planning in saint john · planning in saint john june 12, 2010. ... it’s about defining the city...

Saint John Growth Strategy & Municipal Plan

The History and Potential ofThe History and Potential of Planning in Saint John

June 12, 2010

Saint John - TodaySchedule For Today

PART 1: SETTING THE STAGE FOR THE MUNICIPAL PLAN10:00am Welcome and Introductions

10:15am Presentation 1: The History and Potential of Planning in Saint John

11:00am Discussion: Saint John’s Strengths, Challenges and Opportunities

12:30pm Lunch

PART 2: ESTABLISHING THE DIRECTIONS FOR THE MUNICIPAL PLAN

1:00 pm Presentation 2: Sustainable Directions to Guide Change in Saint John

1:45pm Break‐out Working Groups

3:00pm Reporting Back

4:00pm Closing Remarks: Highlights from the Day, Next Steps

Today’s AgendaWhat is a Municipal Plan?y gThe Municipal Plan will describe the long term p gdevelopment vision for Saint John.

It will support Saint John’s quality of life by defining where people will live, work, learn and play over the coming years.

It’s about defining the city of the future and setting out the 25 year plan to get there.

Why Undertake This Now?The current plan is nearly 40 years old.y

The Plan will establish how and where growth and change should take place and prioritize spending p p p gto support this desired change.

PlanSJ is one of Council’s key prioritiesp

Today’s AgendaWhat Is The Planning Area?y g

How Will It Be Created?

Building on City initiatives

Research & Technical

Community EngagementCity initiatives Technical

StudiesEngagement

New picture

How It Is CreatedA Two Phased Approach

Phase 1 ‐ Growth Management Plan : where we grow

Phase 2 ‐ New Municipal Plan: how we grow

Future phases: Zoning Bylaw, Neighbourhood Plansp g y , g

How It Is CreatedWhere Are We in the Process?

Establishment of Citizen Advisory Committee, opening of PlanSJ Storefront, public launch, public engagement report, background studies, ongoing community engagement, Directions

& Opportunities Workshop

How It Is CreatedThe Project Team

& !The TeamCity of Saint John

& You!y

Citizens Advisory CommitteeUrban Strategies Inc.

ADI Inc.

A history of growthof growth and change in Saint John

1840: A City Where The Rivers Meet The Ocean

1840: A Thriving Industrial Port

1875: A Nationally Prominent Industrial City

1890‐1940s: Emerging Streetcar Suburbs

Connecting Uptown to:

•Old North EndD l A•Douglas Avenue

•West Side

Manawagonish Road, 1934

1946 Master Plan: Planning for a Post‐War Boom

Key Components:

•Guide for development to 1970

•Major new transportation infrastructure•Major new transportation infrastructure ‐viaduct at Union Station; Harbour Bridge

T t d d l t C t Pl•Targeted redevelopment: Courtenay Place; other sites

d ‘ ’ f• Strategies to reduce ‘scatterization’ of residential development

1946 Master Plan: New Transportation Infrastructure

1946 Master Plan: A Period of Population Growth

1946 Master Plan: Planning for Urban Renewal

Courtenay Bay1 2

Main Street – Douglas Avenue: 4000 residents

to be relocated

Courtenay Bay, Haymarket Square: 3750 residents to be l dto be relocated relocated

1946 Master Plan: Courtney Place Redevelopment

1946 Master Plan: Courtney Place Redevelopment

Elements:

•Apartments•Row Houses

•HospitalHospital•Elementary School•Park & Playground

Sh i C•Shopping Centre•Haymarket Square

1946 Master Plan: ‘Self Contained’ Neighbourhoods

Proposed Neighbourhood Boundaries

A History of Planning in Saint John1967: Amalgamation Adds Much More Land

City of Si dCity of Saint John

f

SimondsParish

City of Lancaster

Lancaster Parish

1973 Community Plan: An Aggressive Plan for Growth

Key Components:

Emphasis on “orderly”, managed growth and development

Respond to needs for major infrastructure in the amalgamated city

Prepare for extensive new development anticipated to result from senior government policies and cost‐sharing programs

