Urban Design Review Framework Project
Overview
The purpose of the Urban Design Review Framework project is to achieve higher quality urban design through improvements to the review process. The project focuses on refining the timing and effectiveness of urban design review within the application review process to ensure that design comments are consistently provided prior to significant design decisions being made, and to improve clarity and certainty for applicants and decision-makers.
Administration has undertaken work to explore ways to achieve higher quality building, site and landscape design outcomes through improvements to the urban design review process.
Background
On 2015 July 27, Council directed Administration for further consultation with interested parties and with members of the NextCity Advisory Committee, to return to Council through the SPC on Planning and Urban Development no later than Q2 2016."
On 2016 June 20, Council directed Administration to consult with interested parties and report back to Council, by 2017 March, through the SPC on Planning and Urban Development, with an update on the process changes initiated, and recommendations to further improve urban design outcomes.
On 2017 March 8 Council directed Administration to revise the Terms of Reference for the Urban Design Review Panel and provide a more detailed implementation plan, with partner input including the Industry/City Process Improvement Working Group, and return through the SPC on Planning & Urban Development to Council no later than 2017 July.
Partner Involvement
A ten member Working Group was assembled that met bi-weekly between July and December 2016 to explore key issues, analyze the engagement results and to develop the project recommendations. The working group was expanded in March and continues to meet as needed.
Key partner groups included:
- A twenty-two member subject matter expert group including City of Calgary Community Planning, Legislative Services, external architects, planners, developers, and representatives of BILD (Calgary) and the Federation of Calgary Communities (FCC);
- Urban Design Review Panel (UDRP);
- Calgary Planning Commission (CPC).
Each group identified issues, discussed ideas and responded to the preliminary recommendations through discussion sessions. Feedback from each session was used to build subsequent sessions and was used as a key component in drafting the final recommendations.
Project and Engagement Timeline
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| Date: Mar. 29 and Apr. 8, 2016 | Activity: Next City Advisory Committee Meeting |
| Date: May 16, 2016 | Activity: SPC on PUD Presentation |
| Date: July - Dec. 2016 (bi-weekly) | Activity: UDRF Working Group Meeting |
| Date: Sept. 28, 2016 | Activity: Next City Advisory Committee Meeting |
| Date: Oct. 4, 2016 with Partners Oct. 5, 2016 with UDRP Nov. 3, 2016 with CPC |
Activity: Working Session 1: Issues and Challenges |
| Date: Oct. 31, 2016 with Partners |
Activity: Working Session 2: Ideas |
| Date: Nov. 28, 2016 with Partners Nov. 30, 2016 with UDRP Dec. 1, 2016 with CPC |
Activity: Working Session 3: Recommendations |
| Date: Dec. 2, 2016 and Feb 16, 2017 | Activity: Next City Advisory Committee Meeting |
| Date: Feb. 22, 2017 with UDRP Feb. 23, 2017 with CPC Mar. 2, 2017 with Partners |
Activity: Working Session 4: Report Back |
| Date: Mar. 8, 2017 | Activity: SPC on PUD Presentation |
| Date: Mar. 23, 2017 and Apr 21, 2017 | Activity: UDRF Working Group Meetin |
| Date: Apr. 24, 2017 Terms of Reference, Protocol with all partners Apr. 27, 2017 Implementation Plan with all partners May 3, 2017 Report back with all partners May 4, 2017 Report back with CPC |
Activity: Working Session 5 |
| Date: May 2017 | Activity: UDRF Working Group Meeting |
| Date: June 14, 2017 | Activity: SPC on PUD Presentation |
| Date: June 26, 2017 | Activity: Council Presentation |
Supporting Documents
- March 8, 2017 Standing Policy Committee on Planning and Urban Development Report
- May 6, 2016 Standing Policy Committee on Planning and Urban Development Report
- July 17, 2015 Standing Policy Committee on Planning and Urban Development Report
Contact Us
Should you have any comments or questions relating to the Urban Design Review Framework Project, please contact:
Dawn Clarke
Urban Designer
Planning & Development
403-268-2402
Dawn.Clarke@calgary.ca
David Down
Chief Urban Designer
Planning & Development
403-268-5468
David.Down@calgary.ca