City Seeks Input on Mid-Rise and Tall Building Policy

Published on: 2019/11/13 - in Releases

RELEASE — Interested in where, when and how taller buildings grow in Kingston? The City of Kingston is seeking input on an Issues & Options Paper to lay the groundwork for its Mid-Rise and Tall Buildings Policy, which will be aimed at guiding the development of buildings of more than four storeys.

“The Issues & Options paper reflects what we’ve heard so far during our Density by Design consultations, and provides a discussion of the many factors that need to be considered as we move forward to develop the specific policies. These policies will follow in early 2020 and will help to shape a clear vision for the future development of mid-rise and tall buildings,” says Paige Agnew, Director, Planning, Building and Licensing.

November 21: Open House and Planning Committee Presentation

Residents are invited to learn more about the Paper on Thursday, Nov. 21 at City Hall, 216 Ontario St.:

  • Discuss options with planners and offer feedback at a drop-in open house from 3 to 6:30 p.m. in Memorial Hall.
  • See a presentation on the Paper at the Planning Committee meeting that begins at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers. The meeting will offer opportunities for the public to offer comments.

Urban design consultant, Brent Toderian, will be at the open house and Planning Committee meeting. He helped kick off the City’s public discussion on the design of taller buildings last year and is helping the City’s planning team develop the Policy that will direct the design of buildings of more than four storeys.

The Issues & Options Paper will be available for review and input on Get Involved Kingston beginning Nov. 15 until Dec. 31 and offers:

  • An overview of the Density by Design: Mid-Rise and Tall Building Policy project to date.
  • The kinds of buildings and building-design elements that the Policy under development will consider.
  • The “Lenses” through which the City is viewing the Policy, including green building design, affordability, neighbourhood character and ease of development.
  • Discussion of local urban design issues and suggested options for addressing them.

Completing the Mid-Rise and Tall Buildings Policy is one of the City’s initiatives to pursue development of all types of housing city-wide through intensification and land-use policies. The initiative falls under the strategic priority to increase housing affordability.

Find out more about this project at CityofKingston.ca/DensitybyDesign.


Release: City of Kingston
Photo: Pixabay (cc)