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Home My WebLink AboutPD-341-90 TOWN OF NEWCASTLE it USE.GPA REPORT File Res. # By-Law # SING: General Purpose and Administration Committee DATE: November 19, 1990 REPORT #: PD-341-90 FILE #: Pln 12 . 7 &RECT: COMMUNITY ASSIST• FOR AN URBAN STUDY EFFORT (C.A.U.S.E. ) DOWNTOWN BOWMANVILLE. RECOMMENDATIONS: It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: 1. THAT Report PD-341-90 be received; 2 . THAT Council endorse in principle the undertaking of a CAUSE Study for Downtown Bowmanville; 3 . THAT Staff be authorized to make application to the Ontario Association of Architects to have Downtown Bowmanville selected as a CAUSE Study Area; 4 . THAT the Northumberland-Durham Society of Architects be requested to support the proposed CAUSE Study; and, 5 . THAT Staff be authorized to undertake the necessary preparatory steps for the undertaking of a CAUSE Study and that Staff report back as required. 1. BACKGROUND 1. 1 The CAUSE Program In 1980, the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) developed Community Assist for an Urban Study Effort (CAUSE) to voluntarily assist Ontario communities concerned with deteriorating environments, architectural and habitation problems . REPORT NO. : PD-341-90 PAGE 2 Its purpose is to provide stimulus to a community to assist it in solving identified problems. The program is of assistance to smaller communities which do not have a large pool of expertise on which to draw; and to larger communities where a "fresh approach" from some totally unbiased professionals, is required. CAUSE does not provide plans, but possible courses of action and acts as a stimulus to local groups. Since January 1981, there have been 25 CAUSE studies, some in small communities such as Minden, Red Lake and Jackson's Point; others in cities such as Oshawa, Windsor, Kingston, St. Catharines; and others in "bedroom" communities of Toronto, such as Weston, Uxbridge and Brampton. Further information on CAUSE is contained Attachment #1 to this report. 1.2 A CAUSE Study for Downtown Bowmanville For the General Purpose and Administration Committee Meeting of September 17, 1990, Staff prepared a Status Report on the development of Newcastle's Official Plan Community Improvement Policies . The Official Plan Community Improvement Policies Inter-departmental Work Program mentioned in the Status Report was completed in mid-October. One of the first tasks set out in the work program is the launching of a CAUSE Study. A CAUSE Study would be a small part of the much larger Newcastle Community Improvement policy development process . A CAUSE Study, being essentially an urban design study, is usually focused on only a portion of a municipality. Staff are proposing that Downtown Bowmanville be the subject of a CAUSE Study since it is a Candidate Community Improvement Area. REPORT NO. : PD-341-90 PAGE 3 The CAUSE Study is an intensive program undertaken over an extended weekend (Thursday to Monday) which produces a substantial document of specific community improvements . The CAUSE Study will serve as an "idea-generator" for the Community Improvement Plan. It is likely to contribute to a better plan and therefore, an easier plan approval process before Town Council itself, the Region of Durham and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs . This better plan and the community involvement in the process will greatly increase the Town's chances of obtaining the P.R. I .D.E. funding needed to carry out the provisions of the Downtown Bowmanville Community Improvement Plan. It is important to recognize that a CAUSE Study does not produce a Plan. Instead, it produces recommendations that can be used in a plan. It also generates and focuses community awareness regarding community improvement and this is always a mandatory step in creating and implementing a successful Community Improvement Plan. 2. CAUSE STRUCTURE 2.1 Financing of a CAUSE Study The CAUSE Team members are primarily architects who volunteer their time, although the community is responsible for their transportation costs, accommodation and meals, developing of photographs, provision of equipment, report typing and printing and other incidental costs . In many communities, volunteered equipment, time and accommodation etc. , has kept CAUSE costs to less than $5,000 while in other communities it has cost two or three times this amount. We estimate the cost of the Downtown Bowmanville CAUSE Study will be between $10,000 - $20,000 . 