PLAN IT Whitehorse
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City of Whitehorse Development Services Division Newsletter 58: January 2019 Development Services Division – Newsletter 58 – January 2019 It’s now been more than eight years since the 2010 Official Community Plan (OCP) for Whitehorse was adopted by City Council to serve as the City’s highest level guiding document. We’re pleased to report that a review process – titled Whitehorse 2040 – launched in late November 2018. The process is geared at revisiting the vision, objectives, and policies set out in the plan, which will guide the many decisions the City will need to make over the next 20 years. The review is expected to take more than a year to complete and will occur in four phases. We’re currently in Phase 1: Awareness Building. There will be difficult questions to ask along the way, including: How do we accommodate growth? How do we ensure that Whitehorse can be an inclusive, accessible, and affordable place to live? What do we need to prepare for the future? We look forward to exploring these questions with residents, along with the many other challenges and opportunities identified during the process. Engagement Opportunities: Join us! Public engagement opportunities scheduled for Phase 1 include a drop-in event at the Mount McIntyre Grey Mountain Room on Wednesday, January 23 from 4 to 8 pm, and an online survey available until Friday, January 25. More opportunities will be announced later in the process. This is your Whitehorse, and your plan – make your voice heard! What goes into an OCP? The OCP covers many topics, including land-use, conservation, housing, recreation, transportation, heritage, and the City’s relationships with other governments. The policies revised, or developed, for the plan will be later enacted through updates to regulatory documents, such as the Zoning Bylaw, and potentially the creation of new regulations. While the OCP provides a 20-year planning horizon, reviews are scheduled every 8 to 10 years to account for the changing circumstances and needs of our city. Amendments can be made between review periods through a bylaw process, making the OCP somewhat of a “living” document. After the plan is adopted, the work carried out by City departments will align with the direction set by the plan and the document will be used by City Council to help inform decisions on budgets, land-use applications, and other matters. Where can I get more information? For more information on Whitehorse 2040, visit the project website, attend the January 23 drop-in event, or talk to staff at the pop-up station that will appear in different locations throughout the process. Official Community Plan Review: We’ve launched! PLAN IT ! Whitehorse whitehorse.ca/ocp PHASE 1 Awareness Building PHASE 2 Explore New Concepts PHASE 3 Create the Plan PHASE 4 Adopt the Plan Nov, 2018 to early 2019
Transcript of PLAN IT Whitehorse
City of Whitehorse Development Services Division Newsletter 58: January 2019
Development Services Division – Newsletter 58 – January 2019
It’s now been more than eight years since the 2010 Official Community Plan (OCP) for Whitehorse was adopted by City Council to serve as the City’s highest level guiding document. We’re pleased to report that a review process – titled Whitehorse 2040 – launched in late November 2018. The process is geared at revisiting the vision, objectives, and policies set out in the plan, which will guide the many decisions the City will need to make over the next 20 years. The review is expected to take more than a year to complete and will occur in four phases. We’re currently in Phase 1: Awareness Building. There will be difficult questions to ask along the way, including: How do we accommodate growth? How do we ensure that Whitehorse can be an inclusive, accessible, and affordable place to live? What do we need to prepare for the future? We look forward to exploring these questions with residents, along with the many other challenges and opportunities identified during the process.
Engagement Opportunities: Join us!
Public engagement opportunities scheduled for Phase 1 include a drop-in event at the Mount McIntyre Grey Mountain Room on Wednesday, January 23 from 4 to 8 pm, and an online survey available until Friday, January 25. More opportunities will be announced later in the process. This is your Whitehorse, and your plan – make your voice heard!
What goes into an OCP?
The OCP covers many topics, including land-use, conservation, housing, recreation, transportation, heritage, and the City’s relationships with other governments. The policies revised, or developed, for the plan will be later enacted through updates to
regulatory documents, such as the Zoning Bylaw, and potentially the creation of new regulations. While the OCP provides a 20-year planning horizon, reviews are scheduled every 8 to 10 years to account for the changing circumstances and needs of our
city. Amendments can be made between review periods through a bylaw process, making the OCP somewhat of a “living” document. After the plan is adopted, the work carried out by City departments will align with the direction set by the plan and the document will be used by City Council to help inform decisions on budgets, land-use applications, and other matters.
Where can I get more information?
For more information on Whitehorse 2040, visit the project website, attend the January 23 drop-in event, or talk to staff at the pop-up station that will appear in different locations throughout the process.
Official Community Plan Review: We’ve launched!