1973 Community Plan: Overly Optimistic Projections

250,000 265,000 Residents and over 100,000 Jobs Projected by 2000 >>

200,000

150,000

100,000

200050,000

19732000

1973 Community Plan: New Centres at the Edges

1970’s: Retail, Housing and Employment Move Outward

McAllister PlaceMcAllister Place

Sprawling Housing Forms

Loch Lomond Road

Dispersed Employment Areas

UNB / Regional Hospital

Grandview Industrial Park

1970’s: Urban Revitalization Projects in Uptown Brunswick Square Redevelopmentq p

1980’s: Urban Revitalization Projects in Uptown

Old N

Charlotte Street: View South from Union Street

Old New

1980’s: Urban Revitalization Projects in Uptown Market Square Redevelopmentq p

1990’s: Urban Revitalization Projects in UptownImperial Theatre Restoredp

2000’s: A New Vision for the Uptown Waterfront

2000’s: Big Box Retail Developments in East Saint John

Home Depot

Canadian Tire

2000’s: Residential Sprawl Continues

Anchorage Ave.

PlanSJ must address a range of PlanSJ must address a range of gchallenges and opportunities in a comprehensive way to ensure

gchallenges and opportunities in a comprehensive way to ensurecomprehensive way to ensure

prosperity, provide a high quality of comprehensive way to ensure

prosperity, provide a high quality of life and promote sustainability within

the City of Saint John.life and promote sustainability within

the City of Saint John.the City of Saint John.the City of Saint John.

Many people have told us about things that are important to them

What We’ve Heard To Date

The City needs to reinvent its view of itself * Saint John has amazing topography, personality, industry, and heritage * We need to get

people to feel like they are part of one Saint John * Saint John is about energy in all its forms but we need diversification * We need to shrink

the geography of the City, and grow the city smaller and smarter *Health and well being is an essential city service * It’s time to get over g y g

the idea that Uptown is for families * Saint John needs affordable studio spaces to support a strong artist community * It’s about quality not quantity * Saint John needs to attract immigrants and a younger q y g y gand more multicultural population * We need to design and plan for seniors * We must celebrate our youth – they are the citizens of the future * Saint John needs mixed income communities not separatefuture Saint John needs mixed income communities not separate

enclaves * Let’s make the city beautiful through better urban design *There should be land use certainty and compatibility * More walking

and biking all over * More waterfront access * Multi-functionaland biking all over More waterfront access Multi functional buildings with retail, light industrial and residential, collaborating

together

Grow the city smaller and smarter“We need to shrink the geography of the City”

“There is a connection between the design and form of the city and community health”Increase quality of life

Diversify the population“Attract immigrants and a younger and more multicultural population”

Broaden employment“SJ has a world class energy sector workforce, but we need diversification”

Ensure compatibility of land uses“Reduce land use conflicts & promote investment”

Transform Uptown“Dynamic and family friendly by day and a place for grown ups by night”

Improve neighbourhoods, housing choice & mix“Saint John needs mixed income communities”

“Upgrade existing facilities and provide more access to the waterfront(s)”

Parks & recreation: quality, not quantity

Sustainability needs to be a key driver“Protected green space & waterways, compact communities, & green buildings”

process movement public realmmanaging land

and forminfrastructure

and form

Celebrate arts, culture & heritage“Places for art making, art showing and art celebration”

A Priority on urban design“Make the City more beautiful through better urban design”

“More walking, transit and biking in the city core and all over”Choices for getting around

Reinventing our Image“Saint John… is the hippest city in NB!”

Toward a More SustainableToward a More Sustainable Saint John

Working with 3 Elements of Sustainability

IntegratedIntegrated Planning A hApproach

Complete Growth pCommunities Management

We Need to Hear From You

Wh t S i t J h ’ t tWhat are Saint John’s greatest strengths or assets;

What are the Challenges that lie ahead; and

What opportunities should the Municipal Plan create?Municipal Plan create?

What are Saint John’s greatest strengths or assets?assets?