0 REPORT NO. : PD-341-90 PAGE 4 An appropriate funding scheme for a CAUSE Study is one that involves the whole community, ie. obtains funds from many sources . It is proposed that 50% of the funding should come from the Town and the other 50% from private sources such as the Bowmanville Business Centre and corporate donations . Staff will be reporting back on funding arrangements at a later date after consultation with the Bowmanville Business Centre. 2.2 Participants in a CAUSE Study Every CAUSE Study has three participating groups: The Ontario Association of Architects through its CAUSE Committee The CAUSE Team (Selected Architects) The Community through a Steering Committee The activities and method of the CAUSE Committee of the OAA and the CAUSE Team have been established through previous CAUSE projects. Of concern to Town Council and the Downtown Bowmanville Community is the composition, activities and method of the CAUSE Steering Committee. A CAUSE Study cannot proceed without the commitment of the community through a Steering Committee established by the community. Regardless of the size of the community or the nature of the issues that are being addressed, a Steering Committee is essential. The Steering Committee should be made up of people in the community who have made the commitment to bring about and see the project through. It should be chaired by an enthusiastic member of the community and its membership may r REPORT NO. : PD-341-90 PAGE 5 come from the Chamber of Commerce, Town Planning and Development, Downtown Business Association, citizens at large, etc . It must be large enough to get the work done, since it can't be done by only one or two people. The size and make up of the Steering Committee may vary depending on the resources of the community. However large or small the Steering Committee may be, the tasks it will be responsible for tend to be the same for every CAUSE. 2.3 Responsibilities of a Steering Committee The Steering Committee is the liaison with the OAA and the CAUSE Team. One member of the Steering Committee must be delegated as the direct liaison with the CAUSE Team when it is in place. If the Study is approved, Mr. Bob Russell of the Strategic Planning Branch will assume this function. In preparing for the CAUSE Team visit and during the work period, individual members of the Steering Committee will take responsibility for such areas as: 1) Citizen participation 2) Transportation 3) Budget 4) Pre-publicity program 5) Photography, ie. film processing 6) Report typing (typists) 7) Report printing 8) Accommodations 9) Equipment and supplies 10) Public relations 11) Media, including pre-publicity program The very first job of the Steering Committee will be to stimulate enthusiasm for the program in the community. This REPORT NO. : PD-341-90 PAGE 5 all has to be done prior to the CAUSE Study Weekend. Adequate publicity of the CAUSE will ensure broad community interest and participation. The Steering Committee must ensure that the public relations and media activity is carried through as follows: 1) Stories to be covered before the CAUSE to make sure interest and excitement are generated. 2) Organize the media coverage during the CAUSE. 3) Organize the media follow-up. The Architectural Team members will fully co-operate with representatives of the media. As well, the Steering Committee will be required to organize the public presentation of the CAUSE Team's Report on the Monday morning following the Study. 3. STAFF COMMENTS 3 . 1 Staff are contacting those people who should know about the CAUSE Study, and in most cases, also should be sitting on the Steering Committee. Such people include the Board of Management of the Bowmanville Business Centre and the Chairman of the Northumberland-Durham Society of Architects. 3 .2 Staff will meet with the Board of Management of the Bowmanville Business Centre on Tuesday evening, November 13, 1990 to discuss the various aspects of the CAUSE Study, including funding commitment. REPORT NO. : PD-341 -90 PAGE 7 3 . 3 Staff will discuss preparation and application matters with the Ontario Association of Architects . A preliminary visit will be required to determine if the Town qualifies for this type of study. 3.4 At such time as further details are known, Staff will be reporting back to Council to obtain Council's final approval on the application including funding details . 