City of Kitchener prepares for increased
development in areas around ION stations
development in areas around ION stations
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by Helen Hall
Kitchener Citizen
January 16, 2014
As Kitchener prepares for the ION light rail transit to come to the city, it has to think beyond the tracks.
Kitchener’s planning department is looking at how it will handle development within a 10 minute walk of each of the ION stations in Kitchener.
Twelve stations will be located in Kitchener. The first one will be on King Street West near Grand River Hospital and the second one will be near the future Transit Hub at King Street West and Victoria Street North. The tracks split off King and go down Duke Street West and Charles Street West, before joining together again at Charles Street West and Frederick Street. There are two stops on Duke Street West and Frederick Street, and four stops along Charles Street West.
The tracks split again at Charles Street West, with one set going down Borden Street South and the other set down Ottawa Street South before meeting again on Courtland Avenue East.
There are three stops on Courtland Avenue East, with the last one at Fairview Park Mall.
A final Kitchener station will be shared with Canbridge and connect the ION light rail to the Cambridge’s bus rapid transit.
To provide for future development around these stations, the planning department has been working on a project called PARTS - Planning Around Transit Stations.
“There will be a lot of development in the areas around the stations,” said Brandon Sloan, Manager of Long-Range and Policy Planning with the City of Kitchener.
“We want to make sure it positively complements our city.”
Because of the large amount of work to be done, planning staff have divided the PARTS project into phases.
In 2014, the PARTS team will look at “corridor-wide initiatives” or guidelines that will apply to all the areas around ION stations in Kitchener.
“There would be a lot of duplication if we did this for each individual station,” Sloan said.
They will look at guidelines for specific neighbourhoods around the stations between 2014 and 2017, when the trains are due to begin running.
Corridor-wide iniatives in five areas will be established this year.
Interim Direction
Because it is anticipated there will be continued redevelopment interest in properties that are in close proximity to the station, guidelines will be created to consider whether amendments need to be made to the existing Official Plan or zoning bylaws and how to handle requests in the interim.
Communications Approach
Sloan said the city wants to engage landowners in these areas to share their ideas and respond to the city’s recommendations. A communications approach will be designed to figure out how to best reach out to landowners and the public.
Urban Design Guidelines
The city will establish Urban Design Guidelines for development around the ION transit stations. These guidelines could look at things like streetscape design, sidewalks, public art, benches and landscaping.
Sanitary Sewer Capacity Analysis
This report will look at the future sanitary sewer capacity needed around the stations to meet the expected increased development.
Transportation Demand Management Strategy
This strategy will create transportation rules for new developments to make sure they include options for all kinds of transportation including things like trails for walking and cycling.
Kitchener Citizen
January 16, 2014
As Kitchener prepares for the ION light rail transit to come to the city, it has to think beyond the tracks.
Kitchener’s planning department is looking at how it will handle development within a 10 minute walk of each of the ION stations in Kitchener.
Twelve stations will be located in Kitchener. The first one will be on King Street West near Grand River Hospital and the second one will be near the future Transit Hub at King Street West and Victoria Street North. The tracks split off King and go down Duke Street West and Charles Street West, before joining together again at Charles Street West and Frederick Street. There are two stops on Duke Street West and Frederick Street, and four stops along Charles Street West.
The tracks split again at Charles Street West, with one set going down Borden Street South and the other set down Ottawa Street South before meeting again on Courtland Avenue East.
There are three stops on Courtland Avenue East, with the last one at Fairview Park Mall.
A final Kitchener station will be shared with Canbridge and connect the ION light rail to the Cambridge’s bus rapid transit.
To provide for future development around these stations, the planning department has been working on a project called PARTS - Planning Around Transit Stations.
“There will be a lot of development in the areas around the stations,” said Brandon Sloan, Manager of Long-Range and Policy Planning with the City of Kitchener.
“We want to make sure it positively complements our city.”
Because of the large amount of work to be done, planning staff have divided the PARTS project into phases.
In 2014, the PARTS team will look at “corridor-wide initiatives” or guidelines that will apply to all the areas around ION stations in Kitchener.
“There would be a lot of duplication if we did this for each individual station,” Sloan said.
They will look at guidelines for specific neighbourhoods around the stations between 2014 and 2017, when the trains are due to begin running.
Corridor-wide iniatives in five areas will be established this year.
Interim Direction
Because it is anticipated there will be continued redevelopment interest in properties that are in close proximity to the station, guidelines will be created to consider whether amendments need to be made to the existing Official Plan or zoning bylaws and how to handle requests in the interim.
Communications Approach
Sloan said the city wants to engage landowners in these areas to share their ideas and respond to the city’s recommendations. A communications approach will be designed to figure out how to best reach out to landowners and the public.
Urban Design Guidelines
The city will establish Urban Design Guidelines for development around the ION transit stations. These guidelines could look at things like streetscape design, sidewalks, public art, benches and landscaping.
Sanitary Sewer Capacity Analysis
This report will look at the future sanitary sewer capacity needed around the stations to meet the expected increased development.
Transportation Demand Management Strategy
This strategy will create transportation rules for new developments to make sure they include options for all kinds of transportation including things like trails for walking and cycling.