What is the Neighbourhood Planning Initiative?
The Neighbourhood Planning Initiative (NPI) is an integrated planning process that links land use, community services and infrastructure planning to improve the overall quality of life for residents today and in the future. NPI works with residents at the neighbourhood level and leverages local knowledge to identify social, cultural, economic, and environmental needs, priorities and concerns.
Neighbourhood planning also provides an opportunity for City departments that would not normally intersect, to work collaboratively on planning projects.
Where has the City put Neighbourhood Planning to work?
To explore the benefits of Neighbourhood Planning, the City of Ottawa completed two pilot projects. The first was conducted in Hintonburg/ Mechanicsville, a well-established neighbourhood that also had two major infrastructure projects planned at the same time. The second initiative took place in Vars, a rural neighbourhood, 25km east of downtown. These neighbourhood plans were received by City Council at the beginning of 2010 and are now in the implementation phase.
How does a neighbourhood plan fit with other planning processes?
The City conducts planning under various regulations and through diverse mechanisms. These include the Corporate Strategic Plan, departmental strategic plans, the Official Plan, secondary plans and individual community design plans. Neighbourhood planning does not replace other City planning processes. In areas where neighbourhood plans are being undertaken, the existing initiatives and work plans are linked into the neighbourhood planning process. Existing capital works projects, master plans and policy-planning documents are all taken into consideration.
How is the community involved in neighbourhood planning?
Residents, business owners, property owners, community groups and other stakeholders are involved in every step of developing a neighbourhood plan. Through public meetings, education sessions and information sharing, residents determine the future of their neighbourhood. This process enables the neighbourhood itself to assess its strengths and weaknesses, and to identify strategies and priorities for social, environmental, economic and cultural development.
Next Steps
The Community Sustainability department is currently working with the communities of Hintonburg/Mechanicsville and Vars and other City departments to implement the two neighbourhood plans. Staff are also developing a framework to integrate neighbourhood planning with other City planning tools to build more sustainable communities one neighbourhood at a time.
For more information on the Neighbourhood Planning Initiative, contact NP_PdQ@ottawa.ca
