Approved by Regional Council on July 31, 2007

Urban Design Concepts:

1.  Defining a Heritage Priority Area

2.  Reinforcing Distinct Local Area Identities and Built Characteristics

3.  Making Streets the Primary Public Open Space

4.  Identifying New Potential Open Spaces and Connections

5.  Defining Areas Where the Pedestrian Environment is a Priority

6.  Completing, Leveraging and Extending the Existing Civic Infrastructure

7.  Directing Growth to Where it is Needed and Can be Supported

8.  Cultivating a Network of Centres and Corridors for Great Urbanism

Regional Centre Urban Design Strategies: 

Neighbourhoods & Districts

Distinct Neighbourhoods and Districts are the fundamental building blocks of great cities.  A sense of place that is enjoyed in cities is most often derived from the city's well-defined parts that offer a unique and authentic experience.  The Neighbourhoods and Districts strategy helps to understand the Regional Centre as a collection of areas, each with its own identity and, in many instances distinguishing built characteristics.

The purpose of the strategy is to guide change and growth in a manner that is sustainable, respects local identity and reinforces desired future built qualities and characteristics.  It also identifies the important aspects that support complete and vibrant neighbourhoods such as public amenities. 

Prominent Open Spaces

Open spaces that are successful can have a tremendous influence on the image, appeal and economic development of an area.  They are also fundamental to attracting and retaining a residential population in the Regional Centre.  How these spaces are designed, programmed and interface with surrounding streets and land uses is crucial to their ability to attract and delight a broad spectrum of users, and ensure that they are places where people feel safe and comfortable.

The Prominent Open Spaces strategy illustrates the character of the existing and potential green infrastructure and public open spaces, including parks and streets.  This strategy is central to the Regional Centre Urban Design Framework as it guides the most public and visible aspects of the city and its relationship to important pedestrian infrastructure and destinations.  THe purpose of this strategy is to ensure a network of public spaces and connections that will enhance the liveability, aesthetic quality and pedestrian environment in the Regional Centre.

Prominent Streetscapes

Streets comprise the most significant land area in public ownership and are the primary way in which the city is experienced.  To support a critical population density, vibrant retail corridors, transit use and inviting walking environments, important streets must balance the needs of all users in thriving urban areas.

Having the most significant impact on the quality of urban design in the Regional Centre, streets must be recognized for their multi-functional role in creating a sense of place and as spaces for the unfolding of everyday life.  Accordingly, a shift in conventional thinking about road design must take place which considers their 'character' as important as their 'capacity' for traffic.

This strategy provides a hierarchy of streetscape characteristics for prominent streets that support the urban design vision for the Regional Centre.  It also works in concert with and reinforces the Prominent Open Space Strategy (for connectivity) and Urban Character and Structure Strategy (for land use and urban density).  This strategy will assist us in guiding the quality of the pedestrian environment (sidewalks, crosswalks, landscaping) and the appropriate relationship of the buildings to the street to reinforce the intended land uses and streetscape character.

Civic Design

The Civic Design Strategy identifies priority areas for existing and potential opportunities to enhance the civic design quality and distinction of the Regional Centre.  The purpose of this strategy is to leverage existing unique natural and built assets and strengths to create an appealing and memorable city. 

The components of the Civic Design Strategy include:

- Prominent Civic Heritage and Cultural Resources

- Prominent Civic Gateways and Intersections

- Prominent Civic Views and Landmark Sites

- Prominent Civic Streets and Frontages

Urban Character & Structure

After decades of unabated sprawl, the Regional Plan sets a course for a more balanced approach to managing growth in the Region.  The Plan aims to encourage one quarter of anticipated future growth to the Regional Centre.  At the very least, this translates into approximately 21,000 new people over the next twenty-five years.  Given that the Regional Centre has lost more than 30,000 people over the last fifty years, this policy is less about intensifying than it is about repopulating. 

The Urban Character and Structure strategy defines the inherent order to the Regional Centre which can guide decisions regarding growth and development so as to ensure that changes reinforce the desired built quality and character of a given area.