broadway 360 opening presentation

creating our neighbourhood plan

Presentation Outline:

1. Introduction2. Summit Outcomes3. ‘Overview of Observations from a ‘Fresh Eyes’

Perspectives4. Existing Conditions5. Measuring Up to Comparable Main Streets6. Challenges & questions to tackle in the Next 3 Days

Intro to Study and Process

Who is Involved

Steering Committee Members

• Jason Aebig, Chair• Andrew Wallace, NCA • Tanya Ringdal, BBID• Bruce Cory, BBID• Carl Miller, Commercial Land Owners and or Business Owners• Harriett Richards, NCA & BILD• Mark Bobyn, NCA• Tom Der, Civic Administration• Lesley Arsenault, Civic Administration• Kevin Sturgeon, NCA• Moarg McKercher, NCA• Nadya Veerman, NCA• Janet Crouch, Commercial Land Owners and or Business Owners

INTRODUCTION

Study Background

• In 2001, a Local Area Plan for the Nutana Community was prepared;

• Recently there have been shifts in the economic, physical and social conditions of Broadway Avenue and the Nutana Community;

• Shift in context has resulted in some recommendations not being fully implemented, and new issues have emerged that were not previously anticipated;

• The Planning Partnership was retained in the Spring of 2008 to prepare a new Development Plan for the area;

INTRODUCTION

Study Objectives

• Land Use:

• Identify what land uses are appropriate and balanced;

• provide guidance on appropriate densities for residential and commercial development;

• provide guidance with respect to the appropriate scale and height of new buildings; and,

• how to create a healthy transition between Broadway Avenue and the adjacent residential neighbourhoods.

INTRODUCTION

Study Objectives

• Character Retention:

• Identify those characteristics that make this area special, including what characteristics should be enhanced and reinforced; and,

• how the form and shape of new buildings, quality and character of public spaces and streets, and, architectural design can contribute to the character of the area.

INTRODUCTION

Study Objectives

• Parking & Traffic:

• strategies for traffic and parking that are balanced with the need to retain an inviting pedestrian environment and a livable community.

INTRODUCTION

Study Process

INTRODUCTION

Overview of Background Review

Review of Background Documents

• Plan Saskatoon• Beautiful Saskatoon (2008)• Nutana: Community Quick Facts• Saskatoon Zoning By-Law• Local Area Planning Status Report (2007)• Broadway Visitor’s Guide (2007)• Broadway BID Annual Review (2007)• Broadway BID Strategic Plan• Broadway BID Annual Review (2006)• Draft – Proposed B5B Overlay• Nutana Local Area Plan Final Report• Broadway Parking Study (2000)• Broadway: Through Boom and Bust and Back Again!• Broadway Streetscape Improvement Master Plan

BACKGROUND

Broadway Summit Outcomes

Overview

• Focus Group Sessions held over the course of two days on September 16 and 17

• Met with a diverse group of people including:

• Residents

• Business Owners

• Members of Council

• Property Owners

• Developers

• Area Schools

• Heritage Interest Groups

Broadway Summit

Broadway Summit

Key Commonly Shared Perspectives

• Assets of the Broadway Area:

• Central Location: easily accessible from all parts of the City;

• Built, un-built and storied Heritage;

• Diverse mix of uses that contributes to the areas character;

• Social, economic and demographic diversity;

• Locally owned businesses;

• the density of the area adds to the vitality and energy of Broadway;

• Walkability;

• Strong sense of community; and,

• The Broadway BID

Issues:

• Parking;

• Concern that the policies and tools surrounding heritage management are insufficient;

• increasing development pressure – fear that it will threaten the character of Broadway;

• Affordability for both residential and commercial uses is decreasing;

• Threat from other emerging areas

• Noise, traffic and crime related to the bars and pubs

Broadway Summit

Opportunities:

• LEED and environmental sustainability;

• CPTED Principles;

• Improving alternative modes of transportation;

• Amending existing policies to provide affordable housing in more innovative ways such as granny flats;

• Increasing density;

• Introducing new incentives and tools for heritage protection and enhancement; and,

• limiting or specifying store (floorplate) sizes.

