6.            OTTAWA URBAN DESIGN REVIEW PANEL UPDATE: OFFICIAL PLAN AMENDMENT; PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES; AND MEMBERSHIP

 

                COMITÉ D'EXAMEN DU DESIGN URBAIN D'OTTAWA : MODIFICATION DU PLAN OFFICIEL; PROCESSUS ET PROCÉDURES; COMPOSITION

 

 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

 

That Council:

 

1.                  Approve Official Plan Amendment XX regarding the Urban Design Review Panel, as detailed in Document 1;

 

2.                  Repeal By-law 2005-354, A by-law of the City of Ottawa respecting urban design review and the establishment and operation of an Urban Design Review Panel;

 

3.                  Receive, for information, “Processes and Procedures for the Ottawa Urban Design Review Panel 2010”, the handbook for Ottawa Urban Design Review Panel members and staff, as shown in Document 3; and

 

4.                  Approve the Ottawa Urban Design Review Panel’s membership for 2010-2013, as shown in Document 4.

 

 

RECOMMANDATIONS DU COMITÉ

 

Que le Conseil :

 

1.                  approuve la modification XX du Plan officiel concernant le Comité d'examen du design urbain, telle qu'elle est expliquée en détail dans le document 1;

 

2.                  abroge le Règlement municipal 2005-354, portant sur l'examen du design urbain et la création et le fonctionnement du Comité d'examen du design urbain;

 

3.                  reçoive à titre d'information le document « Processes and Procedures for the Ottawa Urban Design Review Panel 2010 », soit le manuel destiné aux membres et au personnel du Comité d'examen du design urbain d'Ottawa, qui constitue le document 3;

 

4.                  approuve la composition du Comité d'examen du design urbain d'Ottawa pour 2010-2013, qui figure dans le document 4.

 

 

Documentation

 

1.       Deputy City Manager's report Infrastructure Services and Community Sustainability dated 14 September 2010 (ACS2010-ICS-PGM-0159).

 

2.       Extract of draft minutes dated 4 October 2010

 


Report to/Rapport au :

 

Planning and Environment Committee

Comité de l'urbanisme et de l'environnement

 

and Council / et au Conseil

 

14 September 2010 / 14 septembre 2010

 

Submitted by/Soumis par : Nancy Schepers, Deputy City Manager, Directrice municipale adjointe, Infrastructure Services and Community Sustainability, Services d'infrastructure et Viabilité des collectivités

 

Contact Person/Personne-ressource : Richard Kilstrom, Manager/Gestionnaire

Policy Development and Urban Design/Élaboration de la politique et conception urbaine

Planning and Growth Management/Urbanisme et Gestion de la croissance

(613) 580-2424, 22379 Richard.Kilstrom@ottawa.ca

 

City-wide

Ref N°: ACS2010-ICS-PGM-0159

 

 

SUBJECT:

Ottawa Urban Design Review Panel Update: Official plan amendment; Processes and procedures; and membership

 

 

OBJET :

Comité d'examen du design urbain d'Ottawa : modification du Plan officiel; Processus et procédures; composition

 

 

REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS

 

That the Planning and Environment Committee recommend that Council:

 

5.                  Approve Official Plan Amendment XX regarding the Urban Design Review Panel, as detailed in Document 1;

 

6.                  Repeal By-law 2005-354, A by-law of the City of Ottawa respecting urban design review and the establishment and operation of an Urban Design Review Panel;

 

7.                  Receive, for information, “Processes and Procedures for the Ottawa Urban Design Review Panel 2010”, the handbook for Ottawa Urban Design Review Panel members and staff, as shown in Document 3; and

 

8.                  Approve the Ottawa Urban Design Review Panel’s membership for 2010-2013, as shown in Document 4.

 

RECOMMANDATIONS DU RAPPORT

 

Que le Comité de l'urbanisme et de l'environnement recommande au Conseil :

 

5.                  d'approuver la modification XX du Plan officiel concernant le Comité d'examen du design urbain, telle qu'elle est expliquée en détail dans le document 1;

 

6.                  d'abroger le Règlement municipal 2005-354, portant sur l'examen du design urbain et la création et le fonctionnement du Comité d'examen du design urbain;

 

7.                  de recevoir à titre d'information le document « Processes and Procedures for the Ottawa Urban Design Review Panel 2010 », soit le manuel destiné aux membres et au personnel du Comité d'examen du design urbain d'Ottawa, qui constitue le document 3;

 

8.                  d'approuver la composition du Comité d'examen du design urbain d'Ottawa pour 2010-2013, qui figure dans le document 4.

 

 

BACKGROUND

 

On March 10, 2004, Council directed staff to develop, in consultation with stakeholder groups, a pilot project for integrating design review and approval into the development review process for a specified area of the downtown core.

 

On September 22, 2004, Council formally approved the establishment of the Downtown Design Review Pilot Project.  It utilized the authority of the former City of Ottawa Act (S.O. 1959) to require design approval for specified new development within the area covered by the Downtown Ottawa Urban Design Strategy, as part of the Site Plan Control process.

 

The Official Plan was amended (OPA 17) to include Section 5.2.6 – Design Review and Approval, as well as Schedule L – Design Control Areas.  By-law 2005-354, a by-law respecting urban design review and the establishment and operation of an Urban Design Review Panel, was enacted by Council on August 24, 2005.  

 

The Pilot Project was originally intended to be in place for a two-year period.  Ultimately, the Project ran from 2005 until the end of 2009, and included the review of 31 private sector projects and one capital project. 

 

Over the first half of 2010, staff completed a detailed evaluation of the Pilot Project.  On May 26, 2010, Council received a staff report outlining the results of the evaluation of the Pilot Project, as well as a recommended course of action with respect to the geographic expansion and permanence of the program. 

 

In order to expand the area of applicability, and to permanently establish the Ottawa Urban Design Review Process, Council has directed staff to:

 

(a)    Implement the Ottawa Urban Design Review Process for  the Design Priority Areas identified in Section 2.5.1 of Official Plan Amendment No. 76 and require design review by a Design Review Panel for the threshold of development approved by Council;  

 

(b)   Bring forward an Official Plan amendment to delete redundant provisions in the primary and secondary Official Plans relating to design review;

 

(c)    Repeal Urban Design Review Panel By-law 2005-354 when the Official Plan amendment comes into effect;

 

(d)   Amend the Site Plan Control By-law to include the requirement to obtain approval of exterior building designs in addition to those plans previously required to be approved for development within Design Priority Areas; and

 

(e)    Recruit Panel membership in accordance with the membership composition and selection process in this report and return to Planning and Environment Committee for Committee's approval of the Panel’s membership.

