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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPSD-011-07 Clwipn REPORT PLANNING SERVICES Meeting: GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE Date: Monday, January 22, 2007 G (J Ii ~ 033- [) / By-law #: JCCl ~O/'5 Report #: PSD-011-07 File #: PLN 37.3 Subject: NEWCASTLE VILLAGE COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS: It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: 1. THAT Report PSD-011-07 be received; 2. THAT the attached By-law be approved to initiate a Community Improvement Plan (CIP), pursuant to Part IV of the Planning Act and Section 22 of the Clarington Official Plan; 3. THAT a Council representative be designated as a member of the Community Focus Group; and 4. THAT all interested parties listed in this report and any delegations be advised of Council's decision. Submitted by: David . Crome, M.C.I.P., R.P.P. Director of Planning Services " Reviewed b~:(-~\~~~ Franklin Wu, Chief Administrative Officer IL/FL/DJC/df 11 January 2007 CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON 40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO L 1C 3A6 T (905)623-3379 F (905)623-0830 REPORT NO.: PSD-011-07 PAGE 2 1.0 BACKGROUND 1.1 Newcastle Village is one of Clarington's three urban growth areas. The Village has developed at a slower pace in comparison to the larger urban growth areas of Bowmanville and Courtice. Recent years have witnessed an increase in residential development in the area east of Beaver Street south of King Avenue East and in the Port of Newcastle area on the west side of Graham Creek. The Municipality has been acquiring park lands in order to service this residential growth. The west end of the Village will see the development of a Community Park on the lands bounded by King Avenue West, Rudell Road, Cobbledick Road and Highway 401. The Bond Head parkette at the south end of Mill Street has been expanded to the east to allow greater waterfront access for residents. 1.2 Newcastle Village's commercial core, as shown on Attachment 1, is located in the Village Centre. The Village Centre is comprised of the downtown lands beginning at Foster Creek in the west end and extending eastward to the south east corner of Brookhouse Drive and King Avenue East. The historic downtown is clustered at the west end of the Village Centre. The east end of the Village Centre has been in transition for the past several years as properties are developing or redeveloping along King Avenue East. It is the goal of the Newcastle Village Centre Secondary Plan to strengthen the role of the Village Centre as the functional and symbolic point of economic, social and cultural activity in Newcastle Village by providing retail facilities, housing, symbolic points of interest and community and cultural facilities. The objectives of the Secondary Plan include the preservation and enhancement of the unique character of the main central area as a heritage main street and the establishment of an eastern gateway. 1.3 The Clarington Official Plan has a community improvement goal to provide for and encourage public and private sector activities to maintain, rehabilitate and redevelop the existing built environment. This includes improving public infrastructure where deficiencies or deteriorating conditions exist by setting municipal priorities. The Official Plan provides for a Community Improvement Area to roughly correspond with the older part of Newcastle Village between the CP Railway and Highway 401. 1.4 In 2004 the Municipality initiated a Commercial Policy Review which studied the whole municipality to determine growth patterns, any additional demand for commercial space that would be warranted by existing and future population, and the appropriate locations for that growth. Open houses, workshops and special meetings with the Business Improvement Areas were held during the Review process. The Commercial Policy Review was completed last year and on March 1, 2006 Planning Services report PDS- 027 -06 was forwarded to Council with a number of recommendations. The report indicated that Council had adopted Community Improvement Plans for Bowmanville and Orono in 2005 and recommended that Planning staff be authorized to include in its 2007 work program a community improvement plan study for Newcastle Village Centre. 1.5 A Community Improvement Plan (CIP) is defined under Part IV of the Planning Act and ultimately requires approval of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. The preparation and passage of such a plan provides municipalities with the authorization to REPORT NO.: PSD-011-07 PAGE 3 enact certain programs, capital works, land acquisitions and other alternative measures that are not applicable throughout the municipality but are designed to specifically address the issues facing a designated area. For example, under a CIP the Municipality may operate a grant or loan program to pay for the whole or part of the cost of rehabilitating private properties and buildings. A CIP is a comprehensive community- based planning study with implementation steps and timeframes. Bowmanville and Orono have Community Improvement Plans which have established a program of improvements aimed at enhancing the viability of the areas. 