Possible idea for transforming streets. Maybe standards for street design can be included in zoning as well.

Abstract

I believe that building and urban design in Kamloops BC is not held to a high enough standard. The population density is very low and urban sprawl is huge for a city of 93,000 people. New buildings being built are basic and minimal, and developers don’t go the extra mile to build beautiful developments, with quality architecture. If you compare architecture in Kamloops with many similar sized, (and even much smaller cities), Kamloops is behind. It is my opinion that denser cities, with multi use sites, are better cities. I would like to propose new zoning be developed for the city of Kamloops.

I would like to develop a live/work zone that includes sites where residents wouldn’t have to leave the site for every day activities. Their work place and home would be on site, as well as shopping and possible recreational activities. I would like to include high standards of design and architecture as mandatory parts of the zone. I also want to include design at the infrastructure and street level. If a developer of a building is being held to a certain design, he can’t be short changed in the infrastructure around his building. Beautiful areas with nice architecture attract residents and business. Another question I intend to answer and prove is that high levels of architecture and design can be achieved in an area while still including all classes. Not just the rich.

I would like to study planned communities in the area, like Sun Rivers and Sun Peaks. Can their design standards be applied to a much larger population, with much larger problems and constraints? I would also like to study well planned cities like Portland Oregon, and Tulsa Oklahoma which have multiple live/work communities. I would like to find out what ideas can, and can’t be applied to Kamloops. What have they done right? Can the planning concepts in those city plans, and others like it, be used and applied to a zoning by law?
I believe that part of the problem in the past has been that when the economy is struggling, developers are held to very low standards, in order to stimulate the economy. For example, when the developer for Pineview Valley proposed that the city of Kamloops boundaries be extended to include his development, it was allowed. It was allowed even know it went against the community plan of making Kamloops denser (and in my opinion, more livable). The city saw more tax dollars coming in and decided that that was more important than the long term community plan.

Once I have developed a new zone I would like to try and find a suitable site to apply it, possibly on quite a large scale. I plan to build a concept of what this site would be like and if it would be feasible economically and socially in Kamloops. From my research, I would also like to apply this zoning to planning maps of Kamloops, and show all areas in town that could possibly be zoned live/work. I hope to contribute to a better, more livable more attractive Kamloops. A place where people want to move to and stay.

Academic Sources


Talen, E. (2005). New Urbanism and American Planning. New York, NY: Routledge

Kirdar, U. (1997). Cities Fit for People. New York, NY: United Nations Publications

Haughton, G. & Hunter, C. (1994) Sustainable Cities. London: Routledge/Regional Studies Association

Benello, C., Swann, R., & Turnbull, S. (1997). Building Sustainable Communities: Tools and Concepts for Self-Reliant Economic Change (2nd Edition). New York, NY: Bootstrap Press

Schmitz, A., Scully, J. (2006). Creating Walking Places: Compact Mixed-Use Solutions. Washington D.C.: Urban Land Institute

Teaford, J. C. (2006). The Metropolitan Revolution: The Rise of Post-Urban America. New York, NY: Columbia University Press.

Rusk, D. (1995). Cities Without Suburbs (2nd Edition). Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press.

Jacobs, J. (1993). The Death and Life of Great American Cities. New York, NY. Random House USA Inc.

Jonas, A., & Wilson, D., (1999). The Urban Growth Machine: Critical Perspectives Two Decades Later. Albany, NY. State University of New York Press.

Ladner, J., (2001). The New Urban Leaders. Washington, DC: Brookings Institution Press.

Florida, R. (2002). The Rise of the Creative Class: And How it's Transforming Work, Leisure, Community and Everyday Life. New York: Perseus Book Group.

Akundi, A. J., Artibise, A., Jodre, T. E., Mumphrey Jr., K. M., & Wagner, F. W. (2005). Revitalizing the City. M.E. Sharpe.

Research Proposal

Summary Statement of Proposed Project

The Downtown core of the City of Kamloops is the hub of the city. I believe it can be more vibrant, with a feeling of community. This project is intended to study neighbourhoods that were built with new urbanism concepts, garden city concepts, and live-work concepts, and find out how to apply these ideas to downtown Kamloops. Official Community plans are guidelines that are by no means strict. Can a new OCP be developed where zones have guidelines that must be strictly adhered to?

Purpose

To study the viability of live-work areas, buildings and zoning in Kamloops.

To propose a new zoning by-law be created for live-work buildings and areas.

To turn the city core into a vibrant, bustling centre, where live and work come together, and the neighbourhood doesn’t go to sleep at 5 pm.

To develop a new Official Community Plan for the downtown core that has strict regulations so desired feel, uses, functions, buildings and amenities are accomplished.

Goals and Objectives of the Project

I would like to compose a new OCP for the downtown core. A plan where each individual building and green space in a certain zone must follow detailed, strict, criteria for facilities, activities and functions, rather than an overall guideline of how the community should be planned.

To bring the city core to life, Can tax incentives be put in place to keep shops open after 5 pm? Can a deal be struck with rocky mountaineer tours to keep tourists in the city core where shopping and eating will take place? Where would the ideal locations for the new live work zoning be? Can tax incentives be put in place to encourage developers and investors to develop the new zoning?

Methodology and Analytical Approach

1. Research the official community plan, as well as the North Shore, and Downtown community plans. Study the steps that have been taken, as well as the future plan for revitalization of neighbourhoods in Kamloops. Compose a new OCP for the Downtown core, concentrating on individual buildings, amenities, and green spaces.

2. Research academic sources in the topics of sustainable city planning, new urbanism, containment, and garden cities. Research case studies of other successful city plans, garden cities, and new urban neighbourhoods.

3. Why is it good to use space for multiple uses, and what can the city do to incorporate more of this in the city plans?

4. Does designing more densely really make a neighbourhood centre more efficient?

5. What steps can be taken to revive the core of Kamloops above the measures that have already been taken?

6. Is it a good idea to design cities with a priority to people, rather than vehicles?

7. Determine the pros and cons of live-work zoning and buildings in Kamloops.

8. To develop a new live-work zone and include it in a new proposed OCP for the downtown core.

9. Determine a forecast of what the city core would be like with this new plan in place.

rendering by: C. Breitkreitz, C. Bayne, and B. Fawdry

This is my idea of a possible block in Kamloops zoned in the new proposed live/work zone. The combination of light industrial, commercial and residential builds a community where people don't have to even cross the block for daily needs including work.

Photo By: Curt Breitkreitz