Planning in Saint John

Transcription

1 Saint John Growth Strategy & Municipal Plan The History and Potential of Planning in Saint John June 12, 2010

2 Schedule For Today Saint John - Today PART 1: 10:00am 10:15am 11:00am 12:30pm SETTING THE STAGE FOR THE MUNICIPAL PLAN Welcome and Introductions Presentation 1: The History and Potential of Planning in Saint John Discussion: Saint John s Strengths, Challenges and Opportunities 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 3:00pm 4:00pm Break out Working Groups Reporting Back Closing Remarks: Highlights from the Day, Next Steps

3 What Today s is a Municipal Agenda Plan? The Municipal Plan will describe the long term development 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.

4 Why Undertake This Now? The current plan is nearly 40 years old. The Plan will establish how and where growth and change should take place and prioritize spending to support this desired change. PlanSJ is one of Council s key priorities

5 What Today s Is The Planning Agenda Area?

6 How Will It Be Created? Building on City initiatives Research & Technical Studies Community Engagement New picture

7 How A Two It Phased Is Created Approach Phase 1 Growth Management Plan : where we grow Phase 2 New Municipal Plan: how we grow Future phases: Zoning Bylaw, Neighbourhood Plans

8 Where How Are It Is We Created 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

9 The How Project It Is Team Created The Team City of Saint John Citizens Advisory Committee Urban Strategies Inc. ADI Inc. & You!

10 A history of growth and change in Saint John

11 1840: A City Where The Rivers Meet The Ocean

12 1840: A Thriving Industrial Port

13 1875: A Nationally Prominent Industrial City

14 s: Emerging Streetcar Suburbs Connecting Uptown to: Old North End Douglas D l Avenue West Side Manawagonish Road, 1934

15 1946 Master Plan: Planning for a Post War Boom Key Components: Guide for development to 1970 Majornew transportation infrastructure viaduct at Union Station; Harbour Bridge Targeted T t dredevelopment: Courtenay Place; other sites d f Strategies to reduce scatterization of residential development

16 1946 Master Plan: New Transportation Infrastructure

17 1946 Master Plan: A Period of Population Growth

18 1946 Master Plan: Planning for Urban Renewal Main Street Douglas Avenue: 4000 residents to be relocated 1 2 Courtenay Bay, Haymarket Square: 3750 residents to be relocated

19 1946 Master Plan: Courtney Place Redevelopment

20 1946 Master Plan: Courtney Place Redevelopment Elements: Apartments Row Houses Hospital Elementary School Park & Playground Shopping i Centre Haymarket Square

21 1946 Master Plan: Self Contained Neighbourhoods Proposed Neighbourhood Boundaries

22 A History of Planning in Saint John 1967: Amalgamation Adds Much More Land City of Simonds Saint John Parish Lancaster Parish City of Lancaster

23 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 costsharing programs

24 1973 Community Plan: Overly Optimistic Projections 250, ,000 Residents and over 100,000 Jobs Projected by 2000 >> 200, , ,000 50,

25 1973 Community Plan: New Centres at the Edges

26 1970 s: Retail, Housing and Employment Move Outward McAllister Place

27 Sprawling Housing Forms Loch Lomond Road

28 Dispersed Employment Areas UNB / Regional Hospital Grandview Industrial Park

29 1970 s: Urban Revitalization Projects in Uptown Brunswick Square Redevelopment

30 1980 s: Urban Revitalization Projects in Uptown Old New Charlotte Street: View South from Union Street

31 1980 s: Urban Revitalization Projects in Uptown Market Square Redevelopment

32 1990 s: Urban Revitalization Projects in Uptown Imperial Theatre Restored

33 2000 s: A New Vision for the Uptown Waterfront

34 2000 s: Big Box Retail Developments in East Saint John Home Depot Canadian Tire

35 2000 s: Residential Sprawl Continues Anchorage Ave.

36 PlanSJ must address a range of challenges and opportunities in a comprehensive way to ensure prosperity, provide a high quality of life and promote sustainability within the City of Saint John.

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

38 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 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 and 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 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-functional buildings with retail, light industrial and residential, collaborating together

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

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

41 Diversify the population Attract immigrants and a younger and more multicultural population

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

43 Ensure compatibility of land uses Reduce land use conflicts & promote investment

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

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

46 Parks & recreation: quality, not quantity Upgrade existing facilities and provide more access to the waterfront(s)

47 Sustainability needs to be a key driver Protected green space & waterways, compact communities, & green buildings process movement public realm managing land and form infrastructure

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

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

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

51 Reinventing our Image Saint John is the hippest city in NB!

52 Toward a More Sustainable Saint John

53 Working with 3 Elements of Sustainability Integrated Planning Approach Complete Communities Growth Management

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56 We Need to Hear From You What are SitJ Saint John s greatest t strengths or assets; What are the Challenges that lie ahead; and What opportunities should the Municipal Plan create?

