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PLANNING AROUND framework to leverage investment and to help shape how communities will be planned and built around the rapid transit system. The CBS identifies key directions STATIONS (PARTS) for community building, placemaking and moving people within, to, and from the central transit corridor. Introduction It is desirable and important to have Station Study The ION rapid transit system will link Waterloo, Areas Plans that will provide direction and guidance Kitchener and Cambridge through a central transit for growth and redevelopment in the Station Study corridor (CTC). There are a number of station stops Areas; to ensure that development and investments identified in Kitchener. Along with improving access to support and sustain the rapid transit system and allow existing places, the CTC will become the focus for new for the effective prioritization of supporting medium and high density residential, retail, infrastructure. commercial and employment uses and support the concentration of existing and planned residents and Station Study Areas jobs. Comprehensive planning around all station areas will be a key to ensuring that new development Through the CBS, an initial Corridor Wide Stations positively contributes to our urban environment. Study Area was identified as an 800m walking distance radii from the transit system, which was Direction for the planning around station areas comes further refined by the City of Kitchener in Phase 1 of from several higher order policy and strategy PARTS to identify the following Station Study Areas: documents, as illustrated below. These policies include: Places to Grow, Provincial Policy Statement,  Central Regional Official Plan (ROP), Community Building  Midtown Strategy (CBS), City of Kitchener Official Plan (OP), and Planning Around Rapid Transit Stations (PARTS).  Rockway  Fairway  Block Line  Sportsworld

This refinement also identified Focus and Influence Areas at each station stop. Focus areas are those lands, which due to their proximity to a station stop will be a significant focus of potential change and thus will require further study in the immediate term (2014- 2017). Influence areas are further away from the station stop, but still contribute to the role and function of the station study areas. Influence areas will not be the focus of change, but may provide opportunities for minor infilling where deemed appropriate.

The Regional Official Plan (ROP) outlines the criteria that must be included in the plans for each Station Area, and the City’s Official Plan (OP) includes new transit supportive policies that provide direction to future development within these areas and outlines their planned function. The Community Building Strategy (CBS) is a Region of Waterloo initiated

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Vision for PARTS Corridor-Wide General Guidelines

“Together, through a comprehensive and collaborative Manage Growth and Change public planning process, we will build well-connected, Focusing and directing growth within Station Areas innovative, vibrant, inviting and inclusive station areas reinforces and optimizes public infrastructure in which to live, work, shop, study and play.” investments, builds compact, sustainable and complete communities and encourages transit use. This vision builds on the Kitchener Strategic Plan, contributes to the land use vision for the City contained in the new Official Plan and will help guide the Station Study Area Plans.

Goals for PARTS

To articulate this vision, high-level goals specific to Kitchener were created to help guide the Station Study Area Plans. These goals are:

 Manage Growth and Change Density and Development Patterns  Ensure a Mix of Appropriate Land Uses Rapid Transit Station Areas will be planned, designed and developed to:  Enhance Transportation Choice and Connectivity

 Enhance Placemaking, Safety, Community Design  Accommodate growth.  Guide Public and Private Investment

 Establish new density and development patterns PARTS Urban Design Brief Outline that are related to infrastructure and sustainable development considerations. The vision, goals and general guidelines will provide some consistency across the Station Study Areas as  Concentrate new development and highest there are many common guidelines. The purpose of densities close to the stations. In some instances this Urban Design Brief is to: this may be more appropriate at other key locations within the Focus Area in order to reflect  provide direction for a design-based approach to existing conditions, constraints or to reduce the preparation of Station Area Plans/Secondary conflicts. Plans for each Station Area;  Establish minimum density targets within each  be refined with specific guidelines, standards and Focus Area that reflects the desired urban streetscape plans through the completion of each condition for the area and that considers the range Station Area Plan/ Secondary Plan; of targets within the entire corridor and the city.

 provide additional design direction for conserving  Transition from higher intensity development in the stable neighbourhoods; and Focus Area to a less intense development pattern in the Influence Area.  provide further design direction in the review of development applications in these areas.

