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Council receives Urban Design Guidelines report

February 16, 2023   ·   0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

The Town of New Tecumseth council received an Urban Design Guidelines Review report and project update detailing future town requirements.

In August 2022, the town selected Consultants DTAH and LURA to update the Town’s Urban Design Guidelines. The project commenced in September 2022 and is being carried out in three phases.

Phase 1 includes a review of recent and current development, policy review, best practices review, SWOT analysis, and public and stakeholder engagement.

The town is poised for significant growth over the next 30 years. By 2051 the town is expected to reach a total population of around 81,000.

The future growth is expected to transform the town’s mainly rural feel into a small to medium-sized urban centre.

In 2002, the town adopted a set of Urban Design Guidelines. The current guidelines recognize that the town is comprised of three unique but cohesive communities surrounded by a network of rural and agricultural land. The guidelines were intended to give general guidance to those involved in property development and a point of reference during the processes of municipal and agency review of applications.

The 2022 Urban Design Guidelines set out the direction for good design for developing New Tecumseth’s Open Space Network, Residential Areas, Commercial Areas, Employment areas, Public Buildings and Gateways, and Streetscapes. The focus is on planning a design framework for private development that was sensitive to the surrounding natural environment, existing cultural heritage and each community’s identity.

Phase 2 of the project is an education and awareness campaign.

Phase 3 is the development of draft guidelines.

The report in Phase 1 detailed information concerning recently constructed, large-scale residential and mixed-use developments.

The report cited a lack of high density building forms like low-rise walk-ups and mid-rise buildings. Recently constructed neighbourhoods lack a public space or focus, the report says, with many parks not being accessible.

The report was critical of new neighbourhoods being built with ‘wide streets’ that prioritize private automobiles and have garages and driveways.

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