1.6 The most recent study which was specific to Newcastle Village was a retail market analysis completed for the commercial development at the corner of Brookhouse Drive and King Avenue East. Newcastle Village is growing and would benefit from the enhancements that a CIP can provide. A CIP could recommend gateway features for the entries into the Village. It could recommend rehabilitation of roads, sidewalks, parks or streetscapes. A grant and/or loan program could assist in stimulating improvements to the heritage buildings downtown such as structural repairs, fire safety or building code improvements, and fagade improvements. To ensure that future improvements and redevelopment of the Village's focal points and Village Centre is in keeping with the studies that have been completed to date, and to ensure future capital improvements are in keeping with a design plan specific to Newcastle Village, it would be prudent to prepare a Community Improvement Plan. 1.7 Part IV of the Planning Act states that the Council of a municipality may, by by-law, define an area of the municipality as an area to be examined for community improvement. The Council may, after such examination is completed, prepare Official Plan provisions with respect to the implementation of the CIP. Approval of a by-law to study an area does not stop any type of activity from being conducted if that activity complies with the current regulations in place. The purpose of the by-law is only to delineate the area to be studied. The 1996 Clarington Official Plan designated a CIP area bounded by the CP railway, Highway 401, Foster Creek and the east side of Beaver Street as a first priority. The study boundary recommended in this report goes beyond the area identified in the Official Plan to include both the north and south sides of King Avenue East and West from Wilmot Creek to Graham Creek. This expanded area greatly influences the viability and activity of the Village Centre as it is the entrance into the central part of the community. 2.0 PUBLIC CONSULTATION 2.1 The best practices of other municipalities have indicated that the establishment of a Community Focus Group is instrumental to guiding the community through the preparation of the Community Improvement Plan. The Group is to be comprised of representatives of stakeholders in the Newcastle Village community and will be assisted by municipal staff and the Clarington Board of Trade. The Group is to be appointed by the Director of Planning Services. The composition of the committee is detailed in the attached work program (Attachment 2). Staff representatives would be Isabel Little, Planner, Bruno Bianca, Design Engineer, and Lori Gordon, Deputy Treasurer. Suzanne McCrimmon, Clarington Board of Trade, would also be a member. REPORT NO.: PSD-011-07 PAGE 4 2.2 A terms of reference has been prepared for the Community Focus Group which outlines the mandate of the group, the scope of their activities, membership composition, and how the group is to function (Attachment 3). The terms of reference is considered draft until it is confirmed by the Community Focus Group. The first task of the group will be to review the work program and terms of reference for the Community Improvement Plan. 2.3 The Community Improvement Plan process provides an opportunity for integration with the Green Community Strategy. A component of revitalization could, for example, involve energy conservation programs. Veridian is delivering some of these programs on behalf of the Province. To this end, it would be beneficial to have Veridian on the CFG to discuss and contribute to energy conservation initiatives for the CIP area. 2.4 This twelve month project will consist of public consultation, research and analysis, plan preparation, and agency review. There will be no budgetary impacts for 2007. It is anticipated that sufficient information would be gathered throughout the process to include budget requests for a grant program and capital items in 2008. 2.5 In addition to the Community Focus Group, the input of other agencies including the Conservation Authority, Durham Region and Ministry of Municipal Affairs, will be sought throughout the process. Prior to bringing the CIP to Council in a finalized version, a community meeting open to all will be held to discuss the recommendations and confirm findings. 