•PeopleN l b•Natural beauty

•Water•Beauty and good transportation system•Easy to get to amenities i e dr office•Easy to get to amenities i.e. dr office•Spectacular scenery•Community involvement•Pride of neighbourhoodPride of neighbourhood•Historical heritage•Architectural heritage•Boats, heritage, city market, walkabilityg y y•Rockwood park•Uptown•Waterfront• environmental conditions•Historic cultural diversity of the city past and present


•Quality of life•Support for teachers and their drama groupsSupport for teachers and their drama groups•Recreation and summer programs for children•History and the city market•Partridge island – open up, tourist attractionW lki t il•Walking trails

•Stunning views and vistas•Good bones, not only historically but so many different assetts•Abilty to get around in ten minutesy g•Support for artists•Contrast between industrial and domestic •Beauty of the mass of rocks around SJHope that seniors and their grandchildren can affordt to live in SJ•Hope that seniors and their grandchildren can affordt to live in SJ

•Nature park•Pathways and access to the river i.e. north end, Saint John River•Harbour passagep g


•Interesting buildings•Diversity of neighbourhoods in the Uptown area•Diversity of neighbourhoods in the Uptown area•Uptown and architectural history•The boardwalk•Multicultural immigrationg•Diversity of 19th century architecture•Volunteerism, caring, generous people of SJ•Salt water beaches, Irving Nature Park, Mispec Park•People’s park on Douglas Avenue•People s park on Douglas Avenue•Caring and generous people•Authenticity, creative class, first•Passionate persevereness of residents•Live work and play in SJ, walkable neighbourhoods•Smallness of the City•Multitude of cultures•Visual variety of natural geography and buildingsVisual variety of natural geography and buildings•Caring and accepting nature of SJers•Natural air conditioning•River front and edges of rivers


•Improve access to the river fronts•Youthful and invested interest in changing our city as well as youthfulYouthful and invested interest in changing our city as well as youthful recreation activities ie skate boarding – to strengthen the City•Skate board (with applause) and the Uptown•Deep south potential (south end)G d l t b ti d lk th d•Good place to be creative and walk the dogs

•People, businesses organizations all partnering to make things better•People able to walk his dog in his red car•Lots of access to water, to walking trails all within 5 minutes of the City, g y• large community•Great people, huge opportunity•No way to single out anything – it’s everything, the inclusiveness of everything everyone has said about SJeveryone has said about SJ•Passion that people have for Rockwood Park•The rivers, partridge island, sense of tradition, empowerment of youth,•Unlimited potentialp•People, hospitals, schools and clock•Caring people, beauty of the city and•Having a university in our community


•Range of post secondary opportunities, medical school and strong health care sector•Second what everyone else said, but I’d like us to embrace the fog•Openness and friendliness of the people•Build on past generations – largest collection of 19th century architecture in the country you can potentially live and work in these areas get people tothe country – you can potentially live and work in these areas, get people to move back to the urban core, take advantage of this existing structure•Opportunities to participate in the community, in events like this•I love how safe I feel here•Harbour station is an asset, so is centre beam, growing campus at UNBSJ, Tucker Park•A lot of pride in what we have•Great potential for strengthen the sense community within individuals in allGreat potential for strengthen the sense community within individuals in all different areas of Saint John•Strong industrial base creating employment•Growing bilingual community (french and english)H b P•Harbour Passage

•Growing a population and multilingual opportunities•Variety of food and boutiques in the Uptown


•Green open spaces and outer green spaces and Saint John River•Diversity of water, lakes , rivers, oceans, wetlands•Peel street project•Compact Uptown•Waterfront UptownWaterfront Uptown•Potential of Lily Lake ie dragon boat festival•Affordable place to raise a family•Art historyDi it f lt•Diversity of cultures

•All season water access•Ability to live and work Uptown•Increasing levels of immigrants coming from other countries to SJg g g•We’ve all seen pictures of things that went on at Lily lake in the past – a dragon boat festival, voyager canoes, etc could be brought back to Lily Lake

What are the challenges that lie ahead?