This Design Brief will apply to all Kitchener Rapid Transit Station Study Areas with the exception of Sportsworld. In the interim, this Brief will not apply to the Mixed Use Corridors or Downtown as those areas  Permit infill and redevelopment in Influence Areas already have detailed design briefs which will continue where the characteristics of the existing to apply until a future consolidation/Urban Design neighbourhood is respected including building Manual review. scale, height, massing, orientation, setback, architectural elements and materials.

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Ensure a Mix of Land Uses Enhance Transportation Choice and The type and mixture of land uses within the Station Connectivity Areas will help create a sense of place and encourage The success of the rapid transit system and station a shift towards more sustainable modes of study areas will be influenced by many factors transportation and movement. including the provision of a range of inter-connected transportation options that are efficient, convenient, Station Areas will contain different land uses. Some enjoyable, safe, easily navigable, continuous and locations are, and will continue to be, significant areas barrier-free. Transportation Demand Management for employment, residential or other uses. Some areas measures will be critical. will evolve into a new range of uses, including mixed use. The evolution of land uses within each Station Street Fabric, Pedestrian Priority and Parking Area will occur at different rates throughout time.  New streets, laneways, pedestrian and cycling The transition to an appropriate mix of land uses within connections should be provided to achieve a each Station Area will help generate transit ridership, highly connected network that offers route choice reduce personal vehicle trips and contribute to a and creates new active transportation complete and healthy community. opportunities.

 Design safe, logical and efficient routes for different modes of transportation, with priority given to pedestrians.

 Use parks and green space to provide pedestrian and cycling links to transit stations to enhance user experience.

 Provide enhanced, convenient pedestrian and cycling infrastructure and amenities. Preference is to facilities that can be maintained year-round.

 Identify locations to have wider than minimum sidewalks in areas of high pedestrian Transit Supportive Land Uses routes/volumes within Station Areas. Rapid Transit Station Areas will be planned, designed and built to:  Provide weather protection for transit users and pedestrians where possible.  Locate transit-supportive uses such as high and medium density residential, office and mixed use,  Provide clear and consistent way finding elements. within close proximity to the station stop. Uses that are primarily auto-oriented and not conducive to a  Minimize vehicle and pedestrian points of conflict. transit-supportive environment should be discouraged in Focus Areas.  Vehicular access points should be controlled to minimize disruption to traffic flow and new  Include a variety of land uses to create multi- development may be required to share common purpose destinations. driveways and provide for maneuverability between sites.  Establish a framework to encourage a mixture of appropriate uses within buildings.  Incorporate pedestrian, cycling, car sharing and carpooling amenities to facilitate the  Provide active, pedestrian-oriented uses at key implementation of Transportation Demand locations including the ground-floor of buildings. Management measures.

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 Establish parking standards that will complement  Identify key intersections and sites in Station the multi-modal transportation and pedestrian- Areas to concentrate building mass and locate oriented design objectives, including maximum landmark buildings with distinctive design features. parking rates where appropriate.

 Consider a ‘park once’ environment to encourage walking between activities/uses.

 Podium parking above the ground level may be considered provided it includes active uses on the ground level of main public street(s) and is well integrated into the building design through techniques such as vertical and horizontal  Building height and setback requirements should articulation, canopies, articulated entrances and include both maximums and minimums. appropriately scaled landscaping.  Maximum frontages may be limited to allow views Enhance Placemaking, Safety and Community of significant landmarks, natural features, cultural Design heritage resources, and to improve solar access New places, spaces and neighbourhoods will emerge and pedestrian permeability. and be shaped in areas around the rapid transit stations. To ensure that each of these is successful  Building design, particularly the ground floor and vibrant, the design of station study areas must facades, should carefully consider the public carefully integrate matters of built form, architecture, realm, include active uses and create a positive public realm, streetscape, place making, safety and pedestrian experience. universal design. Creating healthy, sustainable communities that reflect our natural heritage and  Orient buildings in commercial areas to contribute cultural richness will require inspired and high quality to the streetscape and be easily identifiable, design that is functional, diverse and inclusive. inviting, continuous and permeable.

 Large retail tenant frontages should have several retail units interjected into the street frontage.

 Façade treatments should increase visual interest.

 Building height, built form, massing and architectural detailing should be used to ensure a compatible transition between new development and stable neighbourhoods.

