McCowan Precinct Plan Study Background & Deliverables

Transcription

1 1 DRAFT & WITHOUT PREJUDICE McCowan Precinct Plan Study Background & Deliverables In September, 2011, City Planning (Scarborough District) began a study of an area within the Scarborough Centre, identified as the McCowan Precinct. The intent of the McCowan Precinct Plan Study is to develop a Precinct Plan for the McCowan area. The Precinct Plan would further articulate the policies of the Official Plan (including the Scarborough Centre Secondary Plan) and establish a framework for the future growth and development of the McCowan Precinct. The McCowan Precinct Plan Study is being undertaken with the assistance of area residents, landowners, business owners, the Ward Councillor and other City Divisions, who, together, formed the "McCowan Precinct Community Working Group" and the "McCowan Precinct Staff Working Group". The Study also included the work of Planning and Transportation Consultants who undertook a "Street Design and Transportation Network Study". The intent of this study is to develop/recommend a street and block plan, pedestrian connections and cycling routes and a parks and open space network. Through the work of the Community & Staff Working Groups, consultant study and a design Charrette meeting, a Precinct Plan has been developed for the McCowan area. City Planning is recommending, subject to City Council approval, that the Precinct Plan consist of the following 1) A Site Specific Policy for McCowan Precinct An Official Plan Amendment (OPA), adopted by Council, to add specific policy direction for the McCowan Precinct to the Toronto Official Plan to: articulate a Vision and Guiding Principles for the McCowan Precinct establish policies to guide growth and development within the Precinct identify needed public and private improvements/enhancements. 2) A Conceptual Master Plan for the McCowan Precinct: A Conceptual Master Plan will provide a visual illustration of the Vision, Guiding Principles and Policy direction/development strategy for the McCowan Precinct. The Conceptual Master Plan will include a recommended street and block plan, connections network, parks, open space and urban spaces plan, and a pedestrian and cycling network. It is intended to be conceptual. Specific location of proposed streets, connections, parks, public open spaces, cycling and pedestrian routes will be determined as development occurs within the Precinct. The Conceptual Master Plan will provide guidance for new development and public initiatives. 3) Urban Design Guidelines Urban Design Guidelines will guide the design and organization of the built environment for the McCowan Precinct. These guidelines will contain specific recommendations on matters such as, but not limited to, building massing and design, streetscapes and pedestrian activity, and improvements to the public realm including parks and open spaces. McCowan Precinct Site Specific Policy: Outline/Topics Introduction: The policies of this Precinct Plan are founded upon a "Vision" and "Guiding Principles" for the McCowan Precinct that have been developed by the residents, interested parties, landowners and workers who live, work and visit the McCowan Precinct and its surrounding areas. The Vision and Guiding Principles form the basis of this Site & Area Specific Policy for the McCowan Precinct and are to be read and implemented in conjunction with the Council adopted, "Conceptual Master Plan for McCowan Precinct"

2 2 DRAFT & WITHOUT PREJUDICE and the "McCowan Precinct Urban Design Guidelines". This Site & Area Specific Policy includes policies to enhance and strengthen the designated land use(s) of the Precinct, including the employment base within the Precinct. This Site & Area Specific Policy also includes implementation policies and strategies, development principles and design strategies, guidance on future infrastructure investment; and identifies potential public and private improvements to parks, the transportation network and community and social services. 1.0 McCowan Precinct: Vision: McCowan Precinct plays an important role within Scarborough Centre and the City of Toronto. The vision for the McCowan Precinct is for a vibrant, mixed use, community with urban village characteristics that include: a focus of employment and housing; destination features for its residents, workers and visitors; a safe and pleasant place to live, work and play; pedestrian-friendly streets; transit-oriented built form; ease of movement; high quality architecture; great publicly accessible and connected parks and public spaces, and high levels of sustainability. It is intended that McCowan Precinct be a community within the Scarborough Centre; and a community that enjoys a strong relationship and connections with the Centre and the adjacent residential and employment communities. 1.2 Guiding Principles: Managing Change: Future development of the McCowan Precinct will enhance the urban character and employment focus of the Precinct and the Scarborough Centre. Building upon, and in harmony with, the existing residential and employment uses within the Precinct, an urban village community will be promoted through expansion and refinement of the existing street and block network, promotion of public spaces, parks and community services and facilities, public art and way-finding elements, promoting destination features for the people that live, work and visit the area, attention to building architecture, building placement, and providing for a gateway feature with elements that serve to announce arrival to the area and create a sense of place. Future residential and employment growth, together with public initiatives, will explore opportunities to achieve efficiencies in infrastructure servicing and energy use, including the potential for district energy provision. Future development and public initiatives will enhance and expand employment and residential opportunities, parks, open spaces, services, programs and facilities for the community, and opportunities to live, work and play in the area Movement: Movement and connectivity are keystones of the McCowan Precinct. Movement within, and connectivity between the Precinct and its surrounding communities will encompass a variety of modes of transportation and options. Development will be transit oriented and take advantage of public transit infrastructure. A Street and Block Plan as set out in the Conceptual Master Plan for the Precinct, will be based on a hierarchy of City streets, varying street typologies, and designs. An integrated network of pathways and sidewalks will be employed to encourage walking and cycling. Movement and connectivity will promote transit use, walking, cycling and efficient vehicular movement while providing a safe and attractive built environment for people to visit or live, and work within the Precinct Building Communities: The McCowan Precinct will develop as a vibrant urban community within the Scarborough Centre, closely connected to its adjacent communities. Building upon the existing residential, employment, community, services and facilities, and the Precinct's parks, natural areas and public spaces, development of the Precinct will be designed to attract new businesses, visitors and residents. New