•Sprawl•Intense weather events related to climate change, heavy rain, stormsstorms•Assuming that our population will not increase•Making sure there is a mixture of uses with natural buffers•Embrace post industrial city•Inclusion, strengthening sense of community•Places for people to live in the uptown area – critical mass of residents•Better connection to the university•Me Too‐ism•Insisting on good design, and being able to say no to bad development (applause)development (applause)•High tenant population, but our policies and procedures address primarily single family home ownership•Poverty especially child povertyPoverty, especially child poverty•Removing bottlenecks for pedestrians getting from one neighbourhood to another


•Abilty to engage every single person in the community•This plan actually gets executed (applause)•Bringing more people back to the City, in the UptownBringing more people back to the City, in the Uptown•Follow through with leadership•Getting youth more involved in community improvements•Helping the homelessBringing the problem of pla gro nds and comm nit gatherings in more places ie•Bringing the problem of playgrounds and community gatherings in more places ie

south end park has challenge with drug needles and garbage; same for rest of City; need to centralize•Centralize fire, policy and combine themp y•Too many parking lots for commuters outside the city•Concentrate diversity and youth within more contained neighbourhoods•Improve recreational areas in SJ•Impact on taxes from infrastructure•Impact on taxes from infrastructure•How to get around and live in SJ without a car, particularly new development•Making decisions for people rather than cars or single interest; ie people who live in the neighbourhood rather then people who work there•Municipal plan that helps to create a sustainable city•More jobs and more shopping, stores in the south end•Improve bus routes for people with disability – waiting over an hour


•Need to keep drinking water in our own hands and not sell it off to someone who wants to make a profit (applause)who wants to make a profit (applause)•Affordability – Rockwood Park – everything you do has to be affordable, housing, recreation, everything•Attracting and retaining young familiesg g y g• problem about boarding up older stores and putting residential apartments in them (applause)•Finding the balance between mixing the old and new ; investing in recreationrecreation•Retaining our youth, repatriating citizens that have moved away•Development programs to see development in upper floors of building•Being able to get on Council’s agenda at Council meetings (Applause)•Employment, child care and vulnerable neighbourhoods•Employment opportunities in the uptown•Incentives on vacant lots• better communication between City and citizensbetter communication between City and citizens•Fiscally responsible•Redefine the size and boundary of the city•Choosing the right priorities for the City


•

•Needs more new technology, including building materials i.e. insulation, improved building standards•Retaining overseas investors in SJ, being open minded and teaching newcomers,Retaining overseas investors in SJ, being open minded and teaching newcomers, encouraging newcomers to stay•Improved equality, participation, preservation and celebration, ensuring cultural policy adheres to multicultural policy of New Brunswick and Canada (applause)

SJ doesn’t ha e to cop hat other cit ’s do not follo ers b t leaders fail re to• SJ doesn’t have to copy what other city’s do; not followers but leaders, failure to recognize capabilities of SJers•Air quality and drinking water•Focus on building quality of city rather than getting people in and out of it g q y y g g p p(applause)•Lantic sugar site and grocery store in south end•Better balance demographics i.e. aging population, services to maintain youth, •Tension between City residents and outlying communities•Tension between City residents and outlying communities•Make outlying communities feel like they can fit in with the city plan•Support for young couples who want to have more children who feel they can’t afford it instead of immigrants•Lack of independent media (applause) ; the media that we have divides rather than unites•More responsive to community interest in terms of fiscal spending


•Integration of our plan with plans of surrounding municipalities; new developments that fit in with development•Upgrading of older homes, get rid of ones that are boarded up or upgrade, build inUpgrading of older homes, get rid of ones that are boarded up or upgrade, build in empty lots – bring greater pride •Transit systems•safe pedestrian systemsEnco rage o r o n pop lation gro th•Encourage our own population growth

•Problem getting population to participate in decision making activities•Entice more people towards the centre of city instead of away so we can all enjoy better services•Creating and maintaining green belts•Development to ensure environmental community•Poverty reduction•Restoration of Marsh creek and other sites•Restoration of Marsh creek and other sites•Better accessibility for one and all (applause)•How to prevent people with political/other agendas from side tracking (applause)•Spot rezoning•Lack of political will and a move to smaller lot sizes•Making eh city more attractive and inclusiveness to immigration (some applause)