 

DISCUSSION

 

OFFICIAL PLAN AMENDMENT

 

Urban design is widely recognized as a fundamental element of development.  The Official Plan contains several Council directions regarding the importance of design in the growth and maturation of the City, including Section 2.5.1 (Compatibility and Community Design), 4.11 (Compatibility), policies within specific land use designations, and Annex 3 which sets out the City’s Design Framework.  Urban design is also an essential element of the City’s Community Design Plans, Secondary Plans, and Neighbourhood Planning Initiatives.  In addition, since the adoption of the Official Plan in 2003, Council has approved an ongoing set of design guidelines, with 16 adopted and others in progress, to provide design guidance in private and public development.

 

Building on the design framework described above, the proposed Official Plan Amendment recommends the addition of a paragraph to the preamble of Section 2.5.1, as follows:

 

An enhanced review of the urban design elements of development applications and capital projects within Design Priority Areas will be undertaken by the Ottawa Urban Design Review Panel.  The Panel will provide an objective peer review, assisting the City in achieving urban design excellence.

 

The proposed Official Plan Amendment also recommends the addition of a policy under Section 5.3 – “Other Implementation Policies” to establish the permanent Ottawa Urban Design Review Panel, as follows:

 

Ottawa Urban Design Review Panel

7.  The Ottawa Urban Design Review Panel will be established to participate in an enhanced review of the urban design elements of development applications and capital projects within Design Priority Areas.

 

Design Priority Areas are included in Section 2.5.1 of the Official Plan by Official Plan Amendment 76, currently under appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board.  Policy 6 of Section 2.5.1 states as follows:

 

Design Priority Areas

6.  The City recognizes the following lands as Design Priority Areas in support of this Plan’s objectives to direct growth, to protect and enhance the character and sustainability of Ottawa’s many mixed-use communities, and to provide a focus for coordinating urban design efforts and enhancements:

 

a.  Downtown Precincts as defined by the Downtown Ottawa Urban Design Strategy (DOUDS);

b.  Traditional and Arterial Mainstreets as identified on Schedule B of this Plan;

c. Mixed Use Centres as identified on Schedule B of this Plan;

d. Other areas with special design needs such as the mainstreets within Villages designated on Schedule ‘A’ of this Plan, Village core areas identified in Volume 2C of this Plan, community core areas identified in community design plans or secondary plans approved by City Council, or other areas identified from time to time by City Council.

 

In Design Priority Areas, all public projects, private developments, and community partnerships within the public realm will be reviewed for their contribution to an enhanced pedestrian environment and their response to the distinct character and unique opportunities of the area. The public realm/domain refers to all of those private and publicly owned spaces and places which are freely available to the public to see and use.

 

Wider sidewalks, shade trees, coordinated furnishings and utilities, enhanced transit stops, decorative lighting, public art, median planting and treatments, enhanced pedestrian surfaces, traffic calming, natural public spaces, compact development, quality architecture and façade treatments, seasonal plantings, distinct signage, pedestrian connections, entrance features, commemorations, and seasonal decoration are among the creative and enhanced design responses that may be used to ensure that Design Priority Areas fulfill their primary role as the City’s most important ‘people’ places.

 

The Official Plan Amendment does not propose that a graphical representation of the Design Priority Areas be included in the Official Plan, but rather that this description be relied upon.  The Official Plan Amendment does not propose any changes to the text of Policy 6.

 

Additional requirements are proposed to be added to Section 5.2.7 – Pre-Application Consultation and Prescribed Information for Planning Applications to reflect Council’s ability to review the exterior elements of a building as well as the documentation required for the Panel’s review, as follows:

 

xxxi.       Drawings showing plan, elevation and cross-section views of each building

xxxii.      Design Brief

 

The proposed Official Plan Amendment will repeal the redundant sections of the Official Plan that establish the Design Review Pilot Program.  Specifically, it will repeal Section 5.2.6 – “Design Review and Approval” and Schedule L – “Design Control Areas”. 

 

REPEAL BY-LAW 2005-354 (URBAN DESIGN REVIEW PANEL)

 

The Urban Design Review Pilot Project was created under authority granted by subsection 1 of section 5 of The City of Ottawa Act, 1952, as re-enacted by section 2 of The City of Ottawa Act, 1957, and amended by section 2 of The City of Ottawa Act, 1958, and by subsection 1 of section 4 of The City of Ottawa Act, 1959, which reads as follows:

 

(1)   The council of the Corporation may pass by-laws prohibiting the erection or alteration of any building or structure any part of which faces land owned by Canada or any province of Canada or any country other than Canada or by any agency thereof or by the Corporation or by any local board as defined by The Department of Municipal Affairs Act or a park, parkway or driveway of the Federal District Commission or a highway having a width of at least eighty feet or a highway specifically designated on an official plan heretofore or hereafter lodged n the office of the Minister of Planning and Development under The Planning Act, 1955 or the land acquired or to be acquired for the controlled-access highway known as the Queensway referred to in an agreement in writing dated the 19th day of March, 1957, between the Government of Canada, the Government of the Province of Ontario, the Federal District Commission and the Corporation of the City of Ottawa or any similar property or highway unless a certificate of approval of the plans and specifications of the exterior design thereof has first been issued by an official or officials or by a committee or board appointed by council.

 

Subsection 1a of section 2 of The City of Ottawa Act, 1957 reads as follows:

 

(1a)The council of the Corporation may pass by-laws regulating the exterior design of buildings and structures referred to in subsection 1.

 

Subsection 5(3) of the City of Ottawa Act, 1999, S.O. 1990, c. 14, Sch. E, carried forward the powers and duties of the former municipalities under any general or special Act.  These powers and duties are, however, limited in respect of the part of the municipal area to which the power or duty applied on December 31, 2000.  As a result, the powers and duties in place under The City of Ottawa Act, 1952, continue to apply only to the geographic area of the former City of Ottawa.

 

By-law 2005-354, a by-law respecting urban design review and the establishment and operation of an Urban Design Review Panel, was enacted under this legislative authority, and applies only to lands within the former City of Ottawa.  More specifically, the by-law applies to the lands identified on Schedule L of the Official Plan as the “Urban Design Review Area” (OPA 17, November 2004).