PLAN IT !Whitehorse
whitehorse.ca/ocp
PHASE 1Awareness Building
Nov, 2018to early 2019
PHASE 2Explore New Concepts
PHASE 3Create the Plan
PHASE 4Adopt the Plan
OCP Process DiagramVersion 3
ENGAGEMENT
PHASE 1Awareness Building
Nov, 2018 to Feb, 2019
PHASE 2Explore New Concepts
PHASE 3Create the Plan
PHASE 4Adopt the Plan
XXX 22, 2018to
XXX, 2019
ENGAGEMENT
PHASE 1Awareness Building
Nov, 2018to early 2019
PHASE 2Explore New Concepts
PHASE 3Create the Plan
PHASE 4Adopt the Plan
ENGAGEMENT
PHASE 1Awareness Building
Nov, 2018to early 2019
PHASE 2Explore New Concepts
PHASE 3Create the Plan
PHASE 4Adopt the Plan
OCP Process DiagramVersion 3
ENGAGEMENT
PHASE 1Awareness Building
Nov, 2018 to Feb, 2019
PHASE 2Explore New Concepts
PHASE 3Create the Plan
PHASE 4Adopt the Plan
XXX 22, 2018to
XXX, 2019
ENGAGEMENT
PHASE 1Awareness Building
Nov, 2018to early 2019
PHASE 2Explore New Concepts
PHASE 3Create the Plan
PHASE 4Adopt the Plan
ENGAGEMENT
Development Services Division – Newsletter 58 – January 2019
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Engineering Services668-8305whitehorse.ca/engineering
Land & Building Services668-8346whitehorse.ca/land
Planning & Sustainability Services668-8346whitehorse.ca/planning
Departments
The important work that has gone into creating plans such as the 2015 Sustainability Plan and the 2018 Downtown Plan, Transit Master Plan, Bicyle Network Plan, and Parks & Recreation Master Plan will not be duplicated in the revised OCP, but rather will help to guide the policies developed for the plan. In some cases, the new OCP could override past plans, if alternative solutions and ideas emerge through the Whitehorse 2040 planning process. New information is also being generated through planning work currently underway. The following are a few examples of projects that are on-the-go; link to them through the OCP website.
whitehorse.ca/ocp
Parking Management Plan
An update of the 2011 Downtown Parking Management Plan got underway in 2018 with public engagement that has included an online survey responded to by over 1,000 people. A What We Heard document is available online and a draft of the plan is anticipated in 2019. Recommendations will help to shape OCP policies on transportation and how we manage related infrastructure.
Commercial & Industrial Land Study
Commercial and industrial lands provide employment hubs that are vital to the Whitehorse economy. Engagement with property owners and business
How do Other City Projects Link to the OCP?
Meet Greg Stone!
operators occurred in November and December 2018 through an online survey, focus group sessions, and interviews. An interagency workshop to explore planning options is expected to occur in early 2019, followed by a draft of the study. Project resources and public input summaries are available online.
Local Food & Urban Agriculture Strategy
Did you know that 20 City documents link to the local food system? Since 2016, the City has been reviewing these documents to explore synergies between them and ways that the City can support a stronger local food system. Engagement has occurred with governments, associations, and residents involved in food and agricultural activities. Additional engagement opportunities are expected in 2019.
Whistle Bend Future Planning
Whistle Bend is our city’s newest neighbourhood and is expected to house 8,000 to 10,000 residents when fully built-out. With a dense development pattern and vibrant commercial area envisioned, this neighbourhood will play a significant role in local identity and activity. Work in 2018 included engagement on the layout of future phases and design of a town square. Check out the concepts and latest information online.
Wildfire Protection Strategy
A new project launching in 2019 will result in a Wildfire Protection Strategy that entails methods and processes for reducing fire risk on public lands in and around Whitehorse. The project is in partnership with the Government of Yukon’s Wildland Fire Management and Forest Management Branches, as well as Kwanlin Dün First Nation and Ta’an Kwäch’än Council. The first step will involve reviewing and updated existing Whitehorse Fuel Plans.
Talking Together
Public engagement is an important part of the City’s planning work, and will be an essential part of the Whitehorse 2040 process. It’s needed to develop an OCP that reflects the values, vision, and aspirations of Whitehorse residents. In 2018, the City partnered with the Government of Yukon on a project called Talking Together, which is geared at improving how both governments engage with the public. What we’ve heard so far is helping to shape how we engage in current projects, and will shape OCP policies set for how we engage in the future. Additional work on this project is expected in 2019.
The City is pleased to welcome Greg Stone to the position of Economic Development Coordinator in the Planning & Sustainability Services department. Greg has worked in the department for the past five months as a Sustainability Intern, and is excited to focus his attention on economic development projects. Greg brings over five years of experience to the job gained working in Vancouver’s non-profit and social enterprise sectors. Greg will be joining Mayor Dan Curtis on monthly meet-and-greets with local businesses. To arrange a visit at your business, connect with the initiative online!
whitehorse.ca/ecdev
DEFINING MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENTThe Government of Yukon and the City of Whitehorse are eager to build a new way of talking together, where we collectively learn how to work, talk and make decisions together.
We believe a meaningful conversation or engagement process needs to uphold and deliver on the following commitments:
WE WILL BE
INCLUSIVE
WE WILL BE
TRANSPARENT AND CLEAR
WE WILL
RECOGNIZE AND VALUE
THE UNIQUE CONTRIBUTION OF OUR PARTICIPANTS
WE WILL
BUILD SKILLS
WE WILL BE ACCOUNTABLE AND
ACT WITH INTEGRITY
We will be accessible to a broad range of voices and when we don’t hear a voice,
we will seek it out.
We will be clear about the goal of the public engagement
and how public input will be
considered in our decision-making.
We will help government staff build their public engagement skills and we will help
Yukoners to have conversations about complex topics in a productive way.
We will create easily accessible
processes for engagement and we will tell people
our intentions when we engage
the public.
We will demonstrate
care and respect for participants,
recognizing that they have
valuable, relevant knowledge and experience to
contribute.
