Working with Municipal Planners: A Window of Opportunity
Kim Bergeron, PhD CandidateQueen’s University
PARC SymposiumMarch 4, 2008
Toronto, Ontario
Key Messages
• Make a friend with a Planner.• Help planners put cars in perspective.
Encourage them to consider infrastructure decisions to be about PEOPLE!
• Consider using the Active Communities Charter to develop a unified strategy.
• Look at the issue through a different lens.• Increase your knowledge on many things!
Designing Active Communities
• Built and social environments support and enable healthy active living.
• Created when community stakeholders place value on and work towards: the health, safety and quality of life for all individuals to develop healthy, safe and environmentally sustainable neighbourhoods.
• Vibrant and economically successful because they encourage healthy activity, social interaction and citizen engagement.
Active Communities
Provide the overriding framework for interest groupspromoting active living. This includes the promotion of:Walkable CommunitiesCycling Friendly CommunitiesActive TransportationNon-motorized waterway activitiesTrailsMunicipal Official Plans
It is the “glue” that binds the different interest groups together for a common goal!
Active Communities Charter
Describes the principles and valuescharacteristic of active communities and
provides a rationale for adopting a focus oncreating active communities.
Available at: http://www.hkpr.on.ca/uploadedFiles/ActiveCommCharter.pdf
We have an Open Window!
Urban Planners need to meet the requirementswithin the provincial planning policies that refer to:• developing complete communities• addressing urban sprawl• protecting farmlands and green spaces• reducing traffic congestion• incorporating mixed land use in developments• intensification and other planning decisions
Ontario Planning Documents
• Ontario Planning Act• Specifically sections 2. h), o), q) and 51.(24) (25)
• Ontario Provincial Policy Statement (2005)• Part V – 1.0 Building strong communities• 1.5.1 Healthy, active communities should be promoted
• Places to Grow• “Building complete and strong communities”• “Growth Plans”
• Municipal Official Plans
Planners are asking themselves…
“What can we do to ensure that people in everycommunity have what they need to lead healthylives?”Physical Activity Promoters ask themselves the
same question!We need to find a common language betweenthe two professions.
A Joint Glossary of Terms is being developed!
Draft Checklist for Planners
To encourage the development of communitiesthat support and promote physical activityopportunities.It offers specific principles and criteria that worktowards increasing the design of active communities.
Designed to reflect the “gold standard” of municipalplanning decisions for the creation of active
communities.
Knowledge is Power
Increase your knowledge about the:
Ontario Professional Planners Institute
Association of Municipalities in Ontario
Canadian Institute of Planners
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal
These are just a few that impact on health and the built environment!
Knowledge is Power
Increase your knowledge on how the
municipality functions and who isresponsible for what.
Municipal Briefing Toolhttp://www.hkpr.on.ca/uploadedFiles/Muni%20Briefing%20Report.pdf
Opening the Window Wider
The development of an urban planning andpublic health framework to increase the designof active communities.Collecting data from planners, healthprofessionals, physical activity interest groupmembers, municipal elected officials and staff,& Government of Ontario policy staff in selectedMinistries.Consider participating in this study!
Closing Remarks
Walk through the window with:A new lens, language and perspective.Armed with knowledge of:• The Ontario Planning Legislation • How the municipalities functions • Planner’s language
Use the tools provided!
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