3 3 DRAFT & WITHOUT PREJUDICE development will provide for a diversity of housing and employment in keeping with the goals and objectives of the Scarborough Centre. New development and public initiatives will contribute to the livability and walk-ability of the Precinct through public realm improvements, the creation of public spaces, attention to the architecture and site design of new buildings and public infrastructure, contributions to the provision of community services and facilities and public art initiatives, efforts to achieve energy efficiencies and the promotion of opportunities to incorporate destination features that appeal to residents, workers and visitors of the area. Residential and employment growth, together with public initiatives, will facilitate investment in new social and physical infrastructure to create a rich mix of places for people to live, work, and visit. 2.0 Managing Change: 2.1 Land Use: - Enhance Mixed-Use of the Precinct - Promote Employment (and in particular office development) 2.2 McCowan Precinct Gateway - Intent: to announce arrival at McCowan Precinct, through such means as: Public Art Enhanced Pedestrian Connection(s) Building Placement Destination Facility/Use Public Space(s)/Gathering Space(s) Connectivity to Public Transit Signage Landscape Features 2.3 Street & Block Plan - Finer grid of public streets to promote development of larger blocks of land - Network of public streets, pedestrian and bicycle routes - Connections (publically accessible vehicular lanes/pedestrian walkways) - Network of public open spaces/parks/urban spaces - Implementation of a street and block plan will consider, amongst other matters, existing parcel layouts, existing and approved development, planned/approved infrastructure and transportation facilities/improvements, and site constraints such as floodplain and natural areas. 2.4 Conceptual Master Plan/Urban Design Guidelines - Pedestrian-scaled development blocks - Appropriate intersection spacing - Compact urban form & active streets - Connected parks and public space system - Public art - Streetscape & public realm improvements - Enhanced vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian movement 2.5 Municipal Services - Assess servicing/infrastructure 2.6 Stormwater Management - Low Impact Development Stormwater Management - Green Development Standards

4 DRAFT & WITHOUT PREJUDICE 3.0 Movement 3.1 Characteristics of McCowan Street and Block Plan - Development blocks in range of ha ( ac) - Intersection spacing range of 80 to 150m ( ft) - Mid-block connections (vehicular lanes/pedestrian walkways) 3.2 Pedestrian Friendly Streets, Walkways, Lanes & Public Spaces - Safe and efficient movement of pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles - Design details for publically accessible, vehicular lanes/pedestrian walkways - Urban Design Guidelines to include suggested cross-sections - All streets to have suitable growing conditions for large trees - Public art and street furnishings for streets/public spaces 3.3 Vehicular Lanes & Pedestrian Walkways - Publically accessible; connect to public street and block network; efficient vehicular movement, pedestrian oriented; active; invite & promote movement 3.4 Connections - Network of public streets and publically accessible lanes/pedestrian walkways as identified in the Conceptual Master Plan to connect private and public land uses - Bushby Drive extension to be a grand promenade; a visual and physical link with the Centre 3.5 Cycling Network/Facilities - Create a McCowan Precinct Cycling Network (Conceptual Master Plan) to link Precinct and surrounding areas - Safe and adequate bike crossings - Network to include bike lanes and off-street trails - New development to provide for bike facilities 3.6 Signage - Way-finding Plan to be developed by City - Implement way-finding plan through new development and/or public initiatives 3.7 Area Transportation Improvements - Extend street and block plan where feasible/appropriate to increase public connections - New vehicular and pedestrian connections to the surrounding area will be explored and pursued such as an extension of Bushby Drive to Markham Road and an extension of Bellamy Road across Highway 401, as noted in the Toronto Official Plan 4.0 Building Communities: 4.1 Land Use - Where residential use proposed, mix of unit sizes and bedroom types - Where appropriate, townhouses permitted as stand-alone blocks, but only as part of larger comprehensive developments with a mix of building forms - Major office uses encouraged in close proximity to transit facilities/station - Major development to incorporate substantial employment - Retail to be located at-grade within employment/residential and public buildings - Employment will be predominantly office, retail serving local community and hotel use 4

