The City of Saskatoon has received an application for a text amendment to the City's Official Community Plan. The request is to consider a new Land Use Designation to accommodate 'High Density Mixed Use' developments. The application is to facilitate a development proposed at 555 Eastlake Avenue and 403 12th Street East.
What is a Land Use Designation?
A Land Use Designation is a category of development laid out by the Official Community Plan, a Bylaw that outlines the vision for Saskatoon. These designations describe the general uses and characteristics of lands within the city, to help future development take place in a way that makes sense.
Designation descriptions are general in nature and provide types of uses, densities and intensities, and location criteria. These then guide the Zoning Bylaw to set out precise regulations and uses.
Land Use Designations may reaffirm existing development patterns in an area, or guide how an area's character and uses may change in the future.
The text used to describe each Land Use Designation in the Official Community Plan is used to determine if a proposed development is appropriate for a site.
What is meant by High Density Mixed Use?
The following text has been proposed by the applicant to describe High Density Mixed Use in the Official Community Plan.
Land designated as High Density Mixed Use has the potential for developments with a unique mix of high density residential, commercial, office, retail, cultural and community uses that are compatible within a neighbourhood setting. These developments are pedestrian-oriented and incorporate transit-oriented development principles, including active frontages to improve the pedestrian experience at ground level. These lands are located near to the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route and in proximity to the City Centre, Community Focal Points and/or Corridor Growth Area.
In addition to the attributes described in this proposed description, there may be other criteria that could be considered for high density mixed use developments.
Mixed use development typically includes commercial uses at ground level of a building, with residential above. Examples of mixed used development can currently be found along Broadway Avenue, north of 8th Street.