Broadway Summit

Key Contradictory Perspectives:

• Personal Safety

• Gentrification

• Festivals & Events

Broadway Summit

Other Key Notable Perspectives:

• Small Town Character anchored by the “Main Street Experience”

• Authenticity of both the experience of being on Broadway, and the authenticity of the heritage buildings along the street.

Overview of Observations from a ‘Fresh Eyes’ Perspective

10 Key Observations from a Fresh Eyes Perspective

• ‘Main Street’ & Mixed Uses• Housing & Tenure Variety• Walkable Streets & Blocks• Abundance of Amenities• Access to Transit


• Natural Setting & Views• Beautiful Streets• Rich History & Heritage

Resources • Location & Proximity• Sense of Community• Appeal & Room to Grow


• High Quality Public Realm• Crosswalks• Landscaping• Feature Paving• Signage• Furnishing • Lighting• Public Art


• About linking areas, orientation, safety & civic pride

• Landmarks• Gateways• Mid-block connections• CPTED principles• Wayfinding• Bike Parking


• Between Broadway & Adjacent Residential Areas

• The Broadway Commercial ‘Shoulder’

• The South End of Broadway


• Scale of Street can be overwhelming – 30m (100ft)

• Especially in winter and where less landscaping exists

• Proportional ‘Street Wall’ can help


• Front Yard Parking• Under-Scaled Buildings• Gaps and Blank Walls• Non-Retail At-Grade• Inconsistent Setbacks• Visible Untreated Parking Areas


• About Longevity, Siting, Massing, Material Quality & Architectural Detail

• Not About Style• Public & Large Scaled Buildings

Have the Greatest Civic Obligations


• Buffer for Pedestrians• Traffic-Calming• Natural Surveillance• Commercial Viability


• ‘Main Streets’ Historically Built on Density & Struggle When Populations Decline

• Critical Mass of People & Activity Essential for Health & Success

• Diversity & Affordability• Vibrancy & Safety• Hallmark of Sustainable

Neighbourhoods


Nutana

One of the City’s Densest Areas

3,350 people per square km


Saskatoon

1,300/sKM


Saskatoon

1,300/sKM

Mississauga

2,100/sKM

Toronto

3,900/sKM

Boston

4,600/sKM

Vancouver

5,300/sKM

London

4,700/sKM

San Francisco

6,400/sKM

New York

10,300/sKM

Paris

26,000/sKM

Existing Conditions

Observations

• Existing land uses and land use policies are generally consistent

Land Use Policy

Observations

• Existing development does not reflect full potential of Commercial District zoning permissions

• Lack of massing and design controls

• Density permissions seem excessive

Zoning By-Law

Observations

• Proximity to River Valley

• Schools provide for open space

• Boulevards are an important ‘green’ amenity

• 5 Corners and Sidewalk Bump-outs serve as key gather spaces

Parks & Open Spaces

Observations

• Larger foot prints and coverage consistent with commercial and higher density streets

• Predominant character is street and pedestrian oriented - typical of traditional urban neighbourhoods

Built Form

Observations

• Not a large number of heritage significant structures remain along Broadway

• Key intersections have historic significance

Heritage

Observations

• Predominantly a low-rise area

• No obvious order to where taller buildings are located

Existing Building Heights

Observations

• Limited available vacant sites

• A number of incompatible building forms that ought to be redeveloped

• Permissions exceed existing development within the most of the B5 zone

Soft Sites

Observations

• Fine-grained grid pattern of streets

• Well served by transit (5min walk)

• Rear-lane orientation suggest early intentions for land uses

• Traffic calming may benefit from greater signed/signalized intersections

Circulation

Observations

• On-Street parking located throughout

• Metered parking (short-term) adjacent to commercial area

• On-site private commercial parking is limited

• No municipal parking facilities

Parking

Measuring Up to Comparable ‘Main Streets’