 

With the enactment of the proposed Official Plan Amendment, the utility of By-law 2005-354 will expire, and it is therefore recommended that it be repealed.   The day-to-day operation of the Ottawa Urban Design Review Panel will be based on the document entitled “Ottawa Urban Design Review Panel 2010: Processes and procedures for the Ottawa Urban Design Review Panel 2010”, included as Document 3 for information.

 

SITE PLAN CONTROL BY-LAW

 

The Planning Act has been amended, through The Planning and Conservation Land Statute Law Amendment Act, 2006 (Bill 51).   The Planning Act now permits municipalities to promote sustainability and to help manage design through the Site Plan Control process.  Subsection 41(4) has been amended to permit municipalities to influence the massing and conceptual design of proposed buildings; the relationship of proposed buildings to adjacent buildings, streets, and exterior areas to which members of the public have access; and matters relating to exterior design, including without limitation the character, scale, appearance and design features of buildings.

 

In order to implement this additional authority, an Official Plan amendment containing provisions relating to such matters must be in effect in the municipality, and a by-law must be enacted by the municipality.  In order to satisfy the first criteria, the Official Plan was amended, through Official Plan Amendment No. 76 (OPA 76), to include the required provisions (Section 5.2 – Implementation Mechanisms, by Authority under the Planning Act).  An amendment to the Site Plan Control By-law (2002-4) is required to satisfy the second criteria.

 

Section 1 of the Site Plan Control By-law (2002-4) includes the following definition:

 

“site plan control approval” means the approval of plans or drawings authorized by Section 41 of the Planning Act and includes the conditions of approval of those plans and drawings authorized by Section 41 of the Planning Act;

 

As noted, Section 41 has been amended to include exterior design elements, relationships within the built environment and massing.  The broad definition of By-law 2002-4 gives Council the authority to impose all of the conditions of approval included in Section 41 itself.  As a result, no amendment to By-law 2002-4 is required to allow Council to draw on this authority.

 

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE OTTAWA URBAN DESIGN REVIEW PROCESS FOR DESIGN PRIORITY AREAS

 

The Ottawa Urban Design Review Panel will be implemented through a document titled “Ottawa Urban Design Review Panel 2010: Processes and Procedures for the Ottawa Urban Design Review Panel 2010”, attached for information as Document 3.  This document, to be used as a handbook for members of the Panel, outlines the Panel’s mission, guiding principles, and composition, as well as some of the administrative matters concerning the functioning of the Panel.  A description of Design Priority Areas is included, together with a summary of the general scope of the Panel’s review and the conditions and limitations that are placed on their review. 

 

A detailed description of the design review procedure is also included in the handbook.  It is anticipated that the day to day functioning of the Panel will be fluid.  It will be based upon the two-phase structure set out in the handbook, but will be flexible enough to accommodate the wide range of projects and individual applicants that will be reviewed.

 

OTTAWA URBAN DESIGN REVIEW PANEL MEMBERSHIP

 

The Ottawa Urban Design Review Panel will be comprised of 10 expert design professionals.  Following the description of the panel composition and recruitment of panel members in the May 26, 2010 report to Council, members were recruited from across the country.  Advertisements were placed with provincial and national professional organizations, as well as in a selected number of highly read newspapers.  A number of applications were received, and the Panel was chosen.

 

As a result of the applications that were received, the Panel’s composition is somewhat different from that which was anticipated in the May 26, 2010 report.  An additional architect has been included, with the result of one less urban planner, and the Green Technologies Specialist that has been appointed is qualified as an architect, rather than as an engineer as was originally contemplated.   The Panel is comprised of the following professionals: 

 

Five Architects

Two Landscape Architects

One Urban Planner

One Green Technologies Specialist

One Heritage Conservation Specialist (adjunct member, not yet appointed)

 

All of the Panel members are senior professionals who are capable of evaluating projects of varying complexity and in a variety of contexts, can communicate effectively within a multi-disciplinary panel, and are able understand the municipal planning system and the City of Ottawa’s development review process.  They have practical work experience in the City of Ottawa, and are registered members in good standing of their respective professional organizations.

 

The Ottawa Urban Design Review Panel 2010-2013 will be comprised of the following nine individuals, with further biographical details included in Document 4:

 

 

A Heritage Conservation Specialist will be recruited as an adjunct member, to comment on an ad hoc basis when heritage issues arise or if a development has the potential to impact a heritage resource.

 

RURAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The Ottawa Urban Design Review Panel will comment on development proposals and capital projects within the rural area that meet the established project threshold.  This will include development proposals and capital projects on village mainstreets, in village core areas identified in Volume 2C of the Official Plan (Village Plans), and in community core areas identified through community design plans or secondary plans approved by Council.

 

CONSULTATION

 

Consultation for the Official Plan Amendment that is the subject of this report has been carried out in accordance with the City's Public Notification and Consultation Policy.

 

COMMENTS BY THE WARD COUNCILLOR(S)

 

All City Councillors are aware of this Official Plan Amendment.

 

LEGAL/RISK MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS:

 

There are no legal/risk management implications associated with this report. 

 

CITY STRATEGIC PLAN

 

The activities outlined through this report will further the following Planning and Growth Management Priorities, as identified in the Strategic Plan:

 

Objective 1: Manage growth and create sustainable communities by:

 

Objective 4: Preserve Ottawa’s rural villages

 

TECHNICAL IMPLICATIONS

 

N/A

 

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

 

The Panel Members of the Ottawa Urban Design Review Panel serve on an unpaid, voluntary basis; however, travel, accommodation, meals and incidental expenses incurred by the panel members shall be reimbursed by the City. Funds are available from within Planning and Growth Management’s operating budget.

 

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

 

Document 1    Official Plan Amendment

Document 2    Consultation Details  

Document 3    Ottawa Urban Design Review Panel 2010: Processes and Procedures for the Ottawa Urban Design Review Panel 2010 (DRAFT)

Document 4    Ottawa Urban Design Review Panel Membership, 2010-2013

 

IMPLEMENTATION/DISPOSITION

 

Planning and Growth Management will recruit and contract Panel Members on the basis of a three-year term.

 

Planning and Growth Management will prepare a by-law adopting Official Plan Amendment xx, forward the by-law to Legal Services Branch and undertake the statutory notification when all relevant official plan amendments have been adopted by City Council. 

 

Legal Services Branch to coordinate the repeal of By-law 2005-354.

