IUE 3 / NOVEMBER 2015 Further input invited as Colchester Growth trategy nears final phase trathcona County is seeking public feedback as it enters the final phase of work on a Growth Management trategy (GM) considering how an urban community might be developed in Colchester, an area located south of Highway 628 and west of Highway 21. Growth Management trategies are an important step in ensuring future growth projected for the County is sustainable and maintains the County s high quality of life. A draft community design concept for the area was first presented in fall 2015. ince that time, the concept has been refined based on public comments and technical considerations, and draft policy directions have been prepared. Help us develop a strategy considering how an urban community might be developed in Colchester. Reflecting the vision and principles developed for Colchester, the draft recommended concept includes a network of green spaces anchored by major natural features, neighbourhoods with a range of housing choices and mixed-use centres for shopping, living and gathering. If Council decides that development of a new urban community in Colchester should proceed, the draft policy directions would provide the basis for more detailed planning in the years ahead. The County is seeking feedback on the draft recommended community design concept and draft policy directions by December 4, 2015. ee inside for details on the concept and the back page for ways to provide comments. Pages 2-3: From Vision to Draft Concept Pages 4-5: Draft Recommended Community Design Concept Pages 6-7: Draft Policy Directions
CITIZEN BULLETIN / IUE 3 / PAGE 2 From Vision to Draft Concept Colchester will be a unique community distinguished by the area s moraine landscape. Development will respect Colchester s natural features and connect people to the environment. Direct road, transit and trail links will integrate the community with its surroundings and the larger region. Colchester will be a welcoming community, providing affordable and diverse housing options for all who choose to live there as well as mixed use centres and a variety of community spaces for people to come together. Principles 1 Acknowledge and Respect Colchester s Rural Heritage 2 Integrate and Protect the Natural Environment 3 upport the Local and County Economies 4 Provide Diverse Housing and Neighbourhoods 5 Establish Mixed-Use Centres 6 Provide Transportation Choice 7 Create a Healthy and Fun Community Draft Community Design Concept The draft community design concept shown below was developed based on the vision and principles for a new urban community and Colchester s unique physical characteristics. The concept was focused around an interconnected green space network and residential neighbourhoods with a mix of housing types. It also featured a town centre adjacent to Gray s Lake and three village centres, a major retail area for large-format stores, and a business park along Highway 14. It had five access points on Highway 628/Township Road 522. Meetings with landowners within Colchester and the broader community were held on eptember 30 and October 1, 2015 to obtain feedback on the vision and principles and draft community design concept. Comments were accepted until October 20, 2015 and are summarized below.
What We Heard The principles are well balanced. The vision and principles should include agriculture/ agribusiness. The vision and principles should recognize Colchester s proximity to herwood Park. The concept should have higher density on less land. Revisit school locations; move schools away from wetlands. The character of existing country residential subdivisions should be respected. The concept does not identify all existing wetlands. Key Features Population 38,900 people Total residential units 14,900 Net residential density 31 units/hectare Potential Employment There should be stronger environmental protection. We re concerned about traffic impacts. 4,600 jobs CITIZEN BULLETIN / IUE 3 / PAGE 3
Range Road 231 Anthony Henday Dr (Highway 216) Highway 21 Anthony Henday Dr (Highway 216) CITIZEN BULLETIN / IUE 3 / PAGE 4 Draft Community Design Concept (33 uph - Pop. : 38,900) Recommended Community Design Concept Wye Road (Highway 630) Legend Existing Residential Low Density Residential Fulton Creek Range Road 233 c Gray s Lake P Range Road 232 Fulton Creek Provincial Land Medium Density Residential Mixed-Use Centres Town Centre Commercial Core Business Park Area REC T Fulton Creek Range Road 233 c Gray s Lake REC P T Range Road 232 Fulton Creek Provincial Land herwood Park Natural Area Township Road 522 (Highway 628) Mill Creek Deermound Dog Park MW REC c T P Major Retail Area chools Institutional Community Centre Major Recreation Centre Existing Protected Areas Municipal Reserve Environmental Reserve Pipeline Corridors (With setbacks for Lakes Legend treams Old Edmonton Trail Existing Residential Arterial Roads Low Density Residential Arterial Roads with HOV lanes Medium Density Residential Collector Roads Mixed-Use Centres Interchange Town Centre Commercial Core Highway Flyover Business Park Area Cemetery Major Retail Area Transit tation Park & Ride Traffic ignal hare your comments on the draft recommended community design concept REC chools Institutional Community Centre Major Recreation Centre Existing Protected Areas Municipal Reserve Environmental Reserve Pipeline Corridors (With setbacks for sensitive uses) Highway 14 MW Potential Meltwater Facility 0 0.5 1 2km
The draft recommended concept illustrated above reflects community comments on the previous draft concept regarding the location of schools and the desire to accommodate a range of employment opportunities. ome school sites have been moved farther away from large wetland areas, and the business park area has been expanded. Other changes include the elimination of new country residential areas and modifications to the mixed-use centres, resulting in an increase in the overall residential density from 31 dwelling units/net residential hectare (du/nrha) to 33 du/nrha. In addition, the major retail area has been enlarged, and minor changes have been made to the road network. Key Features A town centre adjacent to Gray s Lake and a major park, with a variety of retail, apartment buildings up to nine storeys, cultural facilities and potentially an institution of higher learning Three village centres with retail amenities, apartment buildings up to four storeys, townhomes and a community centre nearby Five intersections on Highway 628/Township Road 522 to distribute traffic volumes A grid network of major roads that respects existing natural features Residential neighbourhoods with a mix of housing types An interconnected green space network that conserves existing natural features and protected areas An expanded business park along Highway 14 A major retail area for large-format stores off Highway 628/Township Road 522 Population 38,900 people Total residential units 14,900 Detached and semidetached homes 9,600 units Townhomes 4,200 units Apartment units 1,200 units Net residential density 33 units/hectare Potential Employment 6,600 jobs Environmental Reserve 268 ha (662 acres) Detached and semi-detached dwellings Deermound Dog Park Next teps Public feedback will inform the final recommended community design concept and policy directions. The recommended concept and policy directions will be integrated into the Growth trategy that will be presented to Council in early 2016. Town centre development CITIZEN BULLETIN / IUE 3 / PAGE 5