3.0 CONCLUSION 3.1 A Community Improvement Plan can address such items as a marketing strategy and initiatives, the creation of a community design statement (a vision of the physical and social characteristics that the community wishes to maintain and enhance), streetscape enhancements and other capital improvements and the development of organizational capital to carryout long-term recommendations. 3.2 The residents of Newcastle Village in combination with the business community, can guide future initiatives, programs and policies for the community through the development of a Community Improvement Plan with the assistance of the Municipality. 3.3 It is recommended that the study area by-law be approved so that the Community Focus Group can be established and the formal process can begin. Attachments: Attachment 1 - Study Area By-law Attachment 2 - Community Improvement Plan Work Program Attachment 3 - Community Focus Group Terms of Reference REPORT NO.: PSD-011-07 PAGE 5 List of interested parties to be advised of Council's decision: Valentine Lovekin, Newcastle Village BIA Suzanne McCrimmon, Clarington Board of Trade Dave Clark, Veridian Connections Attachment 1 To Report PSD-011-07 THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON BY-LAW NO. 2007- being a By-law to initiate the study of a portion of the Newcastle Village urban area as a Community Improvement Area WHEREAS the Planning Act, Part IV, Section 28, c.P.13, s.28 (2) provided in part the Council of a municipality may, by by-law, define in the Municipality one or more areas thereof as an area to be examined as community improvement areas; AND WHEREAS Section 22.3.2 and Schedule F of the Municipality of Clarington Official Plan proposes the older portion of Newcastle Village as a community improvement project area; AND WHEREAS on March 1, 2006, Council authorized Staff to prepare a community improvement plan study for the Newcastle Village Centre; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the Council of the Municipality of Clarington enacts as follows: 1. That the Newcastle Village Centre, the older residential areas and surrounding context shown on Schedule 'A', be examined as an area of community improvement project area. 2. Schedule "A" attached hereto shall form part of this By-law. 3. This By-law shall come into effect on the date of the passing hereof, subject to the provisions of Part IV, Section 28, c.P.13, s.28 (2) of the Planning Act. BY-LAW read a first time this day of 2007 BY-LAW read a second time this day of 2007 BY-LAW read a third time and finally passed this day of 2007 Jim Abernethy, Mayor Patti L. Barrie, Municipal Clerk JL I ~ ~I I I I?--rT -r "- \ ~ E IT= p J HIGHWAY 401 ~~ ~ -i o ~ "0 o ~ -c?; CJ)Q) 00 I '::J" ~3 ......(1) I :J 0- ........ ...... I I Newcastle Community Improvement Plan Study Area _ Newcastle Village Centre Attachment 2 To Report PSD-011-07 NEWCASTLE VILLAGE COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT PLAN WORK PROGRAM WHYWILL THIS CIP STUDY BE UNDERTAKEN? The main purpose of this Community Improvement Plan (CIP) is to articulate a vision for public and private improvements in Newcastle Village, based on an assessment of past experience and future prospects, along with a realistic "road map" of how to get there. WHAT IS A CIP? A CIP is a comprehensive community-based planning study with no set preconceptions. This approach implies that all previous activity, development incentives, and policies applicable to the project area are up for review. As such, a prudent first step is to review and explore what the main givens are for the area and what positive or negative outcomes may arise from change. The Official Plan identified a large portion of the core of Newcastle Village as a first priority for a Community Improvement Plan under section 22.3.2. WHERE WILL THE STUDY AREA BE FOR THIS CIP? The Planning Act permits Council to designate the project area to be investigated during a CIP study. The larger the project area, the more complex and time consuming the research and analysis may become. The Official Plan designated an area bounded by the CP railway, Highway 401, Foster Creek and the east side of Beaver Street as first priority area N1. The study boundary includes both the north and south sides of King Avenue East and West from Wilmot Creek to Graham Creek as this area greatly influences the viability and activity of the Village Centre. WHO WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE WORK PROGRAM FOR THE CIP? The work program identifies 4 entities to participate in distinct roles: Entity Number/Composition Role Expectation/Outputs Clarington Ward Councillors and Mayor Render final decision Adoption of: Council on all matters . Work Program pertaining to the CIP . Project Scope & Approach and recommend it to . Consultation Process MMAH . Draft CIP . Final CIP . Policy & Regulatory changes implementing CIP Entity Num~er/Composition Role ExpectationlQutputs Community Stakeholders each A representative Four scheduled meetings: Focus representing a unique community of . 