5 DRAFT & WITHOUT PREJUDICE - Retail will be focused along Consilium Place, Grangeway Avenue (Bushby Drive to Progress Avenue), Bushby Drive (between Grangeway Avenue and McCowan Road, Town Centre Court (McCowan Road to Borough Drive) and McCowan Road (Ellesmere to Bushby). 4.2 Pedestrian Scale - New development to contribute to the provision of a network of public streets, vehicular lanes/pedestrian walkways that are publically accessible, safe, comfortable and scaled to the pedestrian - Active, publically-engaging ground floor uses to be provided along streets, vehicular lanes/pedestrian walkways 4.3 Building Design - High quality design and distinct architecture to create signature buildings - Buildings to create continuous street-wall minimizing gaps along street - New residential development to provide private outdoor dog-walking areas/facilities 4.4 Streetscapes - Streets, vehicular lanes/pedestrian walkways are to contribute to the greening of the Precinct - New development will contribute to the provision/improvement of streets and streetscapes 4.5 Site Organization - Main entrances to buildings are to front onto public streets - Where appropriate main entrances may front onto public parks/open spaces - Vehicle parking to be provided below grade - The City will only permit above-grade parking upon review and acceptance of geotechnical and/or other studies, and only when parking is within the structure of the building, enclosed by active residential or employment uses and where building design/layout creates an active frontage on the street or vehicular lane/pedestrian walkway or driveway. 4.6 Public Open Spaces/Parks/Urban Spaces - Linkages between parks, open spaces, urban spaces to be promoted - The expansion of lands of East Highland Creek is encouraged to create a linear open space area along the Creek in order to to provide additional natural areas to enhance and protect the natural area - Public and privately owned, publically accessible urban spaces will front onto public streets. Where interior to the site, these spaces must be highly visible and directly linked to a publically accessible vehicular lane/pedestrian walkway. - East Highland Creek is an important feature of the McCowan Precinct. The valley corridor will be better linked to the adjacent lands through existing frontage onto streets, publically accessible walkways, and natural pathways 4.7 Public Art - The City will initiate a McCowan Public Art Plan as part of an overall Scarborough Centre Public Art Plan to provide direction on how/where public art is to be conceptualized/ planned/commissioned/ implemented 5

6 DRAFT & WITHOUT PREJUDICE 4.8 Community Services and Facilities - The provision of Community services and facilities will be guided by Community Services & Facilities Studies undertaken/co-ordinated by the City. - Development will contribute to the provision of community services, programs or facilities under the provisions respecting Section 37 of the Planning Act and the Toronto Official Plan. - A priority list of needed community services, programs and facilities will be Identified to guide the provision of these services/programs/facilities through the use of Section 37 of the Planning Act and/or public initiatives. 4.9 Vehicle Parking - A reduced parking supply may be considered for developments that are in close proximity to transit facilities, upon acceptance of appropriate transportation/parking analysis and the review and acceptance by the City of programs/facilities incorporated into the development proposal that reduce the dependence on the automobile. If you would like to provide your comments on the above outline of the Official Plan policies for the McCowan Precinct, please or submit your comments to: Russell Crooks, Senior Planner Community Planning, Scarborough District Scarborough Civic Centre 150 Borough Drive Toronto, ON, MIP 4N7 Tel. (416) Fax. (416) rcrooks@toronto.ca 6