CITIZEN BULLETIN / IUE 3 / PAGE 6 Draft Policy Directions The draft policy directions below, together with the draft recommended community design concept, will form the basis for the Colchester Growth Management trategy. The policy directions complement existing policies in the County s Municipal Development Plan. They clarify how environmental features in Colchester should be protected and respected and how new urban areas and infrastructure should be designed. If County Council decides to direct growth to Colchester, the policy directions will provide the basis for Area Concept Plan(s) and will guide more detailed Area tructure Plans for smaller areas within Colchester. The Environment Establish a linked network of open spaces including the Provincial Land, the herwood Park Natural Area and Deermound Dog Park, strengthened through the creation of an Open pace Master Plan. Achieve No Net Loss of wetland functions through a strict series of mitigation activities in accordance with trathcona County s Wetland Conservation Policy. Incorporate significant natural features that do not qualify as Environmental Reserve into the open space network. Rural Heritage Ensure retention of Colchester Cemetery and the Old Edmonton Trail. Create appropriate transitions to existing rural subdivisions within and north of Colchester. Identify opportunities, policies and guidelines related to rooftop gardens, community gardens, vertical farms and other forms of urban agriculture. Mixed-Use Centres The town centre should contain commercial, cultural and educational uses that serve the entire community. It should also have the greatest concentration of high-density housing, including low-rise apartment buildings and mid-rise buildings up to nine storeys. Village centres should contain a range of commercial amenities, including a grocery store, in addition to apartment buildings up to four storeys, and townhomes. Mixed-use development should be encouraged. Buildings in the village centres and town centre should frame streets to create a pedestrian-friendly environment. Major Retail Area The major retail area at Highway 628 and Range Road 232 is intended for large-scale, warehouse-style retail establishments that may serve an area larger than Colchester, such as home improvement and major department stores.
Transportation and treets The road network should facilitate movement by foot, bicycle, public transit and private vehicles for everyday trips. Local street networks should form interconnected grids. Trails should complement and link to the road network. A transit centre with park-and-ride facilities should be planned near Highway 628 and a transit centre oriented to pedestrians and cyclists should be planned in the town centre. All roads should be designed to support the concept of a complete street with sidewalks and multi-use pathways, on-street bike lanes or separated cycle tracks, as appropriate. Business Park Areas Lands adjacent to Highway 14 should be reserved for the development of business parks containing primarily office buildings and light industry, including agribusiness. mall-scale retail serving businesses and employees in the business park should also be permitted. Residential Areas The minimum overall residential density should be 33 units per net residential hectare. This should be measured at the scale of individual Area tructure Plans for residential areas and at the community-wide scale. While addressing the overall housing target, APs should divide residential areas into neighbourhoods, each with a distinct housing mix that includes single detached homes, semi-detached homes, townhomes and apartments. Basement suites should be considered throughout the new community. Detached garden suites should be considered and encouraged in lowdensity neighbourhoods where a parking space for the unit can be accommodated Houses and apartment buildings should be built of enduring and attractive materials. Individual streets and neighbourhoods should display a variety of architectural styles. Mid-size and smaller retail and entertainment uses, including restaurants, should be limited to help prevent the major retail area from competing with the mixed-use centres. Parks, chools and Other Community Facilities All residents should live within 400 metres (a five-minute walk) of a park. chools should be located adjacent to the community open space network, where possible, and most residents should live within 800 metres of a school. In addition to a large recreation centre south of Gray s Lake, smaller community centres with facilities such as libraries or pools should be planned close to village centres. Parks, natural areas and other public open spaces should be highly visible. Within neighbourhoods, at least 50% of the boundary of a natural feature should border a public street or park. Where possible, linear open spaces should link together natural features and parks. Trails should be provided for recreation and as links within the overall transportation system. Pipeline corridors should be used to provide trail linkages where possible. CITIZEN BULLETIN / IUE 3 / PAGE 7
CITIZEN BULLETIN / IUE 3 / PAGE 8 The Process for Imagine Colchester Public input and feedback are essential to ensuring the Colchester Growth Management trategy reflects the values and aspirations of trathcona County residents. The consultation process in Phase 1 included a landowners meeting and public open house in May 2015. Phase 2 included landowners meeting in eptember 2015 and public open house in October 2015. Phase 3 will include a landowners meeting and public open house. The Phase 3 Open House will be held on November 26, 2015. We will be asking for public feedback on the draft recommended community design concept and draft policy directions. Comments will inform the final Growth Management trategy which will be finalized in December and presented to County Council in early 2016. How to Get Involved Attend the November 26 th, 2015 open house to learn more about the draft recommended community design concept and draft policy directions and provide your feedback. Presentation materials and comment sheets from the November open house will be available on the project website. hare your thoughts at the event, by email, or by filling out and returning a comment sheet. Comments will be accepted until December 4, 2015. Open House November 26, 2015, 6 8 p.m. Presentation at 6:30 p.m. Council Chambers, Community Centre, 401 Festival Lane Visit the project website at www.strathcona.ca/ imaginecolchester Email your thoughts or questions to imaginecolchester@strathcona.ca