Exploring the New Urbanist Legacy in Cornell, Markham By Victoria Moore Supervised by Dr. Laura E. Taylor A Major Paper submitted to the Faculty of Environmental Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master in Environmental Studies York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada December 18, 2017 Abstract: This research paper examines how the principles of New Urbanism were incorporated into the planning and design of the Cornell community in Markham, Ontario. Master Planned as a multi- phase development in the 1990s by some of New Urbanism’s biggest proponents—Andres Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, Cornell was intentionally designed around the principles identified in the Charter of the New Urbanism (2000). Through a detailed study of the various literature on New Urbanism in Canada and the United States, this paper identifies some of the important principles of New Urbanism and explores how the principles were incorporated into the policies, design guidelines, and other planning documents that directed the development of Cornell. This research paper finds that some principles and design elements of New Urbanism were successfully implemented in Cornell (i.e., walkable streets and diverse and affordable housing options), while others were not (i.e., mixed-use). Based on a review of critical literature on New Urbanism, personal observations, and interviews, this research paper finds that the New Urbanist vision for Cornell was generally realized. Although adaptations have been made to recent plans and design guidelines to reflect current and future planning challenges, the New Urbanist framework remains relevant in guiding the future development of Cornell. Keywords: New Urbanism, suburban planning, conventional suburban development 2 Table of Contents Foreword: ............................................................................................................................. 5 Acknowledgements: .............................................................................................................. 7 List of Figures: ....................................................................................................................... 8 1.0 Introduction: .............................................................................................................. 9 1.1 Research Methodology: ................................................................................................... 12 1.1.1 Literature Review: ................................................................................................................. 12 1.1.2 Policy Review: ........................................................................................................................ 13 1.1.3 Observation—Site Visits: ....................................................................................................... 14 1.1.4 Interviews: ............................................................................................................................. 15 1.2 Why Cornell? .................................................................................................................. 17 2.0 Defining New Urbanism: ........................................................................................... 20 2.1 Guiding Principles of New Urbanism: ................................................................................ 22 2.1.1 Scale ................................................................................................................................................ 25 2.1.2 Walkability ...................................................................................................................................... 26 2.1.3 Mixed-Use ....................................................................................................................................... 28 2.1.4 Density ............................................................................................................................................ 30 2.1.5 Community ...................................................................................................................................... 31 2.1.6 Street-Layout .................................................................................................................................. 32 3.0 Setting the Stage for New Urbanism in North America ............................................. 34 4.0 History of Markham: ................................................................................................ 38 5.0 Introduction to Cornell: ............................................................................................ 46 5.1 Duany Plater-Zyberk and Associates—Vision for Cornell: ................................................. 52 5.2 Amending Markham’s 1987 Official Plan (Official Plan Amendment No. 20): ..................... 53 5.3 Scale: The Neighbourhood, District, and Corridor: ............................................................. 56 5.3.1 The Neighbourhood .......................................................................................................... 57 5.3.2 The District: ....................................................................................................................... 58 5.3.3 The Corridor: ..................................................................................................................... 59 6.0 Critique: New Urbanist Planning and Design Elements Featured in Cornell: ............... 62 6.1 Housing .......................................................................................................................... 62 6.1.2 Vernacular Building Design: ........................................................................................................... 67 6.1.3 Front Porches and Reduced Setbacks ............................................................................................ 69 6.1.4 Affordability .................................................................................................................................... 72 6.1.5 Density: ........................................................................................................................................... 80 6.2 Street Layout & The Pedestrian Realm: ............................................................................. 86 6.2.1 The Grid ........................................................................................................................................... 87 6.2.2 The Laneway Model ........................................................................................................................ 90 6.2.3 Parking ............................................................................................................................................ 96 6.2.4 Pedestrian Space and the Five-Minute Walk .................................................................................. 98 6.2.5 Street Architecture ........................................................................................................................ 102 6.2.6 Transit Corridor—Bur Oak Avenue ............................................................................................... 104 6.3 Built Form—Mixed Land Uses ......................................................................................... 109 7.0 Cornell Today: ........................................................................................................ 114 3 8.0 Planning for the Future of Cornell ........................................................................... 116 8.1 Official Plan Amendment No. 168— A New Secondary Plan for Cornell ........................... 120 8.2 Cornell Centre Precinct Plan (2012):................................................................................ 121 9.0 Was the New Urbanist Vision for Cornell Realized? ................................................. 126 References: ....................................................................................................................... 131 11.0 Appendices ............................................................................................................ 140 Appendix A: ............................................................................................................................... 140 Appendix B: ............................................................................................................................... 141 Appendix C: ............................................................................................................................... 142 4 Foreword: This Major Research paper marks the culmination of my Plan of Study for fulfillment of the Faculty of Environmental Studies Masters in Environmental Studies (Planning) Degree. This paper contributes to both area of concentration components identified in my Plan of Study: Suburban Planning and Placemaking, while fulfilling many of my identified learning objectives including: Learning Objective 1.2: To gain a thorough understanding of New Urbanism in order to understand how its principles influenced suburban planning in the Greater Toronto Area. Learning Objective 1.3: To gain a good understanding of various planning approaches and responses to sprawl including placemaking, retrofitting, New Urbanism, and heritage planning in order to develop an understanding of which strategies might be most useful in redeveloping existing suburban environments. Learning Objective