24.0 Development Permit Area #1 (City Centre District) - City of Vernon

24.0 Development Permit Area #1 (City Centre District)Goals and ObjectivesThe Development Permit Guidelines for the downtown area are designed to enhance and promote apedestrian friendly, liveable and vibrant City Centre.The Development Permit Guidelines are intended to encourage a stimulating commercial and cultural area,as well as foster development opportunities throughout the City Centre. A variety of opportunities will beavailable for mixed use development and high and medium density residential development, includingapartments, stacked townhouses and small lot single and two family development. A City Centreneighbourhood planning process will be undertaken to provide more detail on the development andredevelopment of the downtown.Context (Purpose and Justification)The purpose of the designation of lands in the City Centre District as a Development Permit Area is the:a. Protection of the natural environment, its ecosystems and biological diversity.b. Revitalization of an area in which a commercial use is permitted.c. Establishment of objectives for the form and character of intensive residential development.d. Establishment of objectives for the form and character of commercial, industrial or multiple familyresidential development.e. Establishment of objectives to promote energy conservation.f. Establishment of objectives to promote water conservation.g. Establishment of objectives to promote the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.The City Centre District has been identified as the key redevelopment area in the city. A vibrant downtownis an asset in the community from an economic and social perspective. The City Centre is intended tobecome an economic and social anchor for the entire city, providing a diverse community with significantcommercial and residential opportunities. With improvements to park space, cultural facilities and otheramenities, the City Centre will become a primary location for community interaction.Bounded by 43 Avenue to the north, the east side of 27 Street to the east, 25 Avenue to the south, andgenerally 35 Street to the west, the City Centre is a mix of commercial and small lot residentialdevelopment with some medium density residential development.

A successful City Centre area is one that attracts people to live, work, shop, be entertained and play. Theredevelopment of the downtown area is intended to attract local area residents back to the downtown fortheir everyday needs, and to make the downtown an inviting environment for tourists.The Development Permit Guidelines of the OCP work in tandem with the revitalization plan for the CityCentre. Key in the revitalization is to provide a pedestrian friendly environment with a streetscape thatilluminates the commercial vibrancy of the City Centre. The goal is to create a prosperous City CentreDistrict where people come to live, work and play. Central to creating this type of district are strongdevelopment guidelines that can work with commercial and residential development towards creating thisvibrancy.The structure for the vibrant and liveable City Centre that the community desires is in place but it needs tobe expanded to the adjacent areas. That will help provide an attractive downtown for residents andtourists year round. The City Centre should be a place that showcases local business as well as being ahealthy, vibrant area to live, work and play.Guidelines24.1 Lands identified on Map 15 as the City Centre District are designated as Development Permit Area1 and are subject to the policies in the City Centre Neighbourhood Plan.24.2 In addition to the following policies, all development in Development Permit Area 1 is subject tothe general Development Permit Area policies within the OCP.24.3 The EMA Strategy Management Area 1 (MA1), as identified on Map 16, EMA Strategy, shares thesame boundaries as DPA 1. The EMA Strategy applies to the Development Permit process asoutlined in the EMA Strategy MA1.24.4 The City shall develop a City Centre Neighbourhood Plan in conjunction with community membersand stakeholders.24.5 The City shall create design guidelines for all residential development in the City Centre District.24.6 The City of Vernon endorses the current Vernon Downtown Concept Plan prepared for theDowntown Vernon Association. It is acknowledged that the City Centre Neighbourhood Plan will beprepared and may result in revisions being made to the Downtown Concept Plan.24.7 Council will implement street systems and pedestrian and cyclist ways that provide convenientaccess to transit, parking, and support safe and comfortable patterns of pedestrian movement.Pedestrian oriented buildings include window display space and interesting facades which are

especially important within the key pedestrian activity areas. It is also important to prepare a coordinatedvehicular, cycle and pedestrian network plan for the downtown area.24.8 Several items can be accomplished to create a more pedestrian friendly downtown. These include:a. The creation of a more public open spaces and squares in the downtown;b. Measures to improve lighting and pedestrian safety;c. Addition of the extensive planted areas at strategic locations or near blank walls as a means ofcreating visual breaks and contrasts;d. Redevelopment of blank walls which create a sterile pedestrian environment by using muralsand windows to break facades; ande. Addition of public art at various locations that add interest to the streetscape.24.9 The City will facilitate the creation of new community and public spaces in the City Centre as part ofimproving the streetscape and downtown ambiance and providing additional opportunities forcommunity interaction.24.10 Council will continue to enhance the downtown retail/office/residence/small open spaceatmosphere with consideration of introducing traffic calming, traffic reductions, the provision forwider sidewalks and other means of stimulating a more attractive work/live environment. The Cityof Vernon will work closely with the Ministry of Transportation to examine the potential impactsthese changes may have on traffic flow along Highway 97. As well, 27 Street improvements and theextension south of Highway 97 will impact the work/live atmosphere in and along the eastern edgeof the downtown.24.11 Access to convenient and safe parking in the City Centre is considered a priority. The provision ofshort-term on-street parking and longer-term parking options have been a challenge and must beconsidered in light of the need to provide greater options for alternative transportation options.Commercial development in the downtown not currently required to provide on–site parkingshould contribute to adequate parking by the way of cash in-lieu contribution. Funds would beused to acquire and develop additional parking options in the City Centre.24.12 Retail activity within the Urban Commercial area should be oriented towards street level with themajority of retail activity directly addressing the fronting street. Buildings should be designed toprovide a comfortable pedestrian scale through use of display windows, facia details and the use ofvaried setbacks for upper storeys.24.13 Parking areas within the City Centre should be organized into small units and located to the rear ofbuildings and screened from adjacent streets.24.14 All garbage and recycling bins are to be provided on-site and fully screened with secure enclosures.Council supports the initiative of the downtown merchants to remove garbage and recycling bins

from the City lands in the downtown. This will free up the laneways for partial commercial activitywhile allowing for improved security and loading opportunities.24.15 Council shall facilitate movement in the City Centre District in the following order of priority:walking, cycling, public transit, trucks and automobiles.24.16 Council will continue to support measures to create a high quality pedestrian environment throughsuch measures as:a. Provision of wide and continuous sidewalks;b. Provision of street trees and street furniture; andc. Weather protection for sidewalks adjacent to buildings (i.e. awnings, canopies, bus sheltersetc.).