3 .5 The CAUSE Program handbook states: "co-operation of the Town Council and any local OAA Society of Architects is paramount. " In view of this Staff requests that Town Council endorse a Downtown Bowmanville CAUSE Study in principle at this time, and further, that the Northumberland-Durham Society of Architects be asked by Town Council for their support for this Study. Respectfully submitted, Recommended for presentation to the Committee Franklin Wu, M.C. I .P. Lawrence E. otseff Director of Planning Chief Adm'n' strative and Development Officer BR*DC*FW*df *Attach 7 November 1990 r ��..:.• #,- f x 5rr d.. �" +}.+f" +,,}a �t,' ,s�� t Y t 7 �� ca �� ."! ��:.�6�"' �s ��' "� E�, �, ;:� ;-r t! � y ..t{ as�lgt�, �`;, ��5 t.: nit :a '` s.; �ut �'si�b"i, :..-.,�.,# r i7•?, , + rN rq E a 'k �' �`. y t #`zt�a�'rZ•. RIA, - } �..�dr,°� E r } i £'r, 41 a iatF > F , v .. r. ' t` �.��,d� ,F •�z �. �,iY' ��t' r fi *t3 1 t tt:�f t L t 1 01 s ,.�'rt �i { � Comrnuity Assist for an Ub �t� 5tt { effort { t mv;i+t j'b; - Pz a. ;r �, ,p E bk• ti � �Stk. t +1. .j" i y: } + � 3 s t � ' t � t fit•-�lt eft S A rNf +k^ n +,n r;,-% A nn�ni�+i�v� ..� :71:•i�i��...��+ VA NIv�jlCAI II vI,a Il-vri4Qi iv y.!},,: 3 CAUSE What is CAUSE? The origin of CAUSE and other disciplines, for all as- pects of the built environment. It is CAUSE is a volunteer pro- Quality of life is an issue of an action program which permits gram of the Ontario Association of universal concern throughout professionals to donate their knowl- Architects available to Ontario Canada. In Ontario, which has edge and experience toward the communities concerned with dete- experienced the greatest urban identification and resolution of riorating environments and archi- growth among the provinces, its today's community issues. tectural and habitation problems ramifications are a stimulating chal- which affect the quality of life. lenge for architects. How CAUSE Works Volunteers are drawn from Many of the problems facing several professions and universi- society today are the outcome of Sponsorship for a CAUSE ties and the Ontario Association of unthinking growth, while others study is invited from official or Architects acknowledges the co- may be the result of neglect and private organizations with legiti- operation and assistance of the decay. Too rapid development, of- mate interests in community affairs. Ontario Association of Landscape ten with little or no planning, has Qualifying bodies would typically Architects, Carleton University, left a legacy of problems, notthe include: Municipal or regional gov- University of Toronto, University of least of which is a diminution of ernments, chambers of com- Waterloo, and the Canadian Insti- human values. More pragmatic but merce, boards of trade, service tute of Planners — (Ontario Asso- no less difficult are such problems clubs, business associations, etc. ciation of Planners). as coping with anticipated growth, It is important that the spon- provision of appropriate communi- soring group must perceive a prob- ty facilities for varying age groups, lem exists which locally available and choosing the most desirable resources, for whatever reason, balance of commercial and indus- are unable to resolve. The spon- trial development. sor's concern should reflect a size- Fortunately,Ontario communi- able body of public opinion. ties both large and small are show- Contact should then be estab- ing sensitivity to changing urban lished with the CAUSE committee needs. Many are enjoying the fruits which will review the request to of neighbourhood revitalization determine if the project meets the and redevelopment. Numerous intent of the program. If the com- thriving and enjoyable neighbour- mittee believes the identified prob- hoods now stand as tributes to lem is suitable for a CAUSE, a skillful design and the determina- committee member will visit the tion to improve the quality of living. community and meet with the They also serve as examples to sponsor to discuss the matter in encourage similar action in other greater detail. If the decision is communities. reached to establish a CAUSE the Against this background, the sponsor is provided with a detailed Ontario Association of Architects outline of procedure including decided to implement the CAUSE preparation of background mate- program. Its aim is to provide rial such as plans, maps, photo- assistance to help Ontario com- graphs, charts, architectural ren- munities cope with existing prob- derings, statistics and general in- lems and to take advantage of formation relating to the problems perceived opportunities. CAUSE is to be studied. This material be- intended to encourage the inter- comes a research package which play of the human, social and is reproduced and provided to economic frameworks of urban each member of the CAUSE team. demonstrate, through voluntary a reasonable degree of ami iari y service, the concern of architects with the issues before arriving in J �) J� t,SID We 1FW am i 1Wt1� also _ - it o u u 1111 n u n n ""Its �I II ■ ■ i• a1 Mike" logo *$of IS IMEN wall bav T, � 1 1� � = I��:s:. \r.:;ate,., -- �:i��v ��. '��.