 


OFFICIAL PLAN AMENDMENT                                                                       Document 1

 

 

 

Ottawa bw

 

 

 

 

Official Plan Amendment __  Modifications du Plan directeur

 

To the Official Plan of the City of Ottawa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Land use

Utilisation du sol


________________________________________________________________________

 

INDEX

 

 

THE STATEMENT OF COMPONENTS           

 

PART A – THE PREAMBLE

Purpose

Location

Basis

 

 

PART B – THE AMENDMENT

Introduction

Details of the Amendment

Implementation and Interpretation

 

 


PART A – THE PREAMBLE

 

Purpose

 

The purpose of this amendment is to update the Official Plan to delete redundant provisions relating to the Downtown Design Review Pilot Project, and to include provisions establishing the permanent Ottawa Urban Design Review Panel.

 

Location

 

This Official Plan Amendment affects the entire area of the City of Ottawa, as shown on Official Plan Schedule A: Rural Policy Plan and Official Plan Schedule B: Urban Policy Plan, and particularly to those lands identified as Design Priority Areas in the Official Plan.

 

Basis

 

On March 10, 2004, Council directed staff to develop, in consultation with stakeholder groups, a pilot project for integrating design review and approval into the development review process for a specified area of the downtown core.

 

On September 22, 2004, Council formally approved the establishment of the Downtown Design Review Pilot Project, utilizing the authority of the former City of Ottawa Act (S.O. 1959) to require design approval for all new development, as part of the Site Plan Control process, within the area covered by the Downtown Ottawa Urban Design Strategy.

 

The Official Plan was amended (OPA 17) to include Section 5.2.6 – Design Review and Approval, as well as Schedule L – Design Control Areas.  By-law 2005-354, a by-law respecting urban design review and the establishment and operation of an Urban Design Review Panel, was enacted by Council on August 24, 2004.  

 

The Pilot Project was originally intended to be in place for a two-year period.  Ultimately, the Project ran from 2005 until the end of 2009, and included the review of 31 private sector projects and one capital project. 

 

Over the first half of 2010, staff completed a detailed evaluation of the Pilot Project.  On May 26, 2010, Council received a staff report outlining the results of the evaluation of the Pilot Project, and carried recommendations concerning a course of action with respect to the geographic expansion and permanence of the program. 

 

In order to expand the area of applicability, and to permanently establish the Ottawa Urban Design Review Process, Council has directed staff to bring forward an Official Plan amendment to delete redundant provisions in the Official Plans relating to design review, and to include provisions establishing the permanent program.


PART B – THE AMENDMENT

 

1.   Introduction

All of this part constitutes Amendment No. XX to the Official Plan for the City of Ottawa, as amended by Official Plan Amendment No. 76.

 

2.   Details

The Official Plan for the City of Ottawa is hereby amended as follows:

 

1.      The following text is added to the preamble of Section 2.5.1, as a new paragraph after the words “and open spaces such as the Rideau Canal.”

 

“An enhanced review of the urban design elements of development applications and capital projects within Design Priority Areas will be undertaken by the Ottawa Urban Design Review Panel.  The Panel will provide an objective peer review, assisting the City in achieving architectural and urban design excellence.”

 

2.      The following text, being the whole of Section 5.2.6, is deleted from Section 5.2 – Implementation Mechanisms, by Authority of the Planning Act:

 

5.2.6 – Design Review and Approval

Policy

1. Those areas identified on Schedule L are designated design control areas wherein all roads are designated as design control highways.

 

2. A Design Review Panel shall be established under the provisions of a by-law enacted pursuant to the former City of Ottawa Act RSO 1959 and the Panel shall apply the provisions of this by-law to buildings and structures, any part of which fronts onto a design control highway. No new development or alteration/addition to existing development shall be constructed without first having obtained:

a. Acceptance of the design drawings for the development from the Design Review Panel; and

b. Approval of the accepted design drawings from the approval authority set out in the by-law.

 

3. The Design Review Panel in its review of development proposals and prior to giving its acceptance to the design for developments subject to design review and approval shall ensure that the development is consistent with the urban design framework established by any area design strategies approved by Council and shall ensure that all relevant policies and objectives included in this Plan that deal with design matters have been addressed.

 

4. The Design Review Panel shall be constituted and shall conduct itself in accordance with Terms of Reference approved by City Council.

 

5. Extension to other areas of the city of design review and approval shall be undertaken through amendment to Schedule L to include any other areas where design review and approval shall apply as design control areas wherein all highways are designated design control highways.

 

6. The Design Review Panel will consult with the City’s municipal heritage committee, currently known as Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (LACAC), when reviewing development applications for areas that may have heritage significance but are not included on the municipal heritage register.

 

3.      Section 5.2.7 Pre-Application Consultation and Prescribed Information for Planning Applications is renumbered as Section 5.2.6.

 

4.      The following text is added to Section 5.2.7 – Pre-Application Consultation and Prescribed Information for Planning Applications, as paragraphs xxxi and xxxii to Policy 2:

 

“xxxi.  Drawings showing plan, elevation and cross-section views for each building

 xxxii.  Design Brief”

 

5.      The following schedule is deleted:

 

            Schedule L – Design Control Areas

 

6.      The following text is added to Section 5.3 – Other Implementation Policies, as Policy 7:

 

Ottawa Urban Design Review Panel

7. The Ottawa Urban Design Review Panel will be established to participate in an enhanced review of the urban design elements of development applications and capital projects within Design Priority Areas.

 

 

3.  Implementation and Interpretation

 

Implementation and interpretation of this Amendment shall be in accordance with the policies of the City of Ottawa Official Plan.


CONSULTATION DETAILS                                                                             DOCUMENT 2

 

NOTIFICATION AND CONSULTATION PROCESS

 

Notification and public consultation was undertaken in accordance with the Public Notification and Public Consultation Policy approved by City Council for Official Plan amendments. 

 

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS

 

No comments were received in response to the public circulation. 
OTTAWA URBAN DESIGN REVIEW PANEL 2010:                                    DOCUMENT 3

PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES FOR THE OTTAWA URBAN DESIGN REVIEW PANEL 2010 (DRAFT)

 

 City of Ottawa

Ottawa Urban Design Review Panel 2010

 Processes and procedures for the Ottawa Urban Design Review Panel 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

logo_blue.jpg

 

 


Table of Contents

 

Background. 117

Mission. 117

Guiding Principles. 117

Panel Composition. 118

Quorum... 118

Conflicts of Interest 118

Duration of Appointment 118

Chair. 119

Panel Function. 119

Design Priority Areas. 120

General Scope of Review.. 120

Conditions and Limitations. 120

Panel Coordinator. 122

Expense Reimbursement 122

Public Involvement 122

Design Review Procedures – A Two-Phased Approach. 123

Panel Recommendations. 124

Presentation and Design Review Format 124

Typical Review Panel Agenda. 125

Submission Requirements. 126

 


 

Background

 

On October 6, 2010 staff is recommending City Council approve the Ottawa Urban Design Review Panel as a permanent structure within the development review process for the City of Ottawa. The Panel is an independent body comprised of experienced design professionals that provide a peer review of development applications occurring in designated areas of the City.

