Working with Municipal Planners: A Window of Opportunity

Kim Bergeron, PhD CandidateQueen’s University

PARC SymposiumMarch 4, 2008

Toronto, Ontario

Key Messages

• Make a friend with a Planner.• Help planners put cars in perspective.

Encourage them to consider infrastructure decisions to be about PEOPLE!

• Consider using the Active Communities Charter to develop a unified strategy.

• Look at the issue through a different lens.• Increase your knowledge on many things!

Designing Active Communities

• Built and social environments support and enable healthy active living.

• Created when community stakeholders place value on and work towards: the health, safety and quality of life for all individuals to develop healthy, safe and environmentally sustainable neighbourhoods.

• Vibrant and economically successful because they encourage healthy activity, social interaction and citizen engagement.

Active Communities

Provide the overriding framework for interest groupspromoting active living. This includes the promotion of:Walkable CommunitiesCycling Friendly CommunitiesActive TransportationNon-motorized waterway activitiesTrailsMunicipal Official Plans

It is the “glue” that binds the different interest groups together for a common goal!

Active Communities Charter

Describes the principles and valuescharacteristic of active communities and

provides a rationale for adopting a focus oncreating active communities.

Available at: http://www.hkpr.on.ca/uploadedFiles/ActiveCommCharter.pdf

We have an Open Window!

Urban Planners need to meet the requirementswithin the provincial planning policies that refer to:• developing complete communities• addressing urban sprawl• protecting farmlands and green spaces• reducing traffic congestion• incorporating mixed land use in developments• intensification and other planning decisions

Ontario Planning Documents

• Ontario Planning Act• Specifically sections 2. h), o), q) and 51.(24) (25)

• Ontario Provincial Policy Statement (2005)• Part V – 1.0 Building strong communities• 1.5.1 Healthy, active communities should be promoted

• Places to Grow• “Building complete and strong communities”• “Growth Plans”

• Municipal Official Plans

Planners are asking themselves…

“What can we do to ensure that people in everycommunity have what they need to lead healthylives?”Physical Activity Promoters ask themselves the

same question!We need to find a common language betweenthe two professions.

A Joint Glossary of Terms is being developed!

Draft Checklist for Planners

To encourage the development of communitiesthat support and promote physical activityopportunities.It offers specific principles and criteria that worktowards increasing the design of active communities.

Designed to reflect the “gold standard” of municipalplanning decisions for the creation of active

communities.

Knowledge is Power

Increase your knowledge about the:

Ontario Professional Planners Institute

Association of Municipalities in Ontario

Canadian Institute of Planners

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing

Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal

These are just a few that impact on health and the built environment!

Knowledge is Power

Increase your knowledge on how the

municipality functions and who isresponsible for what.

Municipal Briefing Toolhttp://www.hkpr.on.ca/uploadedFiles/Muni%20Briefing%20Report.pdf

Opening the Window Wider

The development of an urban planning andpublic health framework to increase the designof active communities.Collecting data from planners, healthprofessionals, physical activity interest groupmembers, municipal elected officials and staff,& Government of Ontario policy staff in selectedMinistries.Consider participating in this study!

Closing Remarks

Walk through the window with:A new lens, language and perspective.Armed with knowledge of:• The Ontario Planning Legislation • How the municipalities functions • Planner’s language

Use the tools provided!