[Fischbob]

Want increased densities? Better speak up.

'Once-in-a-generation opportunity'
Planning - Ken Forrest is ready to take Saint John's municipal plan to the next level

Published Monday August 17th, 2009
Reid Southwick
Telegraph-Journal

SAINT JOHN - Ken Forrest's 10th-floor office at City Hall overlooks the grid of largely low-rise commercial buildings along Prince William and Water streets that run parallel to the port.

Developers and politicians have often argued the uptown area could attract more investment and more people with high-rise buildings, a controversial proposal that would change the skyline of the commercial district.

Sitting in his corner office, Forrest, the city's top planner, said the concentration and size of buildings in the uptown area, along with residential and commercial properties across the city, could change after the city drafts a new municipal plan.

In front of him was a map of land-use zones in the city, a new tool that is now online and shows a hodgepodge of commercial, residential, institutional and industrial land uses.

"I would anticipate that the map could end up looking quite a bit different," said Forrest, commissioner of planning and development. "In the end, a lot of that is going to be determined by the public because they are going to have thoughts on how they want to distribute housing stock, commercial areas; what kind of densities do we want to achieve?"

The planning department recently received bids from six firms that want to be the top consultant in redrafting the municipal plan, which will essentially lay out a new blueprint for development in the city.

The job is so ambitious, it requires the expertise of external consultants and will likely take several years to finish.

The last time the plan was completely rewritten was in 1973. The majority of its sections have been revised and new chapters added over the years, but the city is preparing for a bigger overhaul.

Forrest expects to file a recommendation with council within the next six weeks on which company the lead consultant should be. After that, planning staff and the consultant will draft a work plan that will lay out the consultant's responsibilities over the next two or three years.

Forrest wanted to wait until the city had selected the consultant before drawing up the work plan because he wanted some new ideas from other top minds in the industry on how the city can approach the big job.

That's because the new municipal plan will set the stage for housing and business growth over the next 20 to 30 years. Residents may want higher density housing - a greater number of buildings in a geographic area - which is said to attract more people and investment, and also demand a more robust public transportation system.

"Do we want higher density, transit-oriented, pedestrian-oriented development, or do we want lower density, suburban style development? These are all decisions the community needs to make," Forrest said. "And what is our policy on parkland? Do we want individual neighbourhood parks or larger community facilities with more infrastructure that is more centrally located?"

Forrest expects the city's consultant will have some good ideas on engaging the public to make sure the new municipal plan reflects what the public wants. He said he expects the first round of public consultations will begin in the fall or early winter.

"We're trying to get away from the standard where someone stands at the front of a room; we're trying to find some interesting ways to get people involved," Forrest said. "This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity in Saint John. We don't do municipal plans every day, so it's a good opportunity to try and connect with people."

Those comments may offer some comfort for people who are deeply concerned about preserving the look and feel of their city.

Rezoning applications are often met with much opposition and recent proposals to develop land near Rockwood Park were no exception.

Several people who live in the Sandy Point Road area were concerned the proposals for townhouses and condominiums on land adjacent to the park would set a precedent for future development on or near park property.

Council ultimately approved a moratorium on development adjacent to the park until the new municipal plan is finished, but not everyone on council or in the Millidgeville community wants the moratorium to stay.

City planning is largely a controversial exercise and Forrest expects similar conflicts will emerge in other areas of the city as the city redrafts its municipal plan.

"You will never have total consensus on these things," Forrest said. "You will have a diversity of viewpoints and, in the end, you try to create something that has a reasonable chance of happening but is also setting the community on a more sustainable path."

http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/city/article/762655