3 with Clarington Staff to co-lead Group interest or objective that residents and and gather citizen input at Council believes ought to be business operators to scheduled public consultation uniformly articulated address questions to, opportunities throughout the development and receive feedback . 1 with Clarington Staff near the of the CIP. from end of the project to review draft CIP Clarington Professionals from the The staff reporting to Synthesis and presentation of all Staff Planning Services, Council, responsible information gathered during the CIP Engineering Services, and for producing the CIP . process and documented in the Finance Departments, and and taking on tasks CIP. the Clarington Board of such as: Trade . research and presentation of analyses . coordination and recording of meetings and public consultation events . drafting of proposed policy and by-law amendments & final report production Citizens of Any individual citizen of Offering opinions, Participation in any or all of 3 Clarington Clarington interested in insights, options, and scheduled public consultation participating in the vision for desired outcomes for opportunities and at Clarington Newcastle Village and how it the consideration of Council meetings. is set out for implementation the Community Focus . Community Meeting to confirm in the CIP. Group and Staff. findings and recommendations. The Community Focus Group is proposed as a means of capturing, in a consistent way, the unique interests or objectives of local stakeholders who may be directly and permanently affected by what the Newcastle Village CIP sets out in its final form. It is important that each stakeholder viewpoint is represented throughout the development of the CIP. In a sense each stakeholder may be thought of as the "ambassador" for his/her stakeholder viewpoint. STAKEHOLDER IMPLICATION # STAKEHOLDER IMPLICATION # VIEWPOINT VIEWPOINT Newcastle Village Effect on home life and 1 Newcastle Village Effect on business 1 resident neighbourhood appeal Chamber of viability and employee Commerce retention Newcastle Village Effect on business 1 Sports / Recreation Effect of the CIP for 1 business operator viability in local area Community fulfilling regional sports facilities needs/expectations STAKEHOLDER IMPLICATION # STAKEHOLDER IMPLICATION # VIEWPOINT VIEWPOINT Newcastle Village Effect on commercial 1 Newcastle/Bond head Effect on community 1 Business core and development Ratepayers perception Improvement Area potential Association member Newcastle Village Effect on Society events 1 Greater Clarington Effect on the 1 and District Historical Community municipality for a non- Society representative local viewpoint Representative Newcastle Village Effect on the Community 1 Newcastle Village Effect on Lions Club 1 Community Hall Hall operations. Lions Club function and events representative Veridian Connections Green Community 1 Strateqy input HOWWILL THE CIP WORK PROGRAM PROCEED? The CIP will take into account the existing Official Plan policies contained within the Newcastle Village Centre Secondary Plan. Consideration will be given to the recent and future growth in residential development and the Municipality's upcoming indoor and outdoor recreational facility, library facility, and fire hall relocation. The work program groups tasks into four phases as summarized in the attached "Work Program At-A-Glance". It is not the intention to identify here every administrative task needed to complete the work program. PROJECT PLANNING . Establish the need for and desired approach to be used for the CIP, and thereby the rationale for doing the CIP . Develop a Draft Work Program that can accommodate the desired rationale and approach . Confirm the boundaries of the territory to be investigated . Designate the people to be involved in the process . Confirm the Work Program, including the expectations regarding roles & responsibilities, time line, and budget (report to Council) RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS . Research & document the existing contexts at the outset of the planning study to be used as background for discussions and a benchmark for measuring "what is" against "what is possible". Typical contexts are: policy, land use, property ownership, physical condition/character, history and heritage, demographics (CIP area and beyond it), investment & economic conditions, infrastructure ("hard" and "soft") etc. . Undertake a workshop with the focus group to arrive at a consensus of the area's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. This activity should validate and update/modify/supplement the research documented in the previous step. . Review the Community Focus Group's impression of the area's