•Balancing fiscal realit against community needs•Building support for provincial policies that support urban development•Better pedestrian and bike lanesP t i t l i•Poverty, environmental issues

•Investing in the north end•Seniors, health care, education, unemployment – look after those challenges and everything else will take care of itselfE l t it t l b k i t l t it•Equal opportunity – put equal back into equal opportunity

•Competing with outlying areas for residents and resources and inequitable tax structure•Proper taxes for industrial corporations (lots of applause!)W h l h h d thi j t ll b tt l h d ’t•We have people here who can do things just as well or better as people who don’t

come from here (applause)•Volunteers and everybody that works hard to do things for the city – biggest plight is unsafe, unhealthy land lordsD l t b tt t d d f t hit t•Development better standards for contemporary architecture

•Career opportunities for young and for retention•Industrial pollution that’s impacting development•Attitudes about SJ undermines us; very little low income, family oriented, entry level h i th t i d i i lhousing that is driving people away•Removing barriers to investment and sustainable infrastructure•Well designed density living ie for families and the elderly


•Remove barriers to investment in older heritage stock; should be a tax incentive, not a disincentive•Build on existing infrastructure – penalized for improving buildings with higher taxes; need g p p g g greflection on cost of restoring older structures reflected in tax break (applause)•High level of children living in poverty•Undoing the effects of sprawl•Focus transportation infrastructure on moving people, not cars – no highway expansionFocus transportation infrastructure on moving people, not cars no highway expansion (applause)•More modern approach to recreation and facilities of all kinds – don’t just slap up a playground; a 5 – 10 year want to do things beside team sports, ie skate board parks; indoor facilities are needed; a more modern approach to parks and recreationindoor facilities are needed; a more modern approach to parks and recreation•No grocery store uptown•City is dead on evenings and weekends (Uptown)•Desperately need a revised building code for older buildingsN d f i h f f d l d i i l t t i i lit•Need fair share of federal and provincial taxes to municipality

•Water sewer roads are expensive•Technology is a challenge in that more people can work anywhere they want in the world•Infrastructure in the outlying areas has been developed in a way that prevents more people from coming into the City•Set of principles to guide city planning and development to tip balance towards good planning rather than individual corporate interest


•Ensure good quality work ie roads; be cost effective; choose quality companies; spend money well•By law enforcement do what you say and say what you do; don’t have citizens•By law enforcement - do what you say and say what you do; don t have citizens needing to enforce•Harbour passage – ensure it stays open•Focus on IT and other sectors•Advertise what we have•Focus on priority neighbourhoods•Fix infrastructure•Incentives developers to focus on infillIncentives developers to focus on infill•Concerned for future of young people, so many drugs available on street corners•City staff can sometimes be a huge challenge•Citizens, industry and citizens must unify in an approach to sustainaiblityN fit t b bl t d k ith i il t d i i liti•Non profits must be able to access and work with civil servants and municipalities

•Address perception that education system in district 8 is inferior•City staff being a challenge – common council can be a challenge as well (lots of applause)applause)•Dificult for city to achieve what it wants to achieve in the absense of a provinicalpolicy on city planning

What opportunities should the Municipal Plan create?create?

•Incentivize•Proper aesthetic look attention to beauty keep stlye of city affordable housingProper aesthetic look, attention to beauty, keep stlye of city, affordable housing•Uptown is a huge opportunity for builders, as well as river at our back•Green energy development•Tourism, arts and natureF d l d i i l d i i li i t t th ith f ith t d li•Federal and provincial and civic policies get together with faith groups to deliver

homes for seniors•Better access to communication and information•Municipal plan to take advantage of full opportunities for health, recreation, p p g pp , ,topography, natural resources – should have a prominent place in shaping the plan by making use of these under used assets – reinforce the feng shui•Neighbourhood beatification competitionsSupport entrepreneurs with facilities and services•Support entrepreneurs with facilities and services