 Design infill to be rich in detail and enhance the public realm while responding to the established patterns of the street and neighbourhood. Built Form, Architecture, Views, Vistas and Skyline  Encourage bird-friendly design and materials.  Respect natural and cultural heritage resources in the design of built form.  Taller buildings should have a clear delineation between podium, middle and top elements through  Authentic and high quality design for building massing, materials and details to ensure towers morphology, architectural detailing and material are distinct, recognizable, and visually appealing. use is expected for all projects.

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 Architectural variety between buildings is principles and adhere to Accessibility for Ontarians encouraged and buildings should inter-relate in with Disabilities Act in Station Area Plans, order to create complementary urban design. streetscape plans and development applications.

 Special emphasis on safety and universal design will be applied at key locations near rapid transit stations.

Placemaking and Streetscapes

 Develop a placemaking vision along with Streetscape Master Plans for each Station Area that recognizes character locations, including the heritage aspects of neighbourhoods. Include a coordinated design for street furniture, transit  Design street-facing residential buildings to include facilities, intersections, lighting, vegetation, way- visually distinct units with separate entrances and finding and signage. distinct delineation of public and private space.  Create a focal point(s) for activity within each  Design at-grade residential units to include Focus Area including features such as parks, measures that provide adequate privacy from the plazas and gathering points. public sidewalk/street so that privacy walls and solid fences will not be required.  Integrate an appropriate range of public and private open spaces within each Station Area.  Rear and side facades that have a public view should incorporate architectural detailing and  Concentrate amenities and the provision of street include a quality of building material that is furniture near rapid transit stations and along key approaching the primary facades. access routes.

 Maintain or create view corridors through and  Determine if special sign standards are required to between sites to visually link Station Areas to the respect building scale, architectural features and community, parks and open space systems. streetscape objectives.

 Create opportunities for sightlines and views to Sustainable Design terminate at important features such as the station stops, community buildings, monuments, public  New development/redevelopment should identify art, and natural and cultural heritage resources. sustainable/”green” building techniques to be implemented in the design and construction of  Create an attractive skyline by providing a variety sites and buildings. This shall include, but not of design expressions to articulate the top of tall limited to, energy and water conservation, waste buildings, including articulated rooftop designs with management, environmental design, air quality varying heights and setbacks. benefits, trip reductions, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and other related techniques.

 Buildings should address climate and seasonal changes and consider the use of shade, permeability, colour, light, greenery and natural materials to address both summer and winter conditions. Safety, CPTED and Universal Design  Reduce urban heat island effect through  Utilize Universal Design and Crime Prevention landscaping, green/white roofs and other materials Through Environmental Design (CPTED) that have a high solar reflective index (SRI).

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Guide Public and Private Investment Station Area Design Strategies Transit is a significant catalyst for shaping the built form and streetscapes of our community into This section provides a unique design strategy for the future. Additional strategic investments in the each rapid transit Station Area based on specific infrastructure and public realm in the areas beyond the design objectives and includes detailed standards and immediate LRT line and stations stops can potentially streetscape plans. Implementation will occur through provide further amenities to leverage an area’s municipal and public capital infrastructure projects, the marketability and livability. development review process and other partnership or innovative methods.  Determine and prioritize capital investments in streetscape improvements to enhance the public realm, connectivity and livability as part of the Central Station Area development catalyst package. Place emphasis on Objectives one or two key strategic investments in each Guidelines/Standards Station Area within the first 10 years of LRT. Streetscape Master Plans

 Investigate the feasibility of streetscape and connectivity enhancements during the Midtown Station Area replacement/upgrade of any hard infrastructure Objectives (sewers, roads, etc.). Guidelines/Standards Streetscape Master Plans  Strategically locate, design and build new or revised urban and green public spaces, including Rockway Station Area parks, within each Station Area to provide needed Objectives outdoor amenities for development, focal points for Guidelines/Standards gathering and social activity, and to contribute to Streetscape Master Plans healthy and complete communities. Utilize semi- public and private urban and green spaces where Area appropriate to supplement the need for such spaces in Focus Areas for intensification. Objectives Guidelines/Standards  Follow a public and private public art investment Streetscape Master Plans strategy to strategically locate art in visible locations within each Station Area. Coordinate with Block Line Station Area tourism, heritage, way-finding and place-making. Objectives Guidelines/Standards Streetscape Master Plans

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