 

Mission

 

By providing an objective peer review of both capital and private sector development projects, the Panel shall help the City achieve architectural and urban design excellence. As a result, development will have a full understanding of its likely impact on the immediate surroundings, the public realm and the wider context. Quality design shall be a priority in development review and will be a central feature in the open, creative dialogue between Panel members.

 

Guiding Principles

 

The following principles shall guide the Design Review Panel: 

 

The Panel shall strive to develop a design culture befitting the Nation’s Capital, extending throughout the City

 

The high urban design threshold that has been established for the downtown core shall be applied outwards to the entire city, in areas designated by the Official Plan as Design Priority Areas.

 

The Panel’s advice shall be conveyed to Council and the community in a transparent, public manner

 

The Panel’s advice to staff shall be conveyed to Council and the community in an active and transparent fashion, in recognition of the significant time the Panel devotes to application review. Panel meetings, materials and decisions will be accessible to the public either in person or via minutes and proposals featured online at www.ottawa.ca/reviewpanel.

 

Where staff is unable to implement the Panel’s recommendations or the applicant is unwilling to incorporate Panel recommendations, staff will refer the approval to the appropriate Committee.

 

The Panel’s review of applications shall be timely, within Council-approved timelines

 

The City is committed to a high urban design threshold while at the same time ensuring that the Council-approved timelines for application review are achieved. The applicant will need to pre-consult with the Panel before significant design of the proposal has been undertaken and before units within the development have been pre-sold to the public, so that design improvements can be made without jeopardizing developer obligations.

 

The Panel’s second phase of design review will occur within the Council-approved 28-day circulation period for development applications. The Panel will convene at City Hall on the first Thursday of every month, commencing November 2010.

 

Panel Composition

 

The Panel shall be comprised of 10 expert design professionals. All members are senior professionals able to evaluate projects of varying complexities and contexts related to their profession, communicate effectively within a multidisciplinary panel, have an understanding of the municipal planning system and the development approval process, have practical work experience, are champions for design excellence in the City of Ottawa, and are registered members in good standing of their respective professional associations.

 

The Panel is made up of the following professionals:

 

Five Architects

Two Landscape Architects

One Urban Planner

One Green Technologies Specialist

One Heritage Conservation Specialist (adjunct member)

 

Quorum

 

A minimum quorum of six panel members shall convene as the Ottawa Urban Design Review Panel. The Heritage Conservation Specialist shall be an adjunct member of the quorum, being called upon to review development applications that directly or indirectly affect heritage resources.

 

Conflicts of Interest

 

Conflicts of interest shall be identified by Panel members at the beginning of every Design Review meeting. After presenting the agenda for the day, the Chair will ask members of the Panel to identify conflicts of interest. A conflict of interest occurs when a Panel member is called upon to review an application in which the member has a direct or indirect, perceived or real, personal, professional and/or financial interest in the project.

 

Duration of Appointment

 

Members shall be appointed to a term of three years. Members may be appointed to a maximum of two consecutive terms. The terms of members should be staggered to ensure a smooth transition between terms and new members.

 

 

Chair and Vice-Chair

 

A Chair and Vice Chair shall be chosen by the Panel, from the Panel. The Chair is responsible for leading Panel meetings, introducing presenters, ensuring all Panel members participate in review discussions, and summarizing key points of consensus, outstanding issues and final recommendations at the end of every Panel meeting.

 

In the event that the Chair cannot attend a meeting, the Vice Chair will serve as Chair.

 

Panel Function

 

The Panel will provide urban design advice and input on:

 

  1. Zoning By-law applications proposed within Design Priority Areas (DPAs) where there is a request for a change in density or height;
  2. Site Plan Control applications proposed within DPAs. Site Plan Control applications include the construction, erection or placement of buildings on lands or large additions to townhouses/row houses, apartment buildings, mixed use buildings, retirement homes, planned unit developments and large commercial, industrial and institutional buildings, and;
  3. Public capital projects such as new buildings, major renovations to public buildings, major infrastructure projects (such as bridges, new streets, transitway and transit stations), and streetscaping projects. For public capital projects that require Panel review, City staff shall meet with panel members prior to the project scoping phase and again during preliminary design phase to enable staff to determine the financial implications of Panel recommendations.

 

There are six exceptions to the above-mentioned applications. The Panel will not review applications within DPAs that are:

 

  1. Small scale residential projects (for example, residential developments below nine units);
  2. Commercial development less than 6,000 square metres;
  3. Revisions to plans that have received design approval where the change maintains the overall design response associated with the initial approval;
  4. Additions to buildings that are not located along a public right-of-way;
  5. Parking lots; and
  6. Public park development (they are already subject to a detailed design process involving community input).  

 

Of special note: Projects in DPAs that require design approval from the Ottawa Built Heritage Advisory Committee (OBHAC) or National Capital Commission (NCC) will be subject to Panel design review; however, Panel recommendations will be forwarded to the applicable organizational body for information and final design approval.

 

 

Design Priority Areas

 

Design Priority Areas are special “people places” within the City and are areas to direct growth, protect and enhance character, achieve sustainability, and focus coordinated urban design efforts.

 

The City OP designates the Design Priority Areas such as Downtown Ottawa; Traditional and Arterial Mainstreets; Mixed Use Centres; Rural Village Mainstreets; and, Village cores.

 

The character of DPAs varies significantly from mature, dense, established urban areas to more suburban, low-density areas. Despite the varying contexts and complexities among DPAs, the high urban design threshold established for the downtown core shall be applied outwards to the entire city.

 

General Scope of Review

 

All applicable public projects and private developments within the public realm will be reviewed for their contribution to an enhanced pedestrian environment and their response to the distinct character and unique opportunities of the area. The public realm refers to all of those private and publicly owned spaces and places which are freely available to the public to use and enjoy.

 

Wider sidewalks, shade trees, coordinated furnishings and utilities, enhanced transit stops, decorative lighting, public art, median planting and treatments, enhanced pedestrian surfaces, traffic calming, natural public spaces, compact development, quality architecture and façade treatments, appropriate building scale and massing, seasonal plantings, distinct signage, pedestrian connections, entrance features, commemorations, and seasonal decoration are among the creative and enhanced urban design responses that may be used to ensure that Design Priority Areas fulfill their primary role as the City’s most important ‘people’ places.

