Best Practices, General

Smart Growth on the Ground Downtown Prince George Concept Plan Nomination Summary: The Smart Growth on the Ground (SGOG) Downtown Prince George Concept Plan (Plan) is a shared detailed vision for the year 2035 of a sustainable and vibrant downtown. SGOG is an innovative program to change the way development is done in BC, by creating real, built examples of smart growth with Prince George being the first Northern Community to participate in the process and provides a smart growth model for northern communities. Extensive follow-up ensures the plans become reality. Smart Growth on the Ground uses: guiding principles, an inclusive process, a design charrette, practical research follow-through to get the results “on the ground”.

2010 COMMUNITY EXCELLENCE AWARDS Union of BC Municipalities

Application: BEST PRACTICES, General

smart growth on the ground DOWNTOWN PRINCE GEORGE CONCEPT PLAN

Smart Growth on the Ground is a partnership with:

Introduction

The Smart Growth on the Ground (SGOG) Downtown Prince George Concept Plan (Plan) is a

shared detailed vision for the year 2035 of a sustainable and vibrant downtown.

Prince George is the first Northern Community to participate in the process, providing a smart

growth model for northern communities. This vision was crafted through the lens of the eight

SGOG Principles, as follows:

SGOG Principles:

1. Each Community is Complete

2. Alternative Options to the Car are Emphasized

3. Work in Harmony with Natural Systems

4. Buildings and Infrastructure are Greener, Smarter, and Cheaper

5. Housing Meets the Needs of the Whole Community

6. Jobs are Close to Home

7. The Spirit of Each Community is Honoured

8. Everyone has a Voice

Frequently, northern communities find limited examples available and applicable to them. The

Plan’s development was guided by the real challenges and opportunities that exist in the northern

project area, by the priorities and targets set by the community during five public workshops, and

by the advice provided by a broad cross-section of Prince George stakeholders and community

organizations. From this development, the following objectives were established:

Create a shared vision of the future (25 years);

Illustrate the actual and practical implications of visions, ideas, policies;

Empower people to work together and support the results;

Create a tangible product that won’t sit on a shelf;

Constitutes a model for other northern BC communities; and,

Showcase the City of Prince George as a leader in sustainable community

development and planning.

Smart Growth on the Ground established one integrated vision for the downtown, aligning all

previous plans into one comprehensive and practical document. The Plan acts as a cornerstone

in the development of other plans and initiatives concerning our Downtown, including aspects of

the Official Community Plan, the “myPG” Integrated Community Sustainability Plan (ICSP),

and the Active Transportation Plan currently underway.

Background and Project Overview

The work began in July of 2008 with the clarifying of objectives and identifying of key

participants. The SGOG vision was created by a team of stakeholders, community

representatives, and experts during a four day charrette in May 2009. This charrette-style format

collected a diverse amount of expertise within a shorter and focused time frame in contrast to the

equivalent work done in a traditional approach where longer time and financial resources would

be required; however, both approaches providing the same opportunities for public and

stakeholder input. Also, the high-visibility and media coverage generated more excitement,

public interest and input in a local government process than in a typical, longer planning project.

Work initially utilized the C1: Commercial Downtown zoning boundary located within the core

of the City’s original settlement area; however, for many in the community the downtown

extends beyond these boundaries. Therefore the work undertaken by the SGOG partners and the

community was in the context of the adjoining areas and the larger community.

C1: Commercial Downtown Zone Boundary SGOG Concept Plan

In addition to the ample amount of community time and volunteerism, there were funding

partners that assisted in aligning the community’s common goals. These partners included:

BC Hydro Powersmart

CMHC

Ministry of Environment

Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Arts (Heritage Branch)

Natural Resources Canada

Northern Development Initiative Trust

Prince George Community Foundation

Ramada

Real Estate Foundation

Tree Canada

Transport Canada

VanCity Credit Union

The Plan describes a downtown functioning as the civic and cultural centre of Prince George, a

downtown where lush streets and parks set the scene for thriving businesses and lively and

livable neighbourhoods, and where people of all kinds are attracted not just to visit but to live

and invest. Key physical features of the vision include the expansion of the Civic Plaza area into

a grand park, greenway connections to the nearby rivers, the concentration of new cultural and

civic facilities, medium and high density mixed use neighbourhoods, and a network of bike-

friendly, pedestrian-friendly, all-season, animated green streets.

The Plan describes a downtown prepared to adapt to climate change impacts and to create a clean

and resilient energy infrastructure. The vision also describes a downtown that provides a healthy

and supportive environment for people in need, and creates a place that engages and supports all

members of the Prince George community. Critical aspects of this social infrastructure include

services, facilities, and public places specifically designed for and with seniors, youth, mobility

challenged, and homeless people.