• Historic commercial district• Linear configuration• Outside if central business district• Adjacent historic residential areas• Traditionally low-rise building heights• Night life destination

WHYTE AVENUEINGLEWOOD/9TH AVE 17TH AVENUE SWOSBORNE STREET

Location:Winnipeg, MB

Population (City):633,451 (2006)

Location:Calgary, AB


Location:Edmonton, AB


Location:Calgary, AB


17th Avenue, Calgary

Intensification:• Intensification encouraged through zoning

Parking:•Exploring municipal surface parking lots to mitigate parking shortage•New design guidelines require all loading at rear•Parking relaxations for public housing

Licensed Establishments:•Zoning restricts number of clubs/block and percentage of block taken up by clubs

Land Use:•Commercial uses allowed on only first and second floors, maximum unit size 300 m2

Transition To Low-Rise:•Policy of stepping down heights from 17th Ave. •Maximum height in core is 3 storeys (taller in other areas)•Area north of 17th is an apartment neighbourhood

Built Form Control:•Bylaw limits widths of storefronts to 7.5 m•Setbacks recently standardized to 4.5 m•Built form design guidelines

Whyte Avenue, Edmonton

Intensification:•Require new commercial buildings to be of low scale and density (max. height 4 storeys, hotels may be 6)

Parking:•Provision of off-street commercial parking, and appropriate residential parking in new developments•Discourage long-term parking on residential streets

Licensed Establishments:•Police recommend better training for bar workers, prohibition of cheap drink specials, prohibition of glass bottles, addition of taxi stands•“Zoning overlay” prohibits new clubs

Land Use:•Prohibition against expansion of commercial area•Encourage office use above grade, retail at grade•Apartments only allowed on top floors•Auto oriented uses not permitted

Transition To Low-Rise:•Stepping down to surrounding residential height -14 to 10 m

Built Form Control:•Maximum storefront width of 10 m.•Built form guidelines (focus on traditional materials and styles).•Utilizes overlay zone

Osborne Street, Winnipeg

Intensification:•New buildings should be in keeping with existing street pattern and architecture

Parking:•“Parking management district,” In which “in lieu” agreements are promoted•Residential parking permit system is used•Above and below grade parking is promoted

Licensed Establishments:•Bars are not permitted in “mixed use transition” zones

Land Use:•Auto oriented uses not allowed

Transition To Low-Rise:•Use of special 2-4 storey “mixed-use transition” zoning between lower residential and taller commercial heights•Zoned to permit pockets of taller residential buildings (up to five storeys)

Built Form Control:•Development adjacent to heritage buildings must respect their character•Zoning requires pedestrian oriented form and high quality design

Inglewood, Calgary

Intensification:•Intensification encouraged to infill large number of vacant lots

Parking:•“Parking Awareness Program”•Creation of municipal commercial parking lots•Parking relaxations for heritage buildings

Licensed Establishments:•Zoning restricts number of clubs/block and percentage of block taken up by clubs (Inglewood is not major club area)

Land Use Conflicts:•Auto oriented businesses prohibited•Entire area rezoned “direct control” to allow community review of all development proposals

Transition To Low-Rise:•Stepbacks required above third storey of commercial buildings on 9th Ave.•Commercial buildings limited to four storeys (up to seven storeys with residential component)

Built Form Control:•Extensive restoration program•Design guidelines call for new building to relate to historic styles, heights

Key Challenges/Questions to Tackle in the Next Few Day

• Identifying the defining ‘Character’ that ought to be retained• Defining the appropriate form for new development

• Based on sound urban design principles• Enhancing the pedestrian experience • Providing for adequate transitions

• Identifying strategies to address parking issues• Linkages to development?• Municipal involvement in additional parking?• Design standards

• Strategies for Traffic-Calming & Accommodating Active Transportation• Strategies for Licensed Establishments

• Limits to number and scale?• Owner responsibilities?

• Implementation Strategies• Potential zoning amendments?• Form-based regulations?• Guidelines?• Design review?

Next Steps

INTRODUCTIONStudy Process