Less Parking

The CBC reported on the reduced parking requirements for development in the uptown/south end area, in the proposed zoning by-law (http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/city-s-proposed-bylaw-impacts-parking-rural-zones-1.2303655)

I think this will allow developers who want to develop sites in the central peninsula do so more cost effectively – putting in underground parking can be very expensive and really change the cost profile of a development.

One possible flaw in this plan is that reducing the parking needed for uptown development will increase the demand for parking (assuming at least some new residents want to own cars), possibly aggravated by the fact that developments often take place on parking lots, and this could incentivize owners of older buildings to tear them down to create parking lots rather than upgrade and improve them.  This could be balanced out by the fact that land will be more valuable for development, if building apartments gets cheaper because of the reduced cost of development.

I don’t know how planners model all these things work together in making decisions, but overall I think its a good idea that will make south end/uptown development more viable.

November 5, 2013 at St. Marks church is another public meeting on the plan.

Make engagement easier

I’ve watched, for a second time a TED Talk by Dave Meslin called The Antidote to Apathy. In the video Meslin, a community activist, talks about ways to get people in engage in their communities’ politics and planning.

On proposal was to make planning notices more straight forward and readable.  I don’t know if this sort of idea will be integrated into Saint John’s new zoning by-law, but it should be considered.  I know there are plans to make the zoning by-law more readable, and the idea of making the public notices more readable seems to fit with that.

 

http://www.ted.com/talks/dave_meslin_the_antidote_to_apathy.html

Municipal Plan passed–Zoning bylaw next step

So the Municipal Plan has been adopted by the City of Saint John. To ensure the plan is fruitful, an updated zoning bylaw is needed.

Design professional and Planning Advisory Committee member Morgan Lanigan has written a thoughtful piece about this issue for Spacing Atlantic: http://spacingatlantic.ca/2012/01/31/city-and-country-a-tale-of-zoning-regulations/

Play SJ

The City of Saint John is working on its 10-15 year plan for recreation.  I see there is now a website up with information and a questionnaire: http://www.saintjohn.ca/en/home/cityservices/developmentgrowth/communityplanning/playsj/default.aspx

Municipal Plan public hearing

New Monday night (December 12, 2011), Common Council will be holding a public hearing regarding the proposed Municipal Plan.

Link: http://www.saintjohn.ca/en/home/newsroom/eventcalendar/eventdetails.aspx?ec=bW9kZT0zJmV2ZW50PTE0OSZkdD0xMi8xMi8yMDExJmNhdElEPTA_

PlanSJ recommended to council

The PlanSJ website explains that the draft municipal plan was recommended to the City for formal approval. The next steps in the process will be for public comment and a public hearing before council will decide if the PlanSJ proposal will become the Municipal Plan.

I will be interested to see how various stakeholder, including suburban real estate developers, will respond to the call for public comment.  Several subdivisions have already been turned down based on council’s desire to focus development in key areas – a major part of PlanSJ.

PlanSJ – Meeting June 15, 2011 (6pm at Saint John high)

PlanSJ workshop–Thursday

From the City’s website:

This Workshop will focus on establishing directions for key policies in the Municipal Plan. We’ll be discussing policy options related to:

• Urban and Suburban Residential Opportunity Areas
• Rural Areas
• Economy
• Transportation & Infrastructure
• Environment
• Community Facilities, Parks & Recreation
• Arts, Culture, Heritage & Urban Design
• Implementation and Monitoring of the Plan

Full details at: http://www.saintjohn.ca/en/home/cityservices/developmentgrowth/communityplanning/plansj/puttingtheplanonpaper.aspx

Thanks to the PlanSJ citizen advisory committee for putting this on, and letting me know.

PlanSJ Information Morning

PlanSJ Citizens Advisory Committee members Ann McShance and Gerry Lowe were on the ceeb this morning talking about the plan to grow the city’s population through planning. 

Here’s where you can listen:

http://www.cbc.ca/informationmorningsaintjohn/2011/03/growing-the-city-once-again.html#119842?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

PlanSJ growth strategy accepted

The TJ reports that the PlanSJ growth strategy has been accepted by council.

I imagine that the #PlanSJ hash tag will be popular today on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/saved-search/%23plansj

Saint John Planning Department

Over the last year, the public has had a great opportunity to interact with the planners working for the city through the PlanSJ process. 

I wonder if I’m the only one who noticed how many of the planning staff are young.  This seems like a real asset in forming well founded, future minded plans.

If any planners or HR folk read this, I wonder if you could tell me, is this an industry trend (young planners), or does SJ have a unique opportunity to draw on a contingent of sharp young minds?

Your comments on PlanSJ due Monday (Jan 10, 2011)

PlanSJ is welcoming comments on the municipal plan “New Direction.”  So if you’re looking for fun this weekend go to the PlanSJ website and provide some feedback.

PlanSJ

I went to the PlanSJ open house last night. If you didn’t get a chance to get out to the meeting, you can still provide feedback online or at the PlanSJ storefront in Brunswick Square.

