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2008-10-20_ Supplemental Agenda Packet--Dossier d'ordre du jourf City of Saint John Common Council Meeting Monday, October 20, 2008 Location; Common Council Chamber Supplemental to Agenda 12.1 Municipal Plan Update 3 City of Saint John Seance d Conseil communal Le lundi 20 Oetobre 2008 Lieu : Salle du Conseil communal Ordre du jour suppl6mentaire 12.1 Mise a jour du plan d'am6nagement 10120/2008 H i zc~ l tc 'i t 4 1 ?J a . 1 - . y = ~ f ~ si F~ •t ti.'„ `Q l ~ ~ M A ~ Planning 101 1 10/2012008 Saint John's Planning Documents The Municipal Plan: Adopted in 1973 but revised a number of times over the years. Prepared by private consultants in collaboration with the City's planners. A product of a very different era: The Plan was predicated on the creation of a multiple industry complex and deep water port. * The year 2000 population of the City was projected to be 265,000. Saint John's Planning Documents The Zoning Bylaw: Adopted in 1983. Implements the Municipal Plan. Divides the city into zones, prescribes land uses, and regulates the use of property. The bylaw is struggling to address a number of forms of development becoming more common in the City. The number of rezoning applications and variance requests is increasing. Staff are preparing a series of amendments to try to reduce the caseload of PAC in the short-term. 2 10/2012008 Saint John's Planning Documents The Subdivision Bylaw: The current version was most recently amended in zoos. Sets out the process, principles and standards for design and approval of subdivisions. Given the rapid changes in the City's economic conditions and changing provincial environmental regulations, there is an emerging need to significantly revise this bylaw. Saint John's Planning Documents Neighbourhood Plans: Saint John has a number of neighbourhood plans but they are old: * Uptown * Central Peninsula Milledgeville Citizens, organizations, the previous Council and this Council have identified the need to develop an active neighbourhood planning program. 3 10/20/2008 The Co~mmunity Planning Act Establishes the planning system in New Brunswick. Contains the rules of engagement for municipalities when dealing with planning issues and planning applications. In many respects, the Act tells us what we have to do, there is no flexibility, Preparation of a Municipal Plea Sec 23(2), Community Planning Act A municipal plan shall be prepared under the direction of the municipal planning director or a planning consultant engaged by the council and responsible to him. The plan must be prepared on the basis of a written report of studies of the economy, finances, resources, population, land use, transportation facilities, municipal facilities and services, and any other matter related to the resent or future economic, social or physical conditions of the municipality. 4 10/2012008 Preparation of a Municipal Plea Sec 23(4), Community Planning Act In preparing a municipal plan, a planner shall: ascertain the assumptions of policy of the council in relation to the proposed plan; * have regard to: * the results of the studies mentioned in subsection (2), the resources likely to he available for carrying out the proposals of the plan. Contents of a M,,u icip l Plea Sec 23(4), Community Planning Act A municipal plan shall contain statements of policy with respect to: * the development and use of land in the municipality, * the conservation and improvement of the physical environment, the control and abatement of all forms of pollution of the natural environment, the development of communication, utility and transportation systems, the reservation and projected use of land for municipal purposes. 5 10/20/2008 Contents of Municipal Plan A municipal plan shall contain statements of policy with respect to the provision of municipal services and facilities, including: • sewage collection, treatment. and disposal, m water supply and distribution, • garbage disposal, • educational and cultural institutions, • recreational facilities, parks, playgrounds and other public open spaces, • fire and police facilities, cemeteries and crematoria, • urban renewal, • housing, • preservation of buildings and sites of historical interest, and • facilities for the provision of health and social services, Contents of Municipal Plan A municipal plan shall contain statements of policy with respect to: the co-ordination of programmes of the council relating to the economic, social anphysical development of the municipality, and such matters other than those mentioned in this clause as are, in the opinion of the council, advisable; and such proposals as are in the opinion of the council, advisable for the implementation of policies contained in the plan; and a five-year capital budget for the physical development of the municipality. (Statute requires that the capital budget be revised annually and sent to the Minister for his information.) 