•Central and easy access to job and volunteer opportunities•Opportunity for SJers to feel proud of the area and want to participate more•Concerned, engaged citizensg g•Need more culture festivals•Tearing down dilapidated houses and apartments


•Affordable housing•Family and community events at affordable prices•Family and community events at affordable prices•Diversify the economy and things within walking distance•Offer half the tax rate for people who fix dilapidated building•Waterfront development from long wharf to Lantic Sugar site•Further develop Rockwood park•District heating to encourage development in uptown buildings•Encourage UNBSJ campus growth•Better transportation infrastructureBetter transportation infrastructure•Work with education to align training with work force needs•Uptown•Support for more arts and culture•Forum is a good thing, dreams and aspiration of people, listen to them and implement them on a local level is a good thing•Encourage immigrants to stay in SJ and recognize their qualifications (Applause)(Applause)•More opportunities for new business to set up•Less competition for funding


•More opportunity here than in some of the larger Canadian citizens for foreign students to stay after graduationstudents to stay after graduation•Housing that meets needs for all SJers•Build our own city hall – spend millions in rents on existing place•Develop Lantic Sugar siteg•Marsh creek restoration•Developments that have starter homes in them instead of giant ones•Need to recognize that experience provides learning, which is different than formal requirements of todayformal requirements of today•Multicultural policy of Saint John which prioritizes accessibility for all•That SJ be LEED compliant in everything it does from now on•Safe and friendly neighbourhoods•Access to local food and local products (applause)•Urban farm developments•Support Opera NB and symphony NB•Adopt equivalencies in building code for heritage buildingsAdopt equivalencies in building code for heritage buildings•Accessibility for all people for community centres•Promotion of eco tourism (applause)•Make restoration of heritage buildings easier ie monetary incentives


•Citizen empowerment, education, participation•Give people enough reasons to decide to live in SJR ti l t iti f i d l i th t th i h lth b•Recreational opportunities for seniors and low income so that their health can be

maintained•Listening to citizens•Cerate more incentives for arts and cultureCe a e o e ce es o a s a d cu u e•Affordable housing and accessible transportation•Cancel sprawl subsidies; force smart design (applause)•Support green energy with legislation Better notification for rezoning and planning applications•Better notification for rezoning and planning applications

•Acknowledge the successful walkable footprint of the inner city (applausae)•Expand uptown density•Greater middle income ownership in city centrep y•Social enterprise to hire people with addictions, medical issues, convictions etc•Different economic levels and languages could play chess in the park –opportunities for socializing with each other•Mix of uses and housing types through infill•Mix of uses and housing types through infill•Collaborate, communicate, celebrate•Discuss mixed land use neighbourhoods


•Develop Sj with green principles and practices•Tree planting, adopt a park community programp g p p y p g•Inventive interesting infrastructure changes•Neighbourhood supported development design standard (applause)•Age in place•Accessible food security for all•Accessible food security for all•Model for neighbourhood revitalization that others will look to•Support new businesses and entrepreneurial spirit•Encourage green programs and services•Green spaces not for infrastructure or development•Better integrate employment in the city with training, programs and institutions•Stop culture of tail wagging the dog (applause)•Employment entertainment and educationEmployment, entertainment, and education•Decision making process that balances needs of environment, social and economic (applause)•Integrated alternative transportation networks (some applause)Ad t f t t d li•Adopt measures for waste management and recycling

•Central support for entrepreneurs and developers can access programs at one central point


•Make city more attractive for knowledge base businessesy g•Eliminate peel plaza (lots of applause)•Expand Harbour Passage to north end, west side and other neighbourhoods along river front (lots of applause)•During summer close one street in uptown for parties festivals etc (applause)•During summer close one street in uptown for parties, festivals etc (applause)•Green buildings for new construction•One way streets•Get rid of highway 1 in centre of city•Council appoint permanent youth advisory committee (lots of applause)

Thank You

Stay in touch with the PlanSJ teamWeb: www.saintjohn.ca/PlanSJEmail: [email protected]

FacebookPhone: 506 658 2835

planning in saint john · planning in saint john june 12, 2010. ... it’s about defining the city...

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