Master Planning - Integrating for Livability
Central Lonsdale Planning Study
City of North Vancouver
Project Type
Master Planning + Density Bonusing for Rental Housing Policy + Feasibility Study
Employer
Urban Design + Planning Project Lead
City of North Vancouver
Role
Urban Design + Planning Project Lead
Central Lonsdale Planning Study was an urban design/master planning feasibility study, working with in-house expertise on proformas, land value for density bonusing for cost-free non-market + market rental housing construction, demographic + housing stats. Developed massing, floor plate and urban design scenarios on where to locate the density within the study boundaries of 23rd Street down to 8th Street +St. Georges Ave to Chesterfield Ave. 8 month process.
Results included:
-Capacity building for 12 member Council Appointed Steering Committee on planning tools + concepts on zoning wrt Official Community Plan, social diversity, the need for housing verity + affordability, what density bonusing is, snap shot of current housing stock + future projections, principles of pedestrian oriented streetscape design + retail success, parking reductions, TOD etc..
-Steering Committee returned a near unanimous recommendation to Council on density + building form.
-Public realm + open space planning for amenity hubs along Lonsdale Avenue as Ceremonial Gateways, Destination Greenways/Playspace, Seniors Gathering + Outdoor Brown Bag, Transportation/Multi-modal + Info, Office + Outdoor Brown Bag
-Side Street + Laneway amenity + character programming for residential streets, greenways, bikeways and transportation
Off-Grid Eco-Pocket Neighbourhood,
Fraser Valley
Project Type
24 Unit Seniors Rental Housing Subsidized by Live/Work Strata Cottages:
Master Plan + Feasibility Study
Developer/Client
Confidential
Role
Urban Design + Master Planning Project Lead
Off-Grid Eco-Pocket Neighbourhood Preliminary Feasibility Study for a Master Planned 24 Unit Seniors Rental Housing Subsided by Strata Cottages
Results included:
-Site SWOT analysis
-Target demographic: Empty Nesters downsizing, from Lower Mainland, to a range of one bedroom + home office to two bedroom + home office cottage in a low maintenance, woodland/xeriscaped setting, some with universal access
-Running preliminary proformas
-Dearth of smaller single family homes under 1900 sq ft. low maintenance, lack of Seniors Rentals in Fraser Valley
-Carports or under house parking on sloping site + crushed gravel roads
-Well water source appeared to be feasible with District water connection as last resort
-Geothermal appeared to be feasible
-Food security gardens + green houses
-24 units of market/non-market rental housing in three storey apartment with at- grade parking underneath
-Other amenities could include bookable seniors' activity room in Seniors' Apartment
Central Nanaimo Preliminary Master Plan Feasibility Study
Project Type
Affordable Housing Mews
Developer/Client
Confidential
Role
Urban Design + Master Planning Project Lead
Preliminary Master Plan + Feasibility Study for Market Affordable Single Family & Townhouse Mews
Results included:
-Site SWOT analysis
-Rethinking lot configurations to lower land costs, provide more community oriented mews, less private yard
-Design more opportunities to connect with neighbours like pocket playgrounds, community gardens + green houses, promenades, seating clusters etc.
-Single family + Townhouse Options
+ Post-Covid Recovery + Economic Equity + Climate Friendly Cities + Walkability + Vibrancy + Social Media vs Place Based Social Connectedness + Affordable Housing + Equity + Public Spaces + Social Resiliency + Micromobility + Curbside Management + Autonomous Vehicles + Data Collection + Privacy + Smart Tech + Democracy + Public Capacity Building + Process + Happiness