Development Services
Report to Council
File Category:
File Folder:
PRO.PLA.DOW
Downtown Revitalization Plan 2012
DATE:
June 3, 2013
TO:
Mayor and Council
FROM:
Sharon Fletcher, Director of Long Range Planning and Special Projects
SUBJECT:
Downtown Planning Process Update
RECOMMENDATION(S):
This report is provided for information purposes only. No staff recommendation accompanies this
report and Council action is not required.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this report is to update Council on the Downtown Planning Process including a list of
recent activities that have occurred or are planned and a summary of next steps, including immediate
actions to be undertaken, in the planning process.
BACKGROUND:
Following the Council workshop on May 6th, a list of policy amendments listed in the Implementation
Section of the draft plan were identified for immediate action. An Events Organizing workshop was
held on May 8th with many good ideas for community events recorded. Work with the Ministry of
Transportation and Infrastructure (MOTI) to move Highway 7 is ongoing.
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS:
Recent and Upcoming Activities
Adjustments to intersections, pedestrian crossings and parking on Railway Avenue are being made
following a staff review of the draft report for MOTI. The final report will include an analysis of traffic
patterns, new configurations for major intersections and a cost estimate to implement the changes.
The report shows that the MOTI criteria, namely not to negatively affect travel times through Mission,
has been met. Following a final review of the report by staff, the report will go to MOTI for a decision
regarding the relocation of Highway 7.
A second meeting of the Events Organizing Committee will be held on May 29th to determine the
ongoing structure of the committee, resource needs for the committee to function effectively,
discussions about the list of events gathered in the first meeting and a determination of a possible
event for 2013.
The Charrette Team will meet on May 27 to review the draft plan and discuss implementation of the
plan. They will also consider their role as champions for the downtown as the plan is implemented.
A public open house is scheduled for June 4 at the Leisure Centre where the public will hear a short
presentation that summarizes the plan and review the actions that are underway as well as review
possible timelines for potential future actions.
Page 1 of 4
Next Steps in the Downtown Planning Process
The following table provides a summary of next steps in the Downtown Planning process as of May
17, 2013:
Steps and Timing
Description of Tasks
Status
Council Workshop on Feb
4th

Stakeholder input that resulted in the Big Moves and associated actions
will be reviewed;
Council will identify any gaps or missing Big Moves; and,
Discussion around the revised 9 Big Moves to refine the concept plan.
Council will consider resolving to proceed with the work plan based on the
9 Big Moves and the discussion at the workshop; and
Provide direction on moving forward with the project.
Staff to undertake a series of discussion meetings to identify gaps, red
flags and implementation strategies.
o Downtown property owners
o Charrette Team
o Technical Team
o Lunch and learn at City Hall
o Public works morning crew meeting
o Annual meeting of the Heritage Society at Heritage Park
Confirm ownership change for First Avenue with MOTI:
o a terms of reference for work required by MOTI to make decisions to
move the highway, and
o the report for MOTI has been drafted
o the final document with cost estimates will be reviewed by staff prior
to being forwarded to MOTI
Completed
Components of the plan are drafted and reviewed by Council
Complete
Regular Council meeting on
Feb 4th
Refine the 9 Big Moves
based on input from
Council, technical team, the
Charrette Team, property
owners and the public
Develop the details of the
plan components






Reviewed by Council on
May 6

Priorities workshop
scheduled for May 6th
Events Organizing
Committee
Council will:

Receive and discuss the draft Downtown Plan;

Participate in a priority setting workshop to identify key actions and priority
projects (including associated capital projects); and

Provide direction on the improvements along with high level costing,
potential funding sources and phasing for the public realm and
infrastructure quick-win projects and investment priorities.

Gathering ideas for possible events and related ideas, and develop a list
of volunteers willing to organize events held on May 8th

Stakeholders (Charrette
Team) Meeting
Immediate actions
Completed
Matrix of
comments is
complete
Completed
Completed
Drafted
Complete
Complete
Establish the Events Organizing Committee as a follow up meeting to the
May 8th meeting
Review the draft plan and discuss their role as champions and the
implementation of the plan
Proposed amendments to the zoning bylaw:
o remove pawn shops and cheque establishments as allowable
downtown uses;
o include wording to focus retail uses on 1 st Avenue and remove the
requirement to have a commercial component elsewhere in the
downtown;
o amend the parking section to provide more flexibility
May 29

Proposed amendments to the Official Community Plan:
o amend the form and character Development Permit Guidelines for
gateway buildings;
o update existing form and character guidelines to highlight important
downtown elements;
o include a policy that considers a multi-family project in downtown as a
priority
Report to
Council
within 6
months

Explore a security model for downtown that includes an ambassador and
clean streets program
Underway


STAFF REPORT TO COUNCIL
May 27
Report to
Council by
July 30,
2013
Page 2 of 4
Steps and Timing
Consultants will develop an
Implementation Strategy
Adoption of the Downtown
Plan
Description of Tasks
Status

Develop an Incentive program to be included in a marketing package for
downtown. Review draft program with developers.
Underway
with a report
to Council in
early
summer

Consider changes to parking restrictions in advance of undertaking a
parking strategy that would provide more long term parking spaces for
employees off of 1st Avenue
Report to
Council in
early
summer

Propose amendments to the Unsightly Premises Bylaw

Develop actions that can be implemented once the plan is complete.
Report to
Council in
June
Draft
completed
Complete
The process will occur in a number of incremental steps:

Public Open House – planned for June 4 at the Leisure Centre

All documents posted on the website

Announcement of the release of the draft posted on the Facebook page

Adoption of the plan as a policy of Council (LAN 58 -
MissionCity
Downtown Action Plan)
Implement the Plan
(Upon completion of the
plan, it is important to note
that significant staff time
and funding will be required
to incrementally implement
the plan)

Staff will use all of the deliverables and create a communication package
aimed at attracting developers to the Downtown;
Underway
for summer
completion

Develop designs for a priority project and construct;
will require a
Council
decision

Using the Implementation Strategy, work with the identified leads for each
action to ensure that initiatives follow the critical path for project
sequencing in the plan.
Underway
COUNCIL GOALS/OBJECTIVES:
The Downtown Planning process fulfills Council’s Objective to “Revitalize Downtown by Creating an
Environment for Private/Other Investment” and implements the following related actions:
 Create a practical and implementable Downtown Revitalization Plan
 Create and implement a marketing and communication strategy to execute the Downtown
Revitalization Plan
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
No financial implications are associated with this report.
COMMUNICATION:
This report provides an update to Council and the public on the Downtown Planning Process.
Communication is a key element for success for this project. Staff will provide updates to Council at
all Regular Council meetings throughout the process. Topics from the draft plan are regularly posted
on Facebook.
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION:
As the Downtown Planning Process nears completion, a number of immediate actions, identified by
Council at the May 6 priority setting workshop, are underway. The stakeholders (charrette) team will
review the draft and discuss their role as champions to help implement the plan also in May. The
MOTI report regarding ownership of 1st Avenue is almost ready to go to the Ministry for consideration
to move Highway 7 onto Railway Avenue.
STAFF REPORT TO COUNCIL
Page 3 of 4
SIGN-OFFS:
Director of Long Range Planning and Special
Projects
Reviewed by:
Mike Younie, Director of Development Services
Comment from Chief Administrative Officer
Reviewed.
G:\COMDEV\SHARON\COW Reports\DT Planning Process Progress Update June 3.docx
STAFF REPORT TO COUNCIL
Page 4 of 4