Prince George maintains many economic advantages as a regional hub for transportation,

medical services, finance, trade, education, and government. The vision considers attracting not

just visitors to the project area, but also residents and businesses. Buildings and districts are

renovated to be vibrant, energy efficient, and prepared for the future, ensuring the utilization of

existing infrastructure to decrease servicing costs, and an improved land use and densification

will further contribute to a tax base currently underutilized. This tax base will not only expand

from existing parcels of land, but also from underutilized laneways and roads that are closed and

consolidated into adjacent parcels for development.

Implementation

This vision and the detailed ideas proposed in this document are recommended to be used to

inform any deliberation, planning, policy-making, or development activity that occurs within the

project area. Similarly, planning decisions that occur beyond the project area should be weighed

by their potential effect on the successful realization of this vision. This includes planning

decisions affecting the entire City, particularly in neighbourhoods adjacent to the downtown, and

growth management policies.

Although this plan is not a regulatory document, the intent of this project is for the proposed

vision and ideas in this Concept Plan to be included in any future policies or policy amendments

as it is a toolkit and resource for everyone who expects to play a role in the realization of this

vision. More specifically, a major part of this document includes an Implementation Section

which outlines the actions required to realize this vision. The activities are categorized by three

groups:

Policies and Plans – City planning activities such as strategic pans, policy

development and bylaw revisions

Programs and Projects – organizational activities not necessarily policy related

Major Projects and Amenities – activities relating to investments in major new

facilities and amenity improvements.

Support for sustainable land use planning by City Council was reflected in the approval of

SGOG on Monday September 14, 2009. Council also directed staff to prepare an amendment to

the City’s Official Community Plan (OCP) aligning the downtown vision, objectives and policies

with the key concepts articulated in SGOG, and approved the development of a detailed

implementation strategy (including timelines, partners, and actions). The OCP is currently under

review and undergoing community consultation with a Draft projected to go to Council

December 2010.

One of the top 10 community goals of the “myPG” sustainability plan was to have “Clear

Identity and Pride”, and is further described as to “have a clear identity that the community can

be proud of, with a strong downtown and connection to its rivers and natural surroundings”.

This sustainability plan was approved by City Council on June 21, 2010. In addition, the City of

Prince George Council Strategic Plan has established key focus areas and project priorities to

define the strategic direction within the City through to 2011. The Core Focus Areas identify

Toward a Better Downtown as Council’s #2 Priority Project within this Strategic Plan.

The implementation activities outlined in the SGOG plan are a starting point for the Downtown

Partnership Committee. This Council Committee is considered the keeper of this vision, and

reviews and prioritizes these plans. The Committee includes representation from the City of

Prince George, Initiatives Prince George, Downtown Prince George, RCMP, Prince George

Native Friendship Centre, Prince George Chamber of Commerce, Northern Health Authority,

and downtown social service providers. They have identified numerous recommendations and

projects within their Phase One Interim Report currently in action.

These projects may include, but are not limited to, a Residential Wood Innovation

Comprehensive District, Wood Innovation and Design Centre (as announced in August 29, 2009

Parliamentary Speech from the Throne to be located in Prince George), Health and Wellness

Centre, nonmarket and market housing, mixed use development, Farmers Market year round

facility, a Performing Arts Centre, community food gardens, bicycle storage, major transit

exchange, and interim uses for community benefit as identified through further strategy

development.

Conclusion

The Smart Growth on the Ground Downtown Prince George Concept Plan is a shared detailed

vision for the year 2035 of a sustainable and vibrant downtown Prince George that:

Has broad community support

Has City Council Approval and support in advancing forward

Has impacts on policies and plans, including regulatory documents

Includes built projects (underway and creates economic stimulus)

Constitutes a model for other northern BC communities

This Plan marks the first time this approach has been replicated in northern BC, and will also be

the first SGOG experience in a city that serves as a regional centre. The lessons from SGOG in

Prince George will continue to expand the range of community types for which SGOG

communities can serve as models. This SGOG approach is transferable to other BC

municipalities, especially those in northern locations, facing economic transitions, and/or

struggling with climate change issues.

Throughout this process the partners have worked diligently to raise the necessary funds for this

project, organize an extensive community consultation program, coordinate numerous

researchers, and facilitate the creation of a community plan for the downtown of Prince George.

It truly was a community effort producing a community vision clearly on its way to reality.

The full plan and further details can be viewed at the following internet link:

http://www.city.pg.bc.ca/pages/news/2009/smartgrowth.php