PUBLIC MEETING #3: SUMMARY REPORT

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1 PUBLIC MEETING #3: SUMMARY REPORT Introduction to Infill Housing Guidelines October 6, 2015

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3 Table of Contents IntrodUCTION 1 What Was Presented? 1 Group Workshop 2 Key Directions 3 Next Steps 6 iii

4 Introduction What was presented? On October 6, the City of Regina, as part Design Regina: The Official Community Plan, hosted their third in a series of public meetings led by consultant Brook McIlroy. This meeting introduced participants to the Infill Housing Guidelines, a distinct project within Design Regina. The public meeting was held at Knox Metropolitan Church and began at 6 p.m. Over 25 residents attended and participated in the open house and workshop. Attendees were introduced to the INFILL housing design guidelines The event began with an hour-long display board viewing accompanied by discussions with the project team. This was followed by a formal presentation with introductory remarks from the City and a 20-minute overview presentation by the project team that focused on: An overview of the Infill Housing Design Guidelines; Feedback from the previous meeting; Case studies and emerging directions; An overview of the evening s group-based workshop exercises; and Next Steps. Following the presentation, participants were invited to participate in group-based workshop exercises, the key findings of which are summarized on the following pages. 1

5 Group WOrkshop Participants were organized into groups of 8 at a series of tables. Each table was provided with a workbook and writing utensils. Each group selected a facilitator to moderate the discussion and a notetaker to document the key themes and responses for each question. After brief introductions from the participants, groups began to answer the questions in the workbook. City staff and members of the consultant team were present as a resource. Questions for Module 1: Site design considerations Questions in Module 1 addressed some potential site design considerations for infill housing, and included the following questions: 1.1 What factors should be considered when determining appropriate site dimensions and lot coverage by buildings? 1.2 What factors should be considered when determining appropriate front, side, and rear yard setbacks, as well as encroachments and separation distances? 1.3 What factors should be considered when determining appropriate locations and quantities for surface parking space(s)? Where should parking be provided? How much parking should be provided? 1.4 What factors should be considered when determining appropriate sizing and dimensions for landscaped front and/or rear yard amenity space? how much space should be required? Questions for Module 2: building design considerations Questions in Module 2 addressed potential building design considerations for infill housing and included the following questions: 2.1 What factors should be considered when determining appropriate building heights, widths and depths for primary dwellings? 2.2 What factors should be considered when determining appropriate massing for primary dwellings? Should stepbacks, angular planes and/or maximum side wall heights be used? Do considerations for older neighbourhoods differ from that of newer neighbourhoods? 2.3 What factors should be considered when determining appropriate proportions of solid vs. glazed surfaces, the location of doors and windows, and the location and sizing of projections including balconies and terraces? 2.4 WIth the understanding that architectural style cannot be regulated, what qualities should be considered when designing primary dwellings? Consider the materiality, scale and proportion of the building face. 2

6 Key Directions The following section briefly summarizes the common themes and key directions obtained in response to the group workshop exercises. ANSWERS FOR Module 1: Site Design Considerations 1.1 Site Dimensions & Lot Coverage by Buildings A maximum site coverage should be provided for all buildings and structures. Consideration should be given to amending the definition of site coverage to include maximum regulations for hard / impermeable surfaces, and minimum regulations for landscaped / permeable surfaces. A maximum floor space index should be provided for all buildings. 1.2 Setbacks, Separation Distance & Encroachments A minimum front yard setback should be provided. A maximum front yard setback should be considered. Consideration should be given to introducing an additional front yard setback regulation which mandates averaging the setbacks of adjacent properties, where such setbacks are greater than the minimum setback and less than the maximum setback. A maximum front yard encroachment zone should be considered to facilitate a front porch. A front yard no encroachment zone should be considered between the front yard encroachment zone and the front property line. A maximum rear yard encroachment zone should be considered to facilitate a rear deck. Under standard lot conditions, a standard minimum interior side yard setback should be considered for both sides of the property. Under constrained lot conditions, a standard minimum interior side yard setback should be considered for one side of the property, with a reduced interior side yard setback on the other side of the property. Where driveway access is provided through the interior side yard, an increased minimum interior side yard setback should be considered on one side of the property to facilitate combined vehicle and pedestrian access. This should be applied both to standard and constrained lot conditions. A minimum separation distance between the primary dwelling and adjacent accessory buildings and structures should be considered to establish a minimum rear yard amenity area. A minimum rear yard setback should be considered between the primary dwelling and the adjacent rear property line. 3

