Innisfil Official Plan OMB Approved - Town of Innisfil

Town of Innisfil Official PlanURBAN DESIGNc) Built form for new development, infill development and intensification shall respondto the context of the local character of the Town’s different communities and theirbuilt heritage. Building height, massing, and scale of architectural features shouldcomplement neighbourhood character.d) The design of built form shall create smooth transitions and avoid abrupt massingchanges within streetscapes, and unsuitable relationships with existingcommunities.e) Building design shall promote at-grade relationships with adjacent pedestriansidewalks, both by use and design of building form, to enhance pedestrianconvenience.f) Streetscape facades should be designed to achieve the objective of “eyes on thestreet” through the inclusion of elements such as main entrances, porticoes,porches, windows and balconies. Blank facades should be avoided.g) In residential areas, allowable projections and encroachments into front yards,such as porches roof overhangs, and bay windows are encouraged in order topromote diversity in the streetscape. The Town may develop provisions forminimum areas free of encroachment.h) Similarly, in mixed use, commercial or employment areas, projections of canopies,roof overhangs, window bays and other architectural elements are encouraged inorder to create diverse and active streetscapes.i) The design of streetscape facades for large scale commercial and employmentbuildings shall adhere to the same principles of promoting active streetscapes andachieving a high quality of architectural design through inclusion of entranceelements, windows, articulated wall areas and roof expression. Large blank wallsare to be avoided.j) The built form of new development shall give consideration to the inclusion ofarchitectural elements that reference the elements and characteristics of thecommunities within which they are planned.k) Heritage buildings and structures shall be preserved. The design of newdevelopment adjacent to heritage buildings, or infill, intensification and adaptivereuse developments around heritage structures shall incorporate the principles ofheritage conservation. Design of these developments shall be sensitive to theexisting heritage structures.5.7 VIEWS, COMMUNITY EDGES, GATEWAYS AND LANDMARKSThe retention of the Town’s views of its natural, agricultural and cultural heritage arecritical to upholding the character of the Town of Innisfil as a community ofcommunities. The creation of appropriate transitions between the edges of newdevelopments and existing natural, agricultural or settlement lands is equally crucial tothe retention of that character. The policies for Views, Vistas, Landmarks andGateways should address:a) The protection of the Town of Innisfil’s natural and cultural heritage as physicalelements and strong visual features within the pattern of future growth shall be anobjective of all new development.100Adopted July 26, 2006 Approved by OMB May 2009, March 2010 & April 8, 2011