THUNDER BAY — The City of Thunder Bay wants feedback from the community as it looks to update its 12-year-old urban design guidelines.
The guidelines cover issues not addressed in the zoning by-law, including accessibility, parking, landscaping, lighting and stormwater management, and are often used by city staff to determine if a planning application should be approved.
The planning division feels recent changes to the zoning by-law and evolving best practices mean the current guidelines are no longer the most appropriate ways to get people to work, live in, or visit a particular area.
"Good urban design can help people feel happier and calmer," said Jillian Fazio, the acting senior planner. "Well-designed sites maintain their appeal and make our city a better place to live."
According to the city, the guidelines are a companion to the zoning by-law, and address site elements that aren't regulated through zoning, such as tree-planting.
They establish design criteria for development and set performance standards that address a range of site design elements including:
- accessibility
- sustainability and stormwater management
- parking, loading and circulation
- outdoor storage and servicing
- building orientation, massing and facade treatment
- landscaping
- lighting
The city has stated that these guidelines promote a variety of goals including:
- greening and beautification
- accessibility and inclusivity
- urban revitalization
- crime prevention
- climate change resiliency
- protection of cultural and natural heritage
Stakeholders such as builders, contractors, developers, business owners and citizens have the opportunity to provide input before the planning division submits a report to city council in April.
A survey will be available online until March 15.
There's also links to the proposed new guidelines and the existing ones.
It may take some time for interested parties to review the changes the city is contemplating, as the document is well over 100 pages.
However, on its website the city provides a summary of the changes to help direct stakeholders to specific sections.