conditions and potential with community for confirmation. DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS . Undertake a brainstorming exercise to set goals and objectives for the area, based on the analysis documented from the previous project phase. The forum proposed for this activity is a weeknight evening workshop with the Clarington Staff and the Community Focus Group. . Document a list of potential implementation measures which are capable of addressing the weaknesses and threats identified from the previous project phase. These typically fall into the area of policy changes, financial tools, and organizational changes. . Produce the draft version of the CIP documenting specific recommended initiatives in various areas [e.g. policy, land use, property ownership, physical condition/character, infrastructure] together with time lines, resources, responsibilities. The Draft CIP would contain all documentation of the work undertaken in both this and the previous phase. . Review the draft CIP with the community at an open house. Review the draft with the Community Focus Group and request the Group to render a written opinion. . Review draft CIP with Durham Planning and MMAH. . Forward the draft CIP with a Staff report and the Community Focus Group recommendations to Council. IMPLEMENTATION . Submit the Draft CIP for deliberation at the GP&A meeting . Adopt the CIP including any amendments resulting from Council's deliberation of the draft . Submit the CIP to MMAH for approval . Draft amendments to by-laws, policies, zoning, etc. may also be prepared during this phase with a view to being ready to adopt them with, or shortly after, the MMAH's adoption of the finalized CIP. WHEN WILL THIS CIP BE COMPLETED? The appended "Work Program At-A-Glance" contemplates that the CIP will take approximately 12 months to complete. This time line was based on the staff resources available to participate in the project and the assumption that the territory to be investigated is similar in scope to what has traditionally been characterized locally as the Newcastle Village Urban Area. NEWCASTLE VILLAGE WORK PROGRAM MONTH JAN. FEB. MAR. APR. MAY JUNE JULY AUG. SEPT. OCT. NOV. DEC. 1 PROJECT PLANNING 1.1 Draft Work Program Complete 1.2 Establish approach and rationale for Complete CIP 1.3 Designate CIP "Project Area" Council 1.4 Establish Community Focus Group Staff (CFG) 1.5 Confirm Work Program CFG 2 RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS 2.1 Research Context(s) Staff Staff Staff 2.2 Community Analysis Workshop* Staff! (comments on proposals) CFG 3 DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS 3.1 Visioning Workshop Staff! CFG 3.2 Research Potential Implementation Staff Staff Staff Staff Staff Measures 3.3 Confirm Findings!Report to CFG Staff Staff Staff! Staff Staff Staff CFG 3.4 Prepare Draft CIP Staff! CFG 3.5 Public Review of CIP* Community 4 IMPLEMENTATION 4.1 Adopt Final CIP Council 4.2 Obtain MMAH approval of CIP Staff 4.3 Pursue Zoning Changes Staff Council CFG = Community Focus Group * Community meetings (public review process) Attachment 3 To Report PSD-011-07 NEWCASTLE VILLAGE COMMUNITY FOCUS GROUP TERMS OF REFERENCE Back~round Clarington Council has initiated a Community Improvement Plan (CIP) for the Newcastle Village area. The main purpose of the CIP is to articulate a of public and private improvements for the continued prosperity of Newcastle Vi ough an assessment of past experiences and future prospects, as well as reali rograms and steps for the implementation of the vision. ent of the Ions and by providing insight esents a cross-section of the stakeholder groups, property tside the core urban area nvironmental, social/historic, iated with Newcastle Village will also be mmunity Strategy will be requested to join n initiatives. A Community Focus Group (CFG) has bee CIP. This group will assist staff in developing into Newcastle Village. To ensu hat the community, volunteers will be soug and business owners, and residents, I of Newcastle Village. ntatives cu Itu ra I/recreationa I welcomed. The V ) will provide advice to the Director of Planning unity mprovement Plan Work Program and will bring to the ity interests and perspectives. The CFG will assist in ic, especially Newcastle Village residents. In performing these functions, the CFG be expected to represent the views of both present and future residents of Newcastle Village and the municipality as a whole. The members of the group shall work cooperatively and in partnership with the Municipality and the Clarington Board of Trade. Scope of Activities The CFG, in fulfilling its mandate, is to provide advice to the Municipality and communicate information back to their respective stakeholder groups, where appropriate. The Committee will review information associated with community improvement programs and provide