REQUEST FOR DECISION
DATE: May 11, 2016 Report No. DEV-16-033
TO: Laurie Hurst, Chief Administrative Officer
FROM: Bill Brown, Director of Development Services
SUBJECT:
Title
Request for Proposals - Esquimalt Road Urban Design Guidelines
End
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
That Council approve the Request for Proposals for the Esquimalt Road Urban Design Guidelines, as attached as Schedule “A” to Staff Report DEV-16-033, and authorize staff to post them on the appropriate websites.
Body
RELEVANT POLICY:
Official Community Plan
STRATEGIC RELEVANCE:
The Request for Proposals for the Esquimalt Road Urban Design Guidelines supports Council’s strategic objective to “Support revitalization and beautification initiatives along Esquimalt Road”.
BACKGROUND:
At the May 9, 2016 Committee of the Whole meeting, Council provided staff with suggested enhancements to the Draft Request for Proposals. Based on Council’s discussion. the following changes have been made to the document:
- A provision has been added requiring the consultant team to address the issues of connectivity with cross streets such as Head Street.
- A provision has been added requiring consideration of the future location of civic spaces including the incorporation of civic spaces on private land.
- The list of required elements has been reordered slightly to reflect a more logical progression.
- A provision has been added related to identification of appropriate densities based on projected growth.
- A provision has been added related to the identification of innovative technologies to create smart streets.
- Amendments have been made to clarify that the guidelines should address the potential to widen sidewalks in order to accommodate uses such as tables and chairs.
- A provision has been added related to the provision of guidelines for the outdoor display of goods.
- The provision related to streetlights has been clarified so that it only relates to the provision of guidelines for old streetlights that need to be replaced.
- The public art provision has been expanded to include murals and street art.
- The walkability provision has been expanded to include a review of the costs and opportunities to remove hydro poles from the sidewalks.
- Under public consultation, the requirements have been expanded to include the development community and the City of Victoria.
- Under deliverables, the requirement for computer generated street views has been added along with a provision for “any other suggestions for Council’s consideration”.
- A provision has also been added related to multi-modal transportation.
- Under “Submission Requirements”, the provision of a timeline and a list of public engagement strategies have been added.
- Under “Available Information”, the Public Art Policy has been added.
All of the changes have been highlighted in yellow in the attached document.
ISSUES:
1. Rationale for Selected Option
The proposed Request for Proposals has been developed pursuant to Council’s strategic priorities and incorporates Council’s most recent requested changes.
2. Organizational Implications
The majority of the work will be carried out by a consultant team thereby limiting the amount of work that staff will have to do.
3. Financial Implications
Council has budgeted $150,000.00 for this project.
4. Sustainability & Environmental Implications
The Request for Proposals includes the requirement to provide numerous guidelines related to sustainability and environmental issues.
5. Communication & Engagement
Staff will work with the consulting team to ensure that a robust communications and engagement program is implemented.
ALTERNATIVES:
1) That Council approve the Request for Proposals for the Esquimalt Road Urban Design Guidelines, as attached as Schedule “A” to Staff Report DEV-16-033, and authorize staff to post them on the appropriate websites.
2) That Council further amend the Request for Proposals for the Esquimalt Road Urban Design Guidelines prior to approving and authorizing staff to post them on the appropriate websites.