57 What are Saint John s greatest strengths or assets? People Natural N lbeauty Water Beauty and good transportation system Easy to get to amenities i.e. dr office Spectacular scenery Community involvement Pride ofneighbourhood Historical heritage Architectural heritage Boats, heritage, city market, walkability Rockwood park Uptown Waterfront environmental conditions Historic cultural diversity of the city past and present

58 What are Saint John s greatest strengths or assets? Quality of life Support for teachers and their drama groups Recreation and summer programs for children History and the city market Partridge island open up, tourist attraction Walking trails Stunning views and vistas Good bones, not only historically but so many different assetts Abilty to get around in ten minutes Support for artists Contrast between industrial and domestic Beauty of the mass of rocks around 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 passage

59 What are Saint John s greatest strengths or assets? Interesting buildings Diversity of neighbourhoods in the Uptown area Uptown and architectural history The boardwalk Multicultural immigration Diversity of 19 th century architecture Volunteerism, caring, generous people of SJ Salt water beaches, Irving Nature Park, Mispec Park 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 buildings Caring and accepting nature of SJers Natural air conditioning River front and edges of rivers

60 What are Saint John s greatest strengths or assets? Improve access to the river fronts Youthful 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) 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 large community Great people, huge opportunity No way to single out anything it s everything, the inclusiveness of everything everyone has said about SJ Passion that people have for Rockwood Park The rivers, partridge island, sense of tradition, empowerment of youth, Unlimited potential People, hospitals, schools and clock Caring people, beauty of the city and Having a university in our community

61 What are Saint John s greatest strengths or assets? 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 19 th century architecture in the 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 all different areas of Saint John Strong industrial base creating employment Growing bilingual community (french and english) Harbour Passage Growing a population and multilingual opportunities Variety of food and boutiques in the Uptown

62 What are Saint John s greatest strengths or assets? Green open spaces and outer green spaces and Saint John River Diversity of water, lakes, rivers, oceans, wetlands Peel street project Compact Uptown Waterfront Uptown Potential of Lily Lake ie dragon boat festival Affordable place to raise a family Art history Diversity it of cultures All season water access Ability to live and work Uptown Increasing g levels of immigrants coming from other countries to SJ 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

63 What are the challenges that lie ahead? Sprawl Intense weather events related to climate change, heavy rain, storms 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) High tenant population, but our policies and procedures address primarily single family home ownership Poverty, especially child poverty Removing bottlenecks for pedestrians getting from one neighbourhood to another

64 What are the challenges that lie ahead? Abilty to engage every single person in the community This plan actually gets executed (applause) Bringing more people back to the City, in the Uptown Follow through with leadership Getting youth more involved in community improvements Helping the homeless 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 them 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 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

65 What are the challenges that lie ahead? Need to keep drinking water in our own hands and not sell it off to someone who wants to make a profit (applause) Affordability Rockwood Park everything you do has to be affordable, housing, recreation, everything Attracting and retaining young families problem about boarding up older stores and putting residential apartments in them (applause) Finding the balance between mixing the old and new ; investing in recreation 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 citizens Fiscally responsible Redefine the size and boundary of the city Choosing the right priorities for the City

66 What are the challenges that lie ahead? Needs more new technology, including building materials i.e. insulation, improved building standards 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 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 gquality of city rather than getting gpeople p in and out of it (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 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

67 What are the challenges that lie ahead? 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 in empty lots bring greater pride Transit systems safe pedestrian systems 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 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)

68 What are the challenges that lie ahead? Balancing fiscal realit against community needs Building support for provincial policies that support urban development Better pedestrian and bike lanes Poverty, environmental issues Investing in the north end Seniors, health care, education, unemployment look after those challenges and everything else will take care of itself 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!) 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 lords Development better standards d for contemporary architecture t 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 housing that t is driving i people away Removing barriers to investment and sustainable infrastructure Well designed density living ie for families and the elderly

69 What are the challenges that lie ahead? 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 reflection 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 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 recreation No grocery store uptown City is dead on evenings and weekends (Uptown) Desperately need a revised building code for older buildings Need fair share of federal and provincial i taxes to municipality i 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

70 What are the challenges that lie ahead? 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 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 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 sustainaiblity Non profits must be able to access and work with civil il servants and municipalities i 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) Dificult for city to achieve what it wants to achieve in the absense of a provinical policy on city planning

71 What opportunities should the Municipal Plan create? Incentivize Proper 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 nature Federal and provincial i and civic i policies i get together th 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, 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 competitions 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 g citizens Need more culture festivals Tearing down dilapidated houses and apartments

72 What opportunities should the Municipal Plan create? Affordable housing 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 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) More opportunities for new business to set up Less competition for funding

73 What opportunities should the Municipal Plan create? More opportunity here than in some of the larger Canadian citizens for foreign students 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 site 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 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 buildings Accessibility for all people for community centres Promotion of eco tourism (applause) Make restoration of heritage buildings easier ie monetary incentives

74 What opportunities should the Municipal Plan create? Citizen empowerment, education, participation Give people enough reasons to decide to live in SJ Recreational opportunities for seniors and low income so that t their health can be maintained Listening to citizens Cerate e more incentives es for arts and cultureu Affordable housing and accessible transportation Cancel sprawl subsidies; force smart design (applause) Support green energy with legislation 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 centre 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 Collaborate, communicate, celebrate Discuss mixed land use neighbourhoods

75 What opportunities should the Municipal Plan create? Develop Sj with green principles and practices Tree planting, adopt a park community program Inventive interesting infrastructure changes Neighbourhood supported development design standard (applause) Age in place 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 education Decision making process that balances needs of environment, social and economic (applause) Integrated alternative transportation networks (some applause) Adopt measures for waste management and recycling Central support for entrepreneurs and developers can access programs at one central point

76 What opportunities should the Municipal Plan create? Make city more attractive for knowledge base businesses 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) 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)

77 Thank You Stay in touch with the PlanSJ team Web: Facebook Phone: