Urban design is both visual and practical. People are more likely to visit a site, a neighbourhood, or a city if it looks good and functions well. Using best urban design practices ensures this. Good design can help make people happier and calmer. Well-designed sites maintain their appeal and increase values in their area.

The City adopted its Urban Design Guidelines in 2012. Since then, they have guided the design of development throughout the City. With the passing of a new Zoning By-law in 2022 and evolving best practices over the past decade, the guidelines need an update.

The City has retained Scatliff + Miller + Murray to complete this update.

Thank you for providing your feedback on the updated Urban Design Guidelines. The final document was presented to the Committee of the Whole on June 17, 2024 and approved by City Council on June 25, 2024. Please view the agenda for more information.

The purpose of this update is to:

• Prepare updated design standards that align with the 2022 Zoning By-law
• Revise the document for consistency with current City policies and best practices.

The key goals are to:

• Promote new development that enhances the community through improved functionality and aesthetics.
• Streamline development review process by clarifying performance standards and providing clearer expectations.

What are the Urban Design Guidelines?

The Urban Design Guidelines are a companion to the City’s Zoning By-law. They address site elements that aren't regulated through zoning such as tree planting. The Guidelines establish design criteria for both public and private development. Performance standards in the Guidelines address a range of site design elements. These include:

• Accessibility
• Sustainability and stormwater management
• Parking, loading, and circulation
• Outdoor storage and servicing
• Building orientation, massing, and facade treatment
• Landscaping
• Lighting

How are they used?

The Urban Design Guidelines are a tool used by designers, developers, and City staff. They promote the City's larger goals such as

• Greening and beautification
• Accessibility and inclusivity
• Urban revitalisation
• Crime prevention
• Climate change resiliency
• Protection of cultural and natural heritage

The Guidelines align with and promote the goals, objectives, and requirements of existing City plans (e.g., the Official Plan).

The guidelines guide and assess the design of both public and private development. Public developments like streetscapes or City facilities are generally consistent with the Guidelines. Consistency in private development is often dependent on what City approvals are required. Planning Staff use the Guidelines to assess the merits of planning applications. But planning applications are not required for most developments. The best means to enforce the Guidelines is through the Site Plan Approval process. But this process only applies to a limited number of sites in the City.

Why do they need to be updated?

The current Urban Design Guidelines provide a solid foundation but are over ten years old. Policies, regulations, and best practices have changed. The Guidelines need to be consistent with these to remain effective.

The City of Thunder Bay City Council approved Zoning By-law 1-2022 in April 2022. New regulations increase opportunities for housing infill as well as offices and retail. As such, the Site Plan Approval process will be relied on to achieve the City’s urban design objectives. Updated Guidelines will assist in streamlining the Site Plan Approval process.

What is changing?

Summary of changes to existing Urban Design Guidelines:

• Updated graphic design, images, and diagrams
• Upgraded to accessible format
• Included land acknowledgement
• Updated Sections 1-3 (Introduction, Urban Design Vision and Guiding Principles, Performance Standards: Public Realm)
  • Few content changes
• Updated Section 4 (Performance Standards: General Building and Site Design)
  • Several content changes
• Replaced Section 5 (Performance Standards: Land Use Specific)
  • Mostly new content
• Content updates in Section 6 (Implementation Recommendations)
  • Several content changes
• Updated Appendix 1 Urban Design Glossary
• Eliminated Appendix 2 Performance Standard Checklist