PIC Core Urban Design Guidelines - Toronto

FB4.1PIC Core Urban Design GuidelinesFilm, Television and Digital Media Advisory BoardKyle Knoeck, Manager, Zoning TeamAnthony Kittel, Project ManagerFebruary 3, 2020

Production, Interactive and Creative (PIC)Urban Design Guidelines - OverviewThe Port Lands Planning Framework includes a set of urban design and built form principles whichestablish the overall vision for the Port Lands. The PIC Core Urban Design Guidelines will furtherexpand on the urban design and built form direction of the Planning Framework.The Urban Design Guidelines are: meant to provide flexibility based upon use and site-specific conditions provide robust and consistent direction on how the Port Lands will evolve over time applied at various stages of the development review process and will also inform Context Plans developed concurrently with, and will be informed by, a PIC Core Zoning By-law

PIC Core Urban Design Guidelines – Study Area

Planning Framework ImplementationTo guide revitalization of the Port Lands in the near , medium, and long-term, the Planning Framework is implementedby a number of plans, strategies, initiatives, and Planning Act tools. The diagram below provides a road map to themany ways the Council-adopted vision is being enacted. The Zoning Review and Production, Creative andInteractive (PIC) Urban Design Guidelines are two early implementation projects.4

Port Lands 101

EETSTRLIELESINERDRGAKEY/LAAWSRESEXPASTD. EVLRE BSHOTTREESSNERSIOSIMMCOETTREYSERRCHEENUVAWINNUThe Port Lands Today6

Vision of the Port LandsThe Port Lands will become an extension of the Downtown, with a full, balanced mix of uses. Therewill be new complete mixed-use communities, districts that support the growth of the City’sproduction, interactive and creative sectors, and areas for continued port and industrial uses.The Port Lands’ districts are planned to evolve over time, with residents and employees able to enjoynature and recreation, the vibrancy of the public realm, diverse employment and housingopportunities, and the industrial activity of the Port, all within a 5 to 10 minute walk.7

Port Lands Planning FrameworkAdopted by City Council on December 8, 2017 as the 50-year vision of the revitalization of the PortLands, with a number of Districts and land use typologies that create unique mix of employmentfocused districts and mixed use precincts. The Framework addresses land use, transportation,infrastructure, community facilities, parks, biodiversity, built form and sustainability. The PlanningFramework envisions:A Film-Friendly Future Diverse range of film activities accommodated Flexibility and adaptability for a changing industryIndustry Port Thrives Sufficient lands to support industrial, port and Cityservicing usesGrowing and Sustaining Our Economy Diverse opportunities Near-term vs longer-term Intensification of employment uses to support25-30,000 employees

PLPF Defining Elements

A Film-Friendly Future

Flood Protection Public Realm Improvements

Flood Protection Construction and Disruption(2018-2024) Flood protection willunlock the PortLands, to more urbandevelopments Construction hasresulted in disruptionfor productionsindustries, includingloss or relocation ofproduction andworkshop space Removal of the floodrisk will protectinvestments in theproduction industryand allow for moredense film andmedia hubs.

View Looking South on West Side of Don Roadway

PIC Core Urban DesignGuidelines 101

What is Production,Interactive andCreative (PIC) Core? Modern urban employment districts witha focus in creativity and innovation Film and media cluster, anchored byPinewood Studios, that will continue togrow Toronto’s screen-based industries Compact urban form mixed with activeground floor frontages Diversity of light industrial and officebuilding typologies to accommodatemany uses Large floor plates and clear spans forproduction studios Multi-storey building that can beadaptively reused over time

Production, Interactive and Creative(PIC) Urban Design GuidelinesDTAH has been retained to assist the City in developing Urban Design Guidelines and is beginningwith a review of the PLPF and the Zoning Review progress to date. The PIC Core Urban DesignGuidelines are will include enhanced direction on: The types and height of buildings Public realm and streetscapedesignSustainable and climate positivedevelopment Designing engaging and attractiveemployment-focused districts How are developments organized More urban, dense developments Landscaping and screening Streets and blocks Planning for buildings that last andcan be reusedCreating astatically pleasing secureperimeters On-street and off-street parkingDeveloping an identity thatcelebrates film, media andcreative industries Defining Film-Friendly Local Streets