7 1.3 Parking & Site Access All parking requirements should be facilitated on-site. Minimum parking requirements should be established for each individual unit. Where rear lanes exist, vehicular access should be provided from the adjacent rear lane, resulting in no new curb cuts or driveways along the adjacent public street. In such circumstances, integral garages should not be permitted, and detached garages should be located at the rear of the property. Where rear lanes do not exist, vehicular access should be provided from the adjacent public street, resulting in consolidated curb cuts and minimized curb cut width where possible. In such circumstances, integral garages should occupy a maximum percentage of the front elevation of the primary dwelling. Where rear lanes exist, a pedestrian walkway should be provided on one side of the lot, providing continuous and barrier-free access between the public street and rear lane. Where rear lanes do not exist, a pedestrian walkway should be provided on one side of the lot, providing continuous and barrier-free access between the public street and rear yard amenity space. 1.4 Amenity Space & Landscaping Consideration should be given to amending the definition of site coverage to include maximum regulations for hard / impermeable surfaces, and minimum regulations for landscaped / permeable surfaces. Applicants should be required to submit a tree protection plan for publicly owned trees. Privately owned existing trees and vegetation should be preserved where possible. Consideration should be given to regulating the height and materiality of fencing, particularly within the front yard. Incentives and guidelines for xeriscaping should be considered to reduce demand for irrigation. Consideration should be given to introducing a minimum area requirement for rear yard amenity space. 4

8 ANSWERS FOR Module 2: Building DESign considerations 2.1 Height, Width & Depth A new maximum height regulation, measured to the top of a flat roof or the median height of a pitched roof should be considered as a reduction to the current maximum height provision of 11.0m. Consideration should be given to introducing an additional building height regulation which mandates averaging the heights of adjacent properties, plus an appropriate variance, where such heights are less than a new maximum height regulation. The applicability of this additional regulation would be determined based on the heights and redevelopment potential of adjacent properties. 2.2 Massing A maximum building depth regulation should be considered. A maximum side wall area regulation should be considered. A maximum side wall height regulation should be considered with provisions allowing for the re-distribution of unused side wall area above the maximum side wall height, within applicable angular planes. 45 degree front and/or side yard angular plane regulations should be considered. 2.3 Doors, Windows & Projections A maximum sill / building entrance height should be considered. Primary building entrances should be located at the front of the primary dwelling, facing the adjacent public street. Secondary building entrances, including integral secondary suite entrances, should be permitted at the side of the primary dwelling, where a standard minimum side yard setback has been provided. Minimum glazing standards should be considered for the front and rear elevations of the primary dwelling, in keeping with applicable National Building Code standards. Consider establishing window placement regulations to within the side elevation of the primary dwelling to optimize privacy considerations between adjacent properties. Consider establishing a maximum percentage for projections within the front, side and rear elevations of the primary dwelling. Air conditioning equipment, meters and other external mechanical or utility features should be screened from view from the adjacent public street. 2.4 Architectural Quality Ensure that the design guidelines are flexible, promoting variety and creativity. Consider introducing regulations to prohibit the development of identical, similar, or mirrored front yard elevations on adjacent primary dwellings. 5

9 NEXT STEPS Priorities identified in this public meeting will be used by the project team to develop the draft Infill Housing Guidelines. This meeting was the third in a five-step public consultation process, which includes: Meeting #4: Laneway and Garden Suites guidelines Review Date, Time and Venue To Be Determined Meeting #5: Infill Housing Guidelines Review & Implementation Date, Time and Venue To Be Determined In addition to public consultations, a website has been launched to make information and regular updates easily available to members of the public. Details of upcoming consultation sessions and draft materials can be found at: DesignRegina.ca/currentprojects 6

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