Here’s the TJ’s coverage of the Plan presentation: http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/city/article/1344071

PlanSJ “New Direction” open house

From the City of Saint John’s website:

PlanSJ

Who is invited?

Everyone in the Saint John community is encouraged to attend the PlanSJ New Direction: Saint John’s Choice for Growth and Change Open House on Wednesday, December 8th 2010 from 5:00pm – 9:00pm at the Grand Hall on Charlotte Street.  The event is family-friendly and children are welcome.

Where is it?

The UNBSJ Grand Hall is located at 40 Charlotte Street (across from the City Market).

What is the agenda?

The New Direction event will include an Open House from 5:00pm – 9:00pm where everyone is welcome to drop in, view displays and information on the New Direction and talk to the PlanSJ team one-on-one.  At 5:30pm, the PlanSJ team will give a presentation to explain the New Direction and answers questions from the community.  The Open House displays will be interactive and we will be looking for feedback from the community.

Who is the PlanSJ team?

The PlanSJ team consists of our Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) – 13 citizens who are advising the PlanSJ team and Common Council on community-based issues during the development of the new Municipal Plan, staff from Urban Strategies, an urban planning consultancy based in Toronto, and planning staff from the City’s Community Planning Service.

What will we be talking about?

The New Direction represents the feedback we’ve received from the community on the places where Saint John should grow, change and develop over the next 25 years.  The New Direction also reflects comprehensive technical research and planning best practices for sustainable and complete communities.  We are looking for the community’s feedback on the New Direction, and ask that comments be submitted at the Open House or until Monday, January 10th, 2011.  We will then be revising the New Direction based on your feedback and submitting it to Council in the spring of 2011 for adoption as the City’s new Growth Strategy.

Plan SJ Open House at Simonds High

From the City’s website:

Choices for Growth and Change

Who is invited? 

Everyone in the Saint John community is encouraged to attend the PlanSJ Choices for Growth and Change Open House on Thursday, October 14th, 2010 from 4:00pm – 9:00pm in the Simonds High School gymnasium.  The event is family-friendly and children are welcome.

Where is it? 

Simonds High School is located at 1490 Hickey Road and the gym is wheelchair accessible.

What is the agenda?

The Choices for Growth and Change event will include an Open House from 4:00pm – 6:00pm where everyone is welcome to drop in, view displays and information on the Choices and talk to the PlanSJ team one-on-one.  At 6:00pm, the PlanSJ team will give a presentation to explain the Choices as well as the research and public engagement that went into creating them, and will answers questions from the community.  From 7:00pm – 9:00pm there will be interactive workshop on the Choices. We encourage everyone to stay for this part of the event.

Who is the PlanSJ team?

The PlanSJ team consists of our Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) – 13 citizens who are advising the PlanSJ project team and Common Council on community-based issues during the development of the new Municipal Plan, staff from Urban Strategies an urban planning consultancy based in Toronto and planning staff from the City’s Community Planning Service.
What will we be talking about?  The Choices represent different ways that Saint John could choose to grow, change and develop over the next 25 years.  Our research and feedback from the community clearly shows that our current pattern of growth is not sustainable. We are looking for the community to comment on what they like, dislike, and would like to see changed about the Choices presented at the Open House.  The Choices are essentially areas where growth and change will be targeted in the future, and will be shown on maps and explained in other documents.

Mayor: Six lanes aren’t good for plan

I haven’t found a link, but heard Mayor Court on the radio this morning talking about how six highway lanes to the suburban areas of KV are inconsistent with the sustainable growth goals of PlanSJ.

I think this is a debate worth having.

Improving Downtowns. Is parking culprit in Moncton?

When I lived and worked in Moncton five or six years back I was only a few blocks from my office in the Blue Cross building and didn’t have a car.  Parking wasn’t a problem for me, but reading the comments associated with a story on the CBC entitled ‘Group seeks ways to revive downtown Moncton’ it appears that a lack of parking, or a perceived lack of parking is particularly irksome for some would-be downtown frequenters.

Paid parking in the central city is pretty common.  Still, it seems many resent having to pay to park, and would prefer to shop where such costs are non-existent. 

People commenting on this story also complain that they have to walk from their cars to their destinations.  I find this criticism strange, in that Big Box parking generally requires more walking than downtown parking when I visit the retail hub of Moncton-Dieppe.

Parking alone is not the culprit.  Population shifts and popularity of one stop shopping and big box retail are more likely contributors to the decline of maritime downtowns. 

This is a fun debate to watch the comment section of.  Lots of opinions on what could be improved. 

Hopefully PlanSJ is able to get this sort of interaction on specific and broader issues as our municipal plan takes shape.

PlanSJ’s First Newsletter online

The city’s Municipal Plan taskforce, PlanSJ, has posted their first newsletter online. 

The document lays out timelines and goals.  If you’re interested in the process, give this a quick read.

Municipal Plan – In person and online

The City’s municipal planning office is now open in Brunswick Square.  The space is pretty neat and discussed along with the planning process in today’s TJ.

The planning group is also on Facebook for those less willing to venture uptown to see what’s up.  There’s also a Twitter hashtag for those interested in reading folk’s short comments on the plan (#plansj).