By-law

Your source for:

l Definitions of different residential, commercial, and industrial zones and heights and densities in those zones

l Performance standards, e.g. setbacks from the lot lines and distances between buildings

l Parking requirements

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Zoning By-law and the Official PlanZoning By-law and the Official Plan

The following are some of the changes to zoning permissions in order to support implementation of policies of the Official Plan.•Central Area:

Elimination of Floor Space Index restrictions that existed under former Ottawa on almost all areas designated Central Area.

•Mixed Use Centres: Minimum height requirement of 6.7 m near rapid transit stations

introduced.•Traditional Mainstreets:

Maximum front yard setback introduced to bring buildings near front lot line.

•Arterial Mainstreets: Substantial increase in height to 20 and 25 metres in many arterial

mainstreet areas .

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• Policies Related to Intensification in the designated General Urban Area (outside Development Priority Areas):

Addition of land use permissions for mid-high rise residential uses on existing shopping centres such as St. Laurent SC, Carlingwood SC, Billings Bridge SC).

• Policies Related to Employment Areas: All stand-alone retail uses previously permitted under former zoning by-

laws were eliminated. • Protection of Heritage Resources:

Application of heritage overlay zoning provisions to all 120 individually designated properties (excluding Rockcliffe Park) outside old Ottawa.

• Policies Related to Promoting Alternative Modes of Transportation:

Shared parking reductions applied City wide, for all sites where mixed uses are developed

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• Policies Related to More Efficient Use of Land: Driveways to parking lots in traditional and arterial mainstreet

developments need not be located on site, can be shared with other adjoining properties

• Policies to Maintain Environmental Integrity and Protection from Hazards:

Eliminate non- agricultural uses on lands designated Agriculture • Policies related to Sustainable Land Use Planning and

Community Greening: Permit community gardens as a land use in most zones

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Requests for Zoning By-law amendmentRequests for Zoning By-law amendment

l When the City receives a request for a Zoning By-law amendment, we review the request based on its impact on:

l Change of use and externalities of the proposed usel Will a change in density impact the character of the

neighbourhood?l Will there be adequate buffering between environmentally

protected lands and neighbouring properties?l Will there be adequate parking provided?

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Zoning By-Law Amendment ExampleZoning By-Law Amendment Example

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Affordable Housing

Affordable Housing

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• Over 350,000 Households

• 60% Own, 40% Rent

• The vacancy rate has been traditionally low, currently at 1.5%.

• Only 7% of all housing built since 1996 has been rental accommodation

• Over 1/3rd of renters in Ottawa pay more than 30% of their income on rent and this is expected to grow

ContextContext

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• The City provides shelter to over 1,100 homeless men, women and children every night

• Over 10,000 households on the centralized waiting list for rent-geared-income housing, 2,000 households placed from the centralized waiting list each year

Basic Allowance$

Shelter Allowance Maximum

$

Total$

Average market rent 1 bedroom

Average market rent 2 bedroom

Ontario Works (OW)

Single $216 $356 $572 $817

Parent with two children 0-12 years

$336 $607 $943 $995

Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)

Single $566 $454 $1020 $817

Parent with two children 0-12 years

$709 $775 $1484 $995

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PRIVATE MARKET HOUSING

SUPPORTIVE HOUSING

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OUTREACHHOUSING SEARCH

ANDSTABILIZATIO

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HOUSING LOSS PREVENTION

• Branch has 64.5 FTEs•Partners with over 150 agencies

Housing and Support ServicesHousing and Support Services

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Existing Subsidized Existing Subsidized HousingHousingExisting Subsidized Existing Subsidized HousingHousing

• 22,000+ units with 56 local housing providers (includes non-profits, co-ops and private landlords)

• Significant public and community asset ($2.8 billion replacement cost)

• Limited supply versus demand• On average up to 2,000 households are housed off the

Centralized Registry List

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1. Funding Sources

2. City Incentives and Tools

3. Action Ottawa

4. Specific Projects

5. Affordable Homeownership

Affordable HousingAffordable Housing

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Approximately 1217 units funded since 2003

With 466 built and 751 under construction

2003-2008 - $25M City / $18 M Federal / $16 M Provincial

2009/10 $39M combined Federal/Provincial

City Funding – Capital Grants, land and waiving/deferral of fees.

1. Funding1. Funding1. Funding1. Funding

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• Currently in year 3 of a 5 year extension to AHP (2009 – 2013)

• Funding and program guidelines for years 3 to 5 NOT available (2011 to 2013)

• Funding is significant and required to plan and leverage City resources.

Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program (AHP)

1.2 Funding1.2 Funding1.2 Funding1.2 Funding

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Range of Tools and incentives• Capital Funding• Exemption and deferral of

development charges• Access to Surplus City Property• Exemption of Planning Fees• Grants in Lieu of Building Permit

Fees• New Multi – Residential Tax Rate• Municipal Capital Facilities By-law

2.1 City Incentives and 2.1 City Incentives and ToolsTools2.1 City Incentives and 2.1 City Incentives and ToolsTools

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• City’s Affordable Housing Program

• Started in 2003 to provide/bundle incentives and capital to develop affordable rental and supportive housing

• Planning Committee and Council to approve priorities and Requirements to target funding

• Combines incentives such as capital grants, accessible grants, fee relief and development exemptions

3. Action Ottawa3. Action Ottawa3. Action Ottawa3. Action Ottawa

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Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corporation (CCOC) Beaver Barracks • Phase I (160 units) occupied• Mixed income community• City Land provided $1• Partnerships with support

services agencies• Subject to Downtown

Urban Design Review and NCC Design Review

• Green Building Design

4. Recent Projects4. Recent Projects4. Recent Projects4. Recent Projects

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Shepherds of Good Hope - The Oaks

• Conversion of apartment hotel to 55 units of supportive housing

• Unique partnership between Shepherds of Good Hope, Ottawa Inner City Health and Canadian Mental Health Association

• Affordable Housing worked with Sheperds of Good Hope for 2 years to help develop proposal

• Funded and converted in 2009/10

4.1 Recent Projects4.1 Recent Projects4.1 Recent Projects4.1 Recent Projects

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Cornerstone Housing for Women

• Land Purchased under the Federal Homelessness Program Initiative

• Capital Funding provided from Action Ottawa and the AHP and the Anglican Diocese

• Energy Efficient Building Design

• Will Provide 42 supportive apartments for women

4.2 Recent Projects4.2 Recent Projects4.2 Recent Projects4.2 Recent Projects

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• City deferral of development charges at Somerset Gardens (2007/8)

• AHP –Homeownership Component – 138 households received federal/provincial down payment assistance since 2008

• Non-profit housing providers such as Habitat for Humanity, CADCO and Options for Homes develop affordable homeownership developments and increase affordability

• All loans and deferrals are secured by agreement and second mortgage with repayment provisions and exemptions following a 20 year period

• Subject to market fluctuations and changes to mortgage requirements

5. Affordable 5. Affordable Homeownership Homeownership ProgramsPrograms

5. Affordable 5. Affordable Homeownership Homeownership ProgramsPrograms

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Housing Services BranchHousing Services BranchHousing Services BranchHousing Services Branch

Moving Forward

The Policy Context

Documents

Transcript of The Policy Context