 

Members will have an opportunity to provide critical input and advice for every application presented at the Panel; however, convening members shall also be presented with a staff assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of every proposal. The purpose of the assessment is to focus the Panel’s review and solicit expert advice to address the most critical urban design issues.

 

Conditions and Limitations

 

Because the Panel is not a formalized part of the City of Ottawa’s statutory regulatory process, there are limitations concerning its roles and responsibilities:

 

Recommendations are advisory

 

The critical input, advice, comments and recommendations of the Panel are not a binding or authoritative element of a regulatory review process. Regardless, the Panel plays an important role in adding value to the development of capital and private projects by providing expert professional advice toward achieving better urban design.

 

Review is limited to materials submitted

 

The Panel’s advice and insight shall be restricted to the materials submitted for the individual projects during the design review.

 

The Panel may make suggestions and offer guidance on design issues; however, the intent is not for the Panel to generate alternative plans and designs of its own. The Panel shall not produce competing plans for individual projects and the City shall not ask the Panel to create original work for consideration or to fill in gaps of other design professionals.

 

Review shall operate within existing municipal processes and frameworks

 

The Panel will work within the existing municipal framework established by the City as well as abide by approved City plans, policies, directives and initiatives, which shall be outlined by staff as necessary. The advice and insight resulting from Panel review should support the OP, secondary plans, urban design guidelines, Zoning By-law, etc. For individual projects, the Panel is expected to help achieve the best urban design results within the existing municipal framework.

 

The Design Review Panel process shall operate within the Council-approved timelines for development application review process. The existing development application review process takes between 146 days (for Zoning By-law amendments from the time of submission to the end of appeal) and 74 days (for Site Plan Control applications with public notice and delegated authority). These timelines occur within a 12-step Development Application Review process (note: not all steps are required in every application, some processes do not include public notification):

 

1.    Pre-application consultation

Pre-application consultation with Ottawa Urban Design Review Panel

2.    Application submission

3.    Application deemed complete

4.    Community “heads up”

5.    Circulation to technical agencies, community associations and Ward Councillors begins (circulation lasts 28 days)

Formal consultation with Ottawa Urban Design Review Panel

6.    Posting of on-site signs (signs remain on site until a decision is rendered on the application)

7.    Community information and comment session

8.    Issue resolution – staff memorandum or Committee report preparation

9.    Notice of decision

10. Notice of public meeting

11. Notice of decision by Committee or Council

12. Post application

 

Applicable development proposals shall each be reviewed twice by the Panel. Proposals will be reviewed by the Panel within Step 1 and Step 5.

 

Panel Coordinator

 

A Design Panel Coordinator from City staff shall be assigned to administer and manage the logistics and workings of the Design Review Panel. The Coordinator shall be the primary liaison between Panel members and the City, and be responsible for preparing meeting agendas, recording and distributing meeting minutes, and ensuring review materials are accessible to Panel members a minimum of five (5) working days prior to meetings. The Coordinator will manage the information on www.ottawa.ca/reviewpanel and handle public questions.

 

Expense Reimbursement

 

Panel members serve on an unpaid, voluntary basis; however, travel, accommodation, meals and incidental expenses incurred by the panel members shall be reimbursed by the City. Panel members are to submit original receipts (no scanned copies, no direct payment or credit card vouchers) to a designated City administrative assistant (refer to Appendix 2 for the Reimbursement form). Panel members will also need to indicate whom to make cheques payable to and provide a mailing address. The reimbursement process takes approximately 15 working days, upon submission of receipts.

 

The standard for air travel is Economy Class, the standard for rail travel is Business Class – Discounted Fare and the standard for rental vehicles in Mid-Size. The standard for accommodation is a single room.

 

Public Involvement

 

The public will not be able to attend the pre-consultation phase of the Design Review Panel to respect the confidentiality of proponents who may be considering new development but who have not yet initiated public dialogue.

 

The public is welcome to attend the formal Design Review Panel meetings as observers. Public delegations, however, will not be permitted as the focus of Panel meetings shall be to conduct a design review of the proponent’s response to City design objectives.

 

The agenda and minutes of Panel meetings shall be posted online at www.ottawa.ca/reviewpanel. The purpose of the website is to provide the public with information on the projects being reviewed and to raise awareness of the importance of urban design.  

 

Design Review Procedures – A Two-Phased Approach

 

The proponent will meet with the Panel at least twice for all projects subject to Design Review; the first occurrence (Phase 1) is at the pre-consultation stage prior to formal application, and the second occurrence (Phase 2) is once a formal application has been made. 

 

Phase 1

 

At the first phase of Design Review staff will provide the Panel with a brief summary of the pre-application consultation issues. Afterward, the Panel will discuss the overall project and will define the key urban design objectives to be addressed during the project design process. These design objectives shall be reviewed again at the second phase of Design Review.

 

The Design Brief

 

After the first phase of Design Review the applicant will craft a Design Brief and submit it with their formal development application. The Design Brief will focus on the key design objectives being advanced and will be supplementary to the graphic materials that depict the design details.

 

Five working days before the second phase of Design Review, an assigned staff member shall post a design memorandum at www.ottawa.ca/reviewpanel that provides an assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the proposal, based on the Design Brief, and the input from the first phase of Design Review. Staff shall identify important aspects of the project design that require specific input from the Panel at the second phase of Design Review. 

 

Phase 2

 

The assigned Planner shall present a design memorandum to the Panel, followed by a presentation made by the proponent. The Panel will, if required, seek clarification from the proponent on the project design and/or from staff on relevant planning and design policies/guidelines. 

 

The Panel will then discuss and deliberate any design elements they feel need to be addressed and will formulate and table recommendations for project design enhancements or modifications.  Prior to the Panel making their final recommendations, the proponent will have an opportunity to respond to the tabled recommendations. An assigned City staff shall record the final recommendations of the Panel for use by staff and the proponent.

 

If the Panel decides the design development has not sufficiently addressed issues raised in the first phase of Design Review or that there are additional items that require more refinement, the Panel may recommend that the proponent return for a third session.

 

Panel Recommendations

 

Final recommendations made by the Panel during the second phase of Design Review will guide staff and the proponent as they work to achieve project modifications that respond to the Panel’s input and to finalize the design. Once a project has been reviewed, those urban design elements supported by the Panel must not change or the support of the Panel shall be considered withdrawn, pending a third review of the design project.