�!�i i'�/•lIJI. 11 iI • ,` emu.' P/WA ,1 .�O i � �• .s..::; i �,•'.�.��..�.• =.� ',•�� / �tt� t•f Y, ate .• /f at• '�.. •-•, mss' `� �.�./•��.f�r-.. ► _ki `,ice _'� ��1►Wtr�l Ar ftb Case Study In May 1982, a CAUSE team visited Owen Sound at the request of the City. The objectives for the CAUSE study were "To develop recommendations with respect to �3 rejuvenating the central core of the City, and to explore ways and means of obtaining improved wa- ter orientation of the central core of . . the City to take advantage of the intrinsic values of the Sydenham ; River and the Inner Harbour." , The CAUSE team familiarized themselves with the existing re- ' sources of the City, its buildings, its , fine natural setting, the creative , resources of its businessmen and ! Y L craftsmen. % O . G t.. '• 4 WinV • rvu� M� bt►i�in�s �i,Cb►•i�G Proposal forc_arntown landscaping, Owen Sound �l d The CAUSE team worked Given the ideas presented in closely with the downtown im- the CAUSE report, there is reason provement area board.of manage- to be excited about the future for ment, chamber of commerce, City the core and the harbour area. staff and elected officials, the Maybe the day will even come creative craftsmen of the com- when everybody who lives in the moms munity and many other individuals City will be able to see the potential and groups, to develop a series of that is exciting to outsiders," recommendations for immediate and longer term action. The IMPI CAUSE team urged the City: • To enhance the main shop- ping street as a focus for downtown pedestrian activity, while still maintaining acces- sibility for vehicles. • • To utilize the existing poten- tial of the riverbank, only one • block away from the main street. • • To improve pedestrian links to the River and Inner Harbour. • To enhance the use of the edges of the Inner Harbour HV � h for recreational purposes. riV i�!'1k4 • To capitalize on the excellent work by creative artists and craftsmen of the community. The study was enthusiastically • received by City officials, business groups, citizens and the news / . . media. This extract from an edi- torial in the Owen Sound Sun Times sums up the community's reactions: (�Ullti5 p • • many people feel a num- ber of the CAUSE ideas can be implemented without massive pub- 1 lic spending. The downtown mer- chants undertook major improve- ments on their own and will be able to look at the study when consider- ing future development plans. It gives them an excellent base to build on. `J J Ontario Association of Architects The Ontario Association of A committee authorized by Architects is the licensing body for the OAA Council administers the profession of architecture in CAUSE and evaluates applications Ontario under the provision of the for assistance. If you believe this Architects Act. It comprises a body program could be of assistance to of professionals very much in- your community, simply contact: volved with all aspects of the built environment. CAUSE The OAA is governed by an Ontario Association of Architects elected Council formed from its 50 Park Road membership and charged with the Toronto, Ontario M4W 21\15 responsibility of providing direction (416) 968-0188 and assistance, not only to the membership, but also to the gen- eral public through the programs initiated and sponsored by Council. The architect is concerned with human habitations in all their Proposed forms and their impact on the �J mainstr 'entrance,Minden \ welfare and life of society at large. The CAUSE program continues the historical public involvement by Ontario architects in matters of F►, importance to the communities of ; the province. y 1\\\ k \ r k r k k Y t r ti0 Q0 � • J N � -r ASI-I/MAPLE A\�� TRCC LINE r i ALONG Aerie view of downtown Minden,proposed STRF.LlT } X FypsPITP�- , EXPMJS►ON s r-, R 11 P:)TEL/SUM f c MOUNT -; MINDEN AN Y x + + / X j r S TKLC GI 2 v x STREET OG M INUEM f TOWEK O �i�4F O ROAD 'S MDUNT { MINDEN -- ------------------ -----