Spotlight: Catherine Rose, Chief Planner
- Creation of a strong, vibrant, walkable City Centre that is a focus for civic and municipal functions, as well as a desirable place to live, work, shop, play, gather and celebrate.
- Intensification of development along strategic growth areas, such as the Kingston Road corridor and commercial lands east of Brock Road.
- Maintaining a publicly accessible, vibrant waterfront for all to enjoy.
- Respecting the character of established neighbourhoods.
1. Tell us a bit about your educational and professional background?
I graduated from the University of Waterloo in 1979, with a Bachelor of Environmental Studies (Honours Geography), and did some recreation planning for the Town of Innisfil.
In 1983, I was hired by the City of Pickering to review the parking space requirements for different types of land uses, and became Planner I, working on statistics, policy and special studies, the following year. In 1988, I became Planner II in the Policy and Information Division, and in 1990 was promoted to Manager, Policy, specializing in long range land use planning policy. Finally, in 2013, I became the City’s Chief Planner, overseeing the Planning & Design Division.
2. Why did you get involved in city planning?
I love geography – “people and their relationship with their environment,” including physical, social, and economic. Geography is about a site or a place: it’s about the characteristics of a site or place and where it is, relative to the broader geographic area. I saw a strong connection between my love of geography, and how getting involved in city planning would allow me to apply the urban, physical, and resource management aspects of my education. Cities, and the places within them, are constantly evolving. Planning is a way to have input into the design and direction of that change.
3. What are the obvious indicators of a well-planned city?
A well-planned city can be compared to a healthy body. A city should protect and enhance its lungs – the natural heritage systems, features, and functions. It has a strong heart with a sense of place/identity. It strives to maintain a functional set of internal organs with services and facilities that support the people that live, work and play in the city. The brain explores healthy choices and variety in its ranges of development. A city’s muscles are reflected in its infrastructure - making it easy to get around by all modes of travel. The city’s spirit should respect its history and historic resources.
4. How do you plan effectively for a growing community?
Land use planning and development is, and always will be challenging. It requires a tremendous coordinated effort between a diverse group of players. To plan effectively for a growing community, all stakeholders must contribute to the discussion, be educated on legislated requirements, be respective of community history and environmental impacts, identify future needs, and be open to the desires of all those impacted by change.
5. What are Council’s priorities for City planning?
Council has a number of priorities for City planning:
6. What policies and standards does Pickering have to take into consideration in its planning processes? How do we balance the City’s priorities when we have to conform to other agency priorities?
Pickering is designated as a lower tier municipality, which means there are levels of government above us with broad-reaching planning powers, including the Federal Government, the Province of Ontario, and the Regional Municipality of Durham. Our planning processes are regulated by the Ontario Planning Act and the Provincial Policy Statement, which outline key priorities of the Province. We must also consider the direction provided by the Province’s A Place to Grow - Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe; the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan; the Greenbelt Plan; the Central Pickering Development Plan, Source Water Protection Act, and the Environment Assessment Ac, just to name a few.
The Region of Durham is required to prepare an Official Plan that puts in place the various provincial planning policies, and is responsible for the construction and maintenance of water and sanitary sewers, regional roads, transit, policing, emergency services, and waste collection.
The City must also prepare its own Official Plan. While this conforms to provincial legislation and the Durham Regional Official Plan, it also provides us with the opportunity to make planning decisions unique to our community. We do this through the enactment of zoning by-laws. This process requires us to undertake studies, consult with stakeholders, and provide opportunities for our community to participate in the process of preparing the local response.
7. You’ve lived in Pickering for some time now and have personally and professionally witnessed Pickering’s evolution. How do you see it evolving over the next 20 years?
I’ve lived in Pickering since 1983. The concerns from some residents at that time, are very similar to those of today. I’ve watched properties develop, redevelop, and are looking to reinvent themselves again.
The next 20 years will see the continued intensification and mixing of uses in our urban centre, supported by a modernized public transportation system along Kingston Road. Most of the Seaton community will be built out, and shovels will likely be in the ground in Northeast Pickering.
I’m an avid supporter of the arts and look forward to the completion and enjoyment of the new Performing Arts Centre, as well as the Seniors & Youth Centre, the Central Library, and the Public Square, which will bring an increased vitality to the City Centre.
Last, but not least, I foresee enhanced sustainable design and construction standards being integrated in future development across the city.
8. What have been some of the main transformative planning exercises for the City?
It’s important to understand that what appear to be stand-alone planning exercises are often only one step in the ongoing evolution of our community building efforts.
The vision for a vibrant downtown is decades old. We’ve gone from outdoor plazas to condominium towers, open fields to multiple Civic facilities, and a windy highway overpass to our award-winning enclosed pedestrian across the 401. Parking lots have been replaced with office towers, bringing much needed employment, and most recently, we’re planning to break asphalt for a new Seniors and Youth Centre, topped by rental apartments, a new Central Library, a Performing Arts Centre and new public square and public gathering space.
Our waterfront has transformed from a beach head next to the dead end of Liverpool Road to a completed Waterfront Trail; providing residents and visitors with a place to walk, gather, and be entertained at Millennium Square, along with exploring the charm of the live/work units, restaurants, and services in the Nautical Village.
New communities have sprung to life in Duffin Heights, and many newcomers are enjoying the early occupancies in Seaton, planned for 70,000 people and 35,000 jobs.
9. How can residents get involved in the planning exercises and help to shape their City?
The City provides many opportunities get involved, whether legislated, or driven by the City’s own desire to engage our residents and businesses. Signage, legislated notifications, email notices and website updates on projects and public meetings are but a few options, and all persons sending in a comments are notified of when the application comes to Planning & Development Committee for a decision.
All development applications and meeting notices are posted to the City’s website. You can also view development application mapping in our Open Data Portal, and we’ve recently launched the new public engagement platform on - ‘Let’s Talk Pickering’.
10. What would you tell someone starting their career in planning?
As a Registered Professional Planner, we’re bound by our Professional Code of Practice & Standards, and are required to form defensible planning opinions and recommendations on what is ‘good planning’. What they often don’t teach in school is, that planners don’t make the final decisions. Ultimately it’s a political body that makes the final call, and there are many objectives and issues that politicians deal with that may influence their decision on a planning matter.
Planning offers a vast array of interests and sectors within which to apply your skills, training, and general passions. I strongly recommend reaching out to recognized experts in your field of interest. Planners love what they do and can be your best mentors.
11. What do you find are the top 3 misconceptions when it comes to planning and development in Pickering?
Myth #1: The City is able to control all elements of City building and development.
Reality: We cannot. The City is subject to many other factors that affect our City building efforts. Beyond the other jurisdictions and legislations that affect us, the private development market can have an immense impact on City planning.
Myth #2: Perceived traffic congestion can be reduced by the City stopping a new development.
Reality: Pickering is geographically situated within the growth center that is the Greater Toronto Area. Our traffic levels are not only affected by our own developments, but by all the development that occur to the west, north, and east of the City, so as these communities grow, our major arterial roads are going to carry additional traffic.
Myth #3: Once the land use plan is done, it won’t change.
Reality: Urban planning is a dynamic field since the questions around how people live, work and play change with time. Land uses should never be considered permanent. All changes are, however, subject to the requirements of the Planning Act processes and all involve the need for consultation.