 

Presentation and Design Review Format

 

The review proceedings will be led by the Chair of the Design Review Panel and will follow the general sequence described below:

 

Phase 1 Pre-consultation Design Review

 

      i.        Staff introduction of project (5 minutes): Invited by Chair, the assigned Planner will present a summary of the pre-consultation meeting held between the proponent and staff.

 

    ii.        Panel discussion and recommendations (25 minutes): The Chair will open the floor to Panel comments. The Panel will discuss the overall project and will define the key urban design objectives to be considered during the project design process. The Panel will provide objective and constructive feedback to the proponent.

 

   iii.        Summary of the Panel’s recommendations (5 minutes): The Chair will summarize the Panel recommendations, and direct the proponent to incorporate these recommendations in their design and Design Brief.

Phase 2 Formal Design Review

 

      i.        Staff introduction of project (5 minutes): Invited by Chair, the assigned Planner will present the design memorandum.

 

    ii.        Proponent Presentation (5 minutes): Invited by Chair, the proponent(s) will introduce themselves and present the project as concisely as possible. A PowerPoint presentation is required. No new material may be presented that was not included in the Design Brief.

 

   iii.        Panel questions and clarifications (5 – 10 minutes): The Chair will request that the proponent(s) remain at the podium to answer questions of clarification only from the Panel. The Chair will ensure that every panel member is given a chance to ask questions. These questions are to be for the purpose of ensuring that Panel members understand what is being presented prior to commenting. If the Chair feels that a Panel member is commenting on the project at this point rather than seeking clarification, the Chair may ask the Panel member to wait until the comment period begins.

 

   iv.        Panel comments and deliberation (30 minutes): The Chair will then ask the presenter(s) to be seated, and will open the comment period by restating the critical issues and areas in which the advice of the Panel is being sought. The Panel will comment on the project in a manner intended to provide objective and constructive feedback to the proponent.

 

    v.        Proponents will be allowed to listen to the deliberations but may not address the Panel at this point. As a general rule, the Panel will not discuss projects without at least one representative of the proponent’s design team present. In cases where the Panel feels an in-camera session is necessary, the designer will be asked to wait outside until those deliberations are completed.

 

   vi.        Summary of the Panel’s recommendations (5 minutes): The Chair will summarize the Panel recommendations and direct the proponent to work with staff to address those issues.

 

Typical Review Panel Agenda

 

The agenda below is for illustrative purposes and may vary each month depending upon the specific projects to be discussed.  In general, Panel members should expect to be in Ottawa for a full working day.

 

9:00 a.m. Meeting to Order

 

 

9:20 a.m. Formal Design Review (for development proposals that have been formally submitted). The morning session shall include the proponent and staff; members of the public are welcome to attend.

 

9:20 a.m. Project #1

10:15 a.m. 5-minute break

 

10:20 a.m. Project #2

11:15 a.m. 5-minute break

 

11:20 a.m. Project #3

12:15 p.m. Lunch break

 

1:30 p.m. Pre-Consultation Review (for proponents who have made a request to staff and have provided materials one week in advance of the meeting date). The afternoon sessions shall include the proponent and staff; these sessions are closed to the public.

 

1:30 p.m. Project #1

2:05 p.m. 5-minute break

 

2:10 p.m. Project #2

2:45 p.m. 5-minute break

 

2:50 p.m. Project #3

3:25 p.m. 5-minute break

 

3:30 p.m. Project #4

4:05 p.m.

 

Submission Requirements

 

The proponent is required to provide detailed submission materials so the design Panel may comprehensively evaluate and review the development application. Staff may pull an application from the agenda of a Panel meeting if it is deemed incomplete.

 

Submission materials shall be professionally prepared, legible, clear, to scale and accurately represent all of the design aspects of the project in question. The agenda and submission materials shall be made available online at www.ottawa.ca/reviewpanel to convening Panel members a minimum of five (5) working days prior to meeting. No new material shall be accepted past the posting deadline.

 

For pre-consultation submission materials, the proponent shall submit:

 

  1. Context plan (showing abutting properties and key destinations and linkages within a 100m radius, such as nearby transit stations, major roads, parks, major open spaces, planning boundaries, landmark buildings, etc.);
  2. Photographs to illustrate existing site conditions and surrounding contexts;
  3. Models and/or illustrations that show the project massing and figure ground relationships in its urban context;
  4. Models and/or illustrations showing that alternatives for site layout and building massing have been considered;
  5. Draft site plan; and,
  6. Grading information, if grades are an issue.

 

For formal design review meeting submission materials, the proponent shall submit:

 

  1. Urban Design Brief;
  2. Context plan (showing abutting properties and key destinations and linkages within a 100m radius, such as nearby transit stations, major roads, parks, major open spaces, planning boundaries, landmark buildings, etc.);
  3. Models and/or illustrations that show the project massing and figure ground relationships in its urban context;
  4. Detailed perspective drawings or computer models (showing the first few stories and how the project responds to and relates to its urban context). Perspective drawings should be set within the existing streetscape, indicating fit within development on both sides of the street;
  5. Site plan;
  6. Section and floor plans if previously requested at pre-consultation;
  7. Sun/shadow studies, where appropriate; and,
  8. Wind studies for development as established by the thresholds in the OP.

OTTAWA URBAN DESIGN REVIEW PANEL                                                          DOCUMENT 4

MEMBERSHIP, 2010-2013    

 

 

John Abel, MA, M.Arch, MCP, FRAIC

John Abel retired as Director of Design and Land Use at the National Capital Commission (NCC) and, prior to that, was the Director of Urban Design at the NCC. John holds a joint graduate degree of city planning and architecture from the University of Pennsylvania. Since his retirement, John has been a juror for the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada’s (RAIC) national Urban Design Awards, and for design competitions in Regina and Halifax. He has also served on design review panels for Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs and for Abu Dhabi’s Urban Planning Council. John is a fellow of the RAIC and is a recipient of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal. 

 

Ian Chodikoff, OAA, FRAIC

Ian Chodikoff is an architect and the editor of Canadian Architect magazine. He holds graduate degrees in architecture and urban design from the University of British Columbia and Harvard University, respectively. Ian has spent his professional career in Singapore, Boston, Quebec City, Vancouver and Toronto. He is a recognized national and international lecturer and a recent juror and design critic for the Canadian Society of Landscape Architect¹s Annual Awards of Excellence, Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, the City of Ottawa Urban Design Awards and other design competitions in Toronto and Vancouver. Ian is a fellow of the RAIC.

