Development Services
Report to Council
File Category:
File Folder:
PRO.PLA.DOW
Downtown Revitalization Plan 2012
DATE:
May 21, 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:
The draft plan was reviewed by Council on May 6th. As part of the review, a number of priority tasks
were discussed. The table listing next steps (below) now includes a number of proposed immediate
actions that are listed in the Implementation Section of the draft plan. 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 Activities
The draft report for MOTI is complete. 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, the report will go to MOTI for a decision regarding the
relocation of Highway 7.
The intent of the first Events Organizing Committee meeting on May 8th was to gather ideas for future
downtown events and set up an Events Organizing Committee. Many ideas were gathered and
organized into 3 categories:
 Big events (like the Candlelight parade and Mission Fest);
 Medium sized events (that would not necessarily require a road closure); and
 Good ideas that could be incorporated into other events or combined into one event.
The list of ideas has been sorted into possible events by season. Those who attended also shared
their willingness to help make the event or events a reality. The group will meet again shortly to see if
there is an event that could happen in 2013.
Page 1 of 4
The Charrette Team will meet on May 28 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.
An open house is scheduled for June 4 where the public will hear a presentation that summarizes the
plan, review the actions that are underway as well as review possible timelines for potential future
actions.
Proposed Approach for Adopting and Launching the Plan
In order for the plan to have legitimacy for future implementation projects, the
MissionCity
Downtown
Action Plan should be adopted by Council as LAN 58 - MissionCity Downtown Action Plan and become a
policy of Council. While this approach is not as strong as a bylaw, it enables flexibility during the
implementation of the plan. It recognizes the actions in the plan as direction from Council for
revitalization projects proposed for the downtown. Council will still have to approve each project prior
to proceeding as well as the funding source. An alternative solution would be to adopt the plan as a
bylaw amending the Official Community Plan. Staff believe this second option is less favourable
because, while Council is not obligated to implement the actions whether in a policy or bylaw,
decisions need to comply with the Official Community Plan. For this reason, an amendment to the
Official Community Plan would be required if a new opportunity arises that was not considered during
the planning process. This could result in less flexibility and additional cost.
It is important to celebrate the completion of the work and community’s input into the planning
process. Once the plan is complete and adopted by Council, a launching event will be planned. This
will be a good opportunity to identify some of the actions that are underway, completed or near
completion and the priority list that Council is considering for the future. This information will be
forwarded to Council for direction as the planning process nears completion. To that end and as a
response to Council’s comments at the May 6th priority setting meeting, the following table now
includes some of the immediate actions that are listed in the plan and require only staff time and a
Council resolution to complete. Each project will be forwarded to Council for their consideration in
subsequent reports that include the proposed amendment and the rationale for the action.
Next Steps in the Downtown Planning Process
The following table provides a summary of next steps in the Downtown Planning process as of May 8,
2013:
Steps and Timing
Description of Tasks
Status
Council Workshop on Feb
4th

Completed
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





STAFF REPORT TO COUNCIL
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
Completed
Matrix of
comments is
complete
Page 2 of 4
Develop the details of the
plan components
Opportunity for preliminary
consideration and direction
of components of the
document by Council are
being considered.
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

Stakeholders (Charrette
Team) Meeting
Immediate actions
Consultants will develop an
Implementation Strategy
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 will be ready by mid to late April;
Develop economic development strategies and identify and test possible
incentive options;
Prepare a land use and development plan and associated policies;
Prepare social and housing strategies and policies;
Develop a mobility plan and policies;
Draft a pedestrian realm and open space plan; and
Prepare design guidelines to assist private development.
Completed
Drafted
Underway
Underway
Underway
Underway
Underway
Underway
Complete
May 8 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 establishment as allowable
downtown uses;
o include wording to focus retail uses on 1st 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 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

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


STAFF REPORT TO COUNCIL
May 28
Report to
Council
within 2
months
Page 3 of 4
Adoption of the Downtown
Plan
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 -
Approach
being
considered
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;
Develop designs for a priority project and construct;
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.
Planned
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:
The Downtown Planning Process is almost complete with the draft plan reviewed by Council and a
discussion about priority projects occurring on May 6th. The stakeholders (charrette) team will review
the draft and discuss their role as champions to help implement the plan also in May. A number of
immediate actions from the Implementation Table in the draft plan are already underway or proposed
and the MOTI report regarding ownership of 1st Avenue is drafted and almost ready to go to the
Ministry for consideration to move Highway 7 onto Railway Avenue. The downtown Facebook page is
proving very successful for soliciting the public’s views on potential projects for downtown.
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 May 20.docx
STAFF REPORT TO COUNCIL
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