advice on which initiatives would provide the greatest benefit to Newcastle Village. While individual members of the CFG may represent various int st groups, the opinions and positions taken by the members and the CFG are not b' , in whole or in part, on either Clarington Councilor the groups they represent. Membership The CFG is a volunteer Committee consisti Planning Services shall seek to appoint mem Newcastle Village stakeholders, including, but not o Newcastle Village Chamber o Newcastle Village BIA o Newcastle/Bondhea rests from Historical Society Ity representative Members may rep ore than one specific interest. A Council representative for the Newcastle Village area will serve on the CFG, Staff representatives from both the Planning Services Department and the Clarington Board of Trade shall be appointed to sit on the Committee as non-voting members. Other staff members will be asked to assist at specific stages of the study. Members appointed to sit on the CFG must be willing to commit the time required to understand and evaluate the information provided, as well as be open-minded to various opinions and perspectives of other members of the CFG. Openings for membership shall be publicly advertised and all residents of the Municipality are eligible to apply. Applicants will submit applications to the nicipality of Clarington Planning Services Department. Members will be formally nted by the Director of Planning Services. The Council representative shall sit as the interi Vice-Chair from among its membership. ensure that the CFG carries out its mandate, CFG and Staff. If an individual member is unable to a ay request permission from meeting. The Chair shall who is absent for three signation of any member. The Director acancies as required. lerica, administrative and technical assistance to the CFG. ation and assist in the interpretation of this material. The term of the Committee is for the duration of the study which is estimated at one year. Meetings CFG meetings shall be held at the Municipal Administrative Centre or the Newcastle Village Community Hall. The CFG shall meet at the call of the Chair at the stages of the process as set out in the Work program. The Chair in consultation with staff shall set the agenda for each meeting. The CFG will attempt to work on a consensus basis; quorum shall be half the membership (5). In the event that a consensus cannot be reached and there are divergent opinions on issues, formal votes may be called by the Chair, with each ber having one vote. Decisions will be carried by a majority of the members prese Reporting The CFG indirectly reports to Council through th will be expected to review and make com Improvement Plan. The CFG's comments wil study to Council for approval. The CFG Community arding the Conflict of Interest and Confidentia It is understood that CFG stle Village will be affected constitute a conflict of interest. ents that would be of an individual rather 'ct of interest and refrain from the debate It ussion and individual opinions of the members will be Community Focus meetings are open to the public. Should a member of the public wish to make representation to the CFG they will be required to register in advance of the meeting and will be allowed a 10 minute presentation, question and answer period on the agenda. Participation of the public at the meeting will be at the discretion of the Chair. THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON BY-LAW NO. 2007- being a By-law to initiate the study of a portion of the Newcastle Village urban area as a Community Improvement Area WHEREAS the Planning Act, Part IV, Section 28, c.P.13, s.28 (2) provided in part the Council of a municipality may, by by-law, define in the Municipality one or more areas thereof as an area to be examined as community improvement areas; AND WHEREAS Section 22.3.2 and Schedule F of the Municipality of Clarington Official Plan proposes the older portion of Newcastle Village as a community improvement project area; AND WHEREAS on March 1, 2006, Council authorized Staff to prepare a community improvement plan study for the Newcastle Village Centre; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the Council of the Municipality of Clarington enacts as follows: 1. That the Newcastle Village Centre, the older residential areas and surrounding context shown on Schedule 'A', be examined as an area of community improvement project area. 2. Schedule "A" attached hereto shall form part of this By-law. 3. This By-law shall come into effect on the date of the passing hereof, subject to the provisions of Part IV, Section 28, c.P .13, s.28 (2) of the Planning Act. BY-LAW read a first time this day of 2007 BY-LAW read a second time this day of 2007 BY -LAW read a third time and finally passed this day of 2007 Jim Abernethy, Mayor Patti L. Barrie, Municipal Clerk