 

Dorota Grudniewicz, OALA, CSLA

Dorota Grudniewicz is a senior landscape architect with the NCC. She has recently worked on projects for Confederation Boulevard, Leamy Lake Park, and the Parliament Hill Commemorations. Dorota is the recipient of several awards for her work at the NCC including the Government of Canada Merit Award and recognition for the delivery of the NCC Floral Program. Prior to working as a landscape architect, Dorota was an assistant professor of landscape architecture for the Cracow University of Technology in Poland. 

 

Edward Hercun, MOAQ, MOAA, FIRAC, PA-LEED

Edward Hercun is an architect and founding partner of The Arcop Group architects in Montreal.

Edward holds a degree in architecture from McGill University and graduated with the distinction of University Scholar. Edward is certified by the United States Green Building Council as a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) accredited design professional and in 2010 became a LEED AP Building Design + Construction accredited professional. Edward has acted as an executive director of the Quebec Chapter of the Canada Green Building Council, and is a fellow of the RAIC.

 

David Leinster, OALA, CSLA

David Leinster is a landscape architect and partner at The Planning Partnership in Toronto. With expertise in public realm planning and design, and having extensive experience as a design critic and juror, David is a former member of the City of Ottawa’s Design Review Panel for the Downtown Design Review Pilot Project and a former juror for the Ottawa Urban Design Awards.

 

Robert Matthews, OAA

Robert Matthews is an architect and principal of ema Architects in Ottawa. Robert is a former member of the Design Review Panel for the City of Ottawa’s Downtown Design Review Pilot Project and sits on the executive of the Ottawa Society of Architects. Robert is also a past chairman of the City of Ottawa Design Committee.

 

James Parakh, OAA

James Parakh is a senior urban designer at the City of Toronto. James also has experience working in the private sector as an urban designer, project designer and project architect for both national and international projects. James holds graduate degrees in architecture and urban design from the University of Houston and Columbia University, respectively. James is the recipient of numerous awards and has received honourable mention from the Ontario Association of Architects for the City of Toronto’s 1:50 program, which helps to secure and improve the urban design of buildings and the quality of materials at the pedestrian scale by requiring proponents to submit streetscape drawings at one-fiftieth scale.

 

Doug Pollard, OAA, MRAIC

Doug Pollard is an architect and senior analyst with Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation. He has over 40 years of experience directing sustainable community and green building projects and holds a degree in architecture from the University of Toronto. Douglas is a sought-after national and international lecturer and has extensive experience as a design critic and juror for competitions such as the FCM/CH2MHill Sustainable community awards, City of Ottawa Urban Design Awards and Green Building Challenge. Douglas is the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award presented to him at the 2007 Toronto Green Festival.

 

Robert Webster, OAA, FRAIC

Robert Webster is an architect and principal of Robert Webster Architect Inc. in Ottawa. Robert is a former member of the City of Ottawa’s Design Review Panel for the Downtown Design Review Pilot Project, and a fellow of the RAIC.

 

In addition to the nine appointment members, a Heritage Conservation Specialist will be recruited as an adjunct member, to comment on an ad hoc basis when heritage issues arise or if a development has the potential to impact a heritage resource.

 


             OTTAWA URBAN DESIGN REVIEW PANEL UPDATE: OFFICIAL PLAN AMENDMENT; PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES; AND MEMBERSHIP

             COMITÉ D'EXAMEN DU DESIGN URBAIN D'OTTAWA : MODIFICATION DU PLAN OFFICIEL; PROCESSUS ET PROCÉDURES; COMPOSITION

ACS2010-ICS- PGM- 0159                                       CITY-WIDE / À L’ÉCHELLE DE LA VILLE               

 

(This matter is Subject to Bill 51)

 

In response to questions from Councillor Holmes with respect to the design schedules that were being deleted, John Moser, General Manager of Planning and Growth Management explained that this was because the design control area was being expanded into mainstreets and villages. Richard Kilstrom, Manager of Policy Development and Urban Design further explained that design review would apply to both Arterial Mainstreets and Traditional Mainstreets.  While not every application in these areas would be subject to design review, the exceptions are clearly defined in the staff report and staff is confident that it will be clear to all parties which properties are subject.

 

In response to further questions from the Councillor with respect to why members of the previous design review panel had resigned, Mr. Kilstrom expressed his understanding that some members were unhappy with how the panel operated.  Their concerns included not being involved early enough, not being given enough information, and the process not being sufficiently formal.  Mr. Kilstrom confirmed that there would be now be a staff person dedicated to the design review function, and the new process was made to fit within the existing planning process rather than being an add-on.  

 

In response to further questions, Mr. Kilstrom confirmed that the comments of the design review panel would be included in staff reports to Committee and Council.  The Chair noted that the unfettered comments of the design review panel would be submitted as a companion report to the application.  Mr. Moser expressed confidence that comments received from the design review panel with respect to a proposal at 340 McLeod St. were conveyed accurately in the staff report.

 

In response to questions from Councillor Hunter, Mr. Moser predicted that approximately 60 to 65 applications would be subject to design review under the new regime.  Councillor Hunter expressed concerns with how the design review process would impact the authority of the Ward Councillor in the Site Plan delegated authority process.  He expressed surprised that Councillors would be willing to see their authority split in this manner.  Mr. Moser indicated that there would be no changes to the delegated authority for Site Plan approvals, and they would still require Ward Councillor sign off.

 

In response to questions from Councillor Monette with respect to whether the process would apply to the rural area, the chair confirmed that the design review process would apply design priority areas as identified in the OP, such as rural Villages and main streets.  It was further confirmed that the panel was comprised of volunteers, who are only compensated for expenses.

 

That the Planning and Environment Committee recommend that Council:

 

1.                  Approve Official Plan Amendment XX regarding the Urban Design Review Panel, as detailed in Document 1;

 

2.                  Repeal By-law 2005-354, A by-law of the City of Ottawa respecting urban design review and the establishment and operation of an Urban Design Review Panel;

 

3.                  Receive, for information, “Processes and Procedures for the Ottawa Urban Design Review Panel 2010”, the handbook for Ottawa Urban Design Review Panel members and staff, as shown in Document 3; and

 

4.                  Approve the Ottawa Urban Design Review Panel’s membership for 2010-2013, as shown in Document 4.

                                                                                                           

                                                                                                CARRIED with Councillor G. Hunter dissenting