6 10/20/2008 Adoption of Municipal Plan Sec 2,4(3}, Community Planning Act A municipal plan is not adopted unless the majority of the whole of council votes in favour of it. Sec 27, Community Planning Act The adoption of a municipal plan shall not commit the municipality or the Province to undertake any proposal therein suggested or outlined, but shall prevent the undertaking of any development in any manner inconsistent or at variance with * in the case of the municipality, any proposal or policy so outlined or suggested, or * in the case of the Province or a person, any proposal so outlined or suggested. Adoption of Municipal Plan Sec 27.1, Community Planning Act Where there is a conflict between a municipal plan and a zoning or subdivision by-law, the municipal plan prevails. Prior to the adoption of a municipal plan:. The Council must seek the written views of the Planning Advisory Committee. A public hearing must be held. The plan must be approved by the Minister. 1©120/2008 After the Municipal Plan Sec 34(1) Community Planning Act Upon the adoption of a municipal plan, a council shall: proceed forthwith to draft a zoning y--law to carry out the intent of the plan; and * enact a by-law mentioned in paragraph (a) within one year, or such longer period or periods, not to exceed a total of two years, as the Minister, after consultation with the municipality, may decide. So here are we? The City is on the verge of a period of significant potential growth. The city's existing planning bylaws, though well crafted, no longer take us in the direction we want to go as a community. We have a lot of catching up to do. It is not just about creating a new municipal plan. * A full re-write of the zoning and subdivision bylaws will also be required. m A process to enter into neighbourhood planning needs to be developed as well. To move the community forward, a long-term commitment to comprehensive community planning is required. 8 10/20/2008 o... where r we? While we engage the community in the preparation of a new municipal plan and zoning bylaw: * The number of planning applications will continue to increase. * An increasing proportion of our existing resources will have to be dedicated to current planning. * The City needs to review a number of its policies in light of changing economic circumstances (i.e. assistance programs). And at is the path forward? A Hierarchy of Plans to Address Growth in the City of Saint John 1111 j m 'aorx`-•.,II r~".n»r~~maw*~ ~I 9 1012012008 And ghat is the path forward.? We need useful planning direction quickly, It is recommended that the process leading to a municipal plan be divided into two parts: Stage r: Completion of a Growth Management Strategy * Stage z,: Preparation of the Statutory Plan with the required policies and proposals, The Growth Management Strategy What is a GNIS? A public process to identify the preferred course for the City's long term growth. Will identify physical rowth scenarios based on anticipated economic growth combined with population and demographic trends. A preferred growth scenario that details long-term demand for residential, commercial, and industrial development. The strategy will allocate this development spatiallq based on a set of agreed-upon land use planning objectives, the principles of sustainable development, and the efficient use of municipal infrastructure. The GMS is proposed as Phase 1 of the process to adopt anew Municipal Plan, Necessary Resources (including Council) Could be prepared by in-house staff or contracted resources, • It is assumed that that a private consultant will be the lead. • A pmJ'ect coordinator and contract administrator will he required from Planning and Development. Given existing resources, a new staff resource is required, A staff technical committee with participation from most departments and commissions. A Council steering committee is strongly recommended.. Anticipated cost of s150,000 to $200,000,. 10 10/20/2008 In addition to the Plan... Internal resources are re red to "gear up" for the other critical planning exercises including: a Zoning Bylaw . Neighbourhood Plans Subdivision Bylaw Other Plans Integrated Transportation Recreation and Leisure Housing Strategy Heritage Industrial Land Development One additional internal staff resource is recommended to begin work on these initiatives beginning in 2oog. Given the amount of current planning work resulting frorn the boom, one additional staff technical resource will be requested in the 2009 budget process to maintain the City's service standard for planning files and applications. Summary of Required Financial Resources 2009 Capital Budget Growth Mgt. Strategy $1507000-$200,000 201O Capital Budget Municipal Plan $r5o,000-$200,000 2011 Capital Budget Municipal Plan $150,0004200;000 Operating Budget Additional human resources in the department anticipated to require an increase of $272,000 in the Department's operating budget in 2009, 13