PIC Core Ownership

Urban Design Principles (Draft)o Good Neighbour - development will occur incrementally anddesign must carefully consider both existing and futurerelationships with surrounding properties and the public realm.o Innovative Employment Opportunities – new, emergingcreative industries, an evolving film and media sector,innovative business opportunities and small-scale local startups should be able to find a home in the PIC Core districts.o Corridors to the Water - public connections to the waterfrontshould be provided where opportunities exist, while respectingand acknowledging the new river valley and Ship Channel inthe design of new development.o Film-Friendly Districts – Create a series of PIC Core districts thatincorporate design elements that support and encourage filmand media uses.

Urban Design Principles (Draft)o Robust Urban Fabric – protecting for a street and blockpattern that will accommodate a range of urbanemployment building typologies as the Port Lands intensifiesover time.o Placemaking - The PIC Core districts will have a unique senseof place and identity based on their physical setting,landmarks, film and media industries, and be reflective of theshared values of its employees, visitors and adjacent residents.o Connectivity– unique streetscape, promenade, parks andPOPS spaces will create an integrated and interconnectedPort Lands and PIC Core public realm system.o Future Forward– integrating natural elements, biodiverselandscapes, green and low impact infrastructure, and passivebuilding design to create a future forward and climatepositive modern creative employment district.

A Focus on Film-Friendliness

Film Board Focus GroupEngaging with the Film Board Focus Group thatrepresents film and media stakeholders to provideinput on PIC Core UDG and Zoning Review:o Build on the Film Board’s Film-Friendlinessrecommendationso What is a film-friendly street in the Port Lands?o Innovative approaches to secure borders, frontagesand gateways?o Film-friendliness in built form – flexibility, adaptivereuse and building typologies

Film-Friendly Local Streetsand Laneways

Film-Friendly Local Street Concept

Secure Perimeters, StudioFrontages and Gateways District Identity andCelebration of Film

Secure Perimeters and Gateways

Secure Perimeter Treatments

Blank Walls

Water’s Edge Promenade IndustrialCalgary – River Valley Promenade in anindustrial areaEssen, Germany – Zollverein Coal MineTrailToronto – West Toronto Rail PathPortland, OR – South Waterfront Greenway

Identity and Celebration

Built Form

Flexible Buildings

Big Blank BoxesCBS Studios – Los AngelesZahner (Factory) – Kansas CityEast Brook Studios – East LondonTOHO StudiosPost-Production - TokyoWildflower Studios – Queens, NYCMetalsa (Manufacturing) – Monterrey Mexico

Activating the Street33

Quick Starts34

PIC Core UDG Process PIC Core Urban design Guidelines Study will focuson the development of urban design guidelinesand implementing zoning by-laws. The planning process is divided into three phasesPhase 1: Research andAnalysis(Q1 – Q3 2019)Phase 2a: Emerging Ideas,Aspirations & UDGDirection(Q3 2019 – Q1 2020)Phase 2b:Draft UDG &Zoning By-law(Q1 – Q2 2020)Phase 3: Finalizethe UDG &Zoning By-law(Q2 – Q3 2020)Landowner/User MeetingsFilm Board Focus Group Meetings35

Next StepsFebruary 2020 UDG Direction, based upon Port LandsPlanning Framework Stakeholder engagement meetings First Film Board Focus Group Meeting –Film-friendly Streets Community Consultation Meeting #2 – endof February 2020March – June 2020 Multiple Film Board Focus Group Meetings PIC Landowners and Users TechnicalMeetings Consider community input duringdevelopment of draft UDG Community Consultation Meeting #3 –mid-June 2020

Thank You – Any QuestionsKyle Knoeck, Manager, Zoning TeamAnthony Kittel, Project ManagerFebruary 3, 2020

Production, Interactive and Creative (PIC) Urban Design Guidelines -Overview The Port Lands Planning Framework includes a set of urban design and built form principles which establish the overall vision for the Port Lands. The PIC Core Urban Design Guidelines will further expand on the urban design and built form direction of the Planning .