Committees & Projects of the Urban Development Institute

Urban Development Institute - Calgary

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Committees & Projects

UDI-Calgary has a number of committees that are dedicated to providing industry input on areas interest for our membership. CLICK on the flowchart box below to jump to committee activities overview shown below the chart.

Committee & Task Force Activities

The following highlights the key issues that some of the UDI - Calgary Standing Committees and Task Forces are addressing:

Planning Committee

(Co-Chairs - Sue Paton, Stantect Consulting Ltd. and Sean Nolan, Genstar Development Company)

City wide Transit Oriented Development strategies
Implementation issues associated with the new Municipal Development Plan (MDP and Calgary Transportation Plan (CTP)
Issues associated with Land Use Bylaw 1P2007
Calgary Wetland Compensation Plan
Municipal Reserve credit and allocation of reserve land
Draft Smart Growth Incentive System
The City’s Sustainable Planning, Development & Building Best Practices initiative.
Affordable Housing & Secondary Suites initiatives
Monitoring Regional planning issues
Methodology for calculating density
Calgary Metropolitan Plan
Suburban Residential Growth 2010-2014
Ongoing discussions regarding CPAG improvements
Fire Department Site Access Standards
Regional context studies

Under the direction of David Allen, a small sub-committee has been formed to look at ER Setbacks (Stream Classification and ER Setback Policy). Land taking for ER setbacks and streams has become increasingly more important to the development industry with the recent trend for more and more land to be taken as ER. In May 2010, UDI created a Task Force to investigate the key factors and to develop a strategy for advancing our concerns. Current issues under discussion include:

Clarifying the definition of an ER setback/stream
How does slope, cover type and hydraulic connectivity affect analysis
Credit versus non-creditable reserve, i.e., the taking of land without compensation
What are other federal/provincial/municipal jurisdictions doing?
Analysis of legal and scientific factors
What are the requirements under the MGA and are current practices in accordance with the legislation.

Urban Densification Committee

(Chair – Jaydan Tait, Grosvenor)

Review/monitoring of City of Calgary policy documents related to the Centre City Urban Design Framework, Brownfield development, the Downtown Underpass Design Guidelines, the Centre City Open Space Plan and Programs for the Quality & Quantity of Sustainable Development & Buildings in Calgary
Implementation/sustainment issues associated with the new Land Use Bylaw 1P2007, including the Beltline Land Use Districts and transitioning Downtown Land Use Districts into the new Bylaw
Transit oriented development policies and their impact on the industry and the City of Calgary
Fire Department emergency access standards/fire design principles
The CPAG approval process and ways to reduce delays
Analysis of density bonusing for the city core
Review of City of Calgary Construction & Demolition Site Management Code of Practice.
Initiatives surrounding the education of the City of Calgary and the development industry regarding the Urban Densification Committee
Suspended construction sites
Review of the Centre City Redevelopment Levy
Beltline related issues, including a land value study and infrastructure monitoring reports

Technical Committee

(Chair - Mark Wynker, Stantec Consulting Ltd.)

The majority of the Technical Committee’s workload comes from the various Committees and Task Forces that report directly to it. These include: Urban Landscape, Water Management, Transportation, Technical Negotiations, Electronic Submissions, Shallow Utilities / Streetlighting, Environmental and Pavement. Please refer to the information provided for the each committee/task force for a summary of the issues they are addressing.

With the expiration of the term of the current development agreement, along with the moratorium for Standard Specifications changes would result in cost increases, many specification changes have been proposed by the City of Calgary. This, along with a number of emerging issues, have resulted in 2010 being an extremely busy year for this group. Issues being addressed by the Technical Committee included:

Review of Roads, Water, Sewer and Landscape Standard Specifications
Working with Water Resources on process improvement strategies to address approval timelines
Administration/investment of the DFISF (oversize fund)
Fire Department Site Access Standards
Mandrel testing requirements
Participation in Urban Development’s “Clouds” project
Review of the City’s requirements for Building Permit release
Environmental reserve / wetland setback issues
Service Cards pilot project
A review of capital projects funded by the Community Recreation and Transportation Levies
Construction and Finance Agreements
FAC Concrete replacement/maintenance issues
Methods to improve circulation timelines at the City of Calgary
Minimum driveway offset requirements
Review of City of Calgary policy documents and guidelines, including: Design Guidelines for Subdivision Servicing, Consulting Engineers Field Services Guidelines, DSSP Guidelines, Erosion and Sediment Control Guidelines, Urban Development Policy Manual and Terms of Reference for Pedestrian Bridges and Bridge Structures

Development Agreement and Technical Negotiations

(Chair - Mark Wynker, Stantec Consulting Limited)

Negotiating revisions to the 2010 Development Agreement, which includes setting levies/rates for the following:
- Developer Funded Infrastructure Stabilization Funds,
- Inspection Fees Levy
- Traffic Signage and Road Markings Levy
- Community & Recreation Levy
- Transportation Levy
- Storm Sewer Levy

Negotiating changes to the Roads, Landscape, Water and Sewer Standard Specifications for Construction.
A detailed listing of all 2010 specification changes can be found at the front of each 2010 Standard Specification book. As well, a summary of the 2010 changes has been documented in following Bulletins:
- Technical Bulletin #99 Standard Specifications for Sewer Construction
- Technical Bulletin #100 Standard Specifications for Waterworks Construction
- Technical Bulletin #101 Standard Specifications for Landscape Construction
- Technical Bulletin #102 Standard Specifications for Roads Construction

Commercial/Industrial Committee

(Chair - Sandy Menzies, Remington Corporation)

Reviewing and documenting industry concerns pertaining to the Draft Plan It Calgary/Municipal Development Plan as it relates to the commercial/industrial sectors.
Commercial issues / initiatives affecting the City Centre
Fire Department Access Guidelines
The City of Calgary’s On-Target initiative
Issues associated with implementation of the new Municipal Development Plan / Calgary Transportation Plan
Issues associated with the new Land Use Bylaw 1P2007, including the method for determining height in a commercial district, maximum height in the IB district and other implementation/sustainment concerns.
Improving dialogue/collaboration with City of Calgary planners, including coordination with the City to develop an education program for new planners

Urban Landscape Committee

(Chair - Paul Douglas, United Communities)

The Committee’s primary focus in 2010 is to review the multitude of revisions to the Standard Specifications for Landscape Construction proposed by the City of Calgary, which have arisen due to the City’s implementation of the Water Management and Urban Forest Strategic Plans. This includes a comprehensive review of the following:

Urban Forestry Strategic Plan and the Water Management Strategic Plan
Irrigation requirements
Amenities and sports features
Pathways and trails
Tennis courts
Minimum depth of top soil

The Committee is also involved in the review of numerous City of Calgary policies including: the Invasive Plant Strategic Management Plan, Draft Biophysical Impact Assessment Framework, Draft Restoration Guidelines, Proposed Pesticide Bylaw and Sustainable Sites Initiative. Further work includes the review/monitoring of wetland compensation issues, landscaping guidelines for roundabouts and ensuring coordination between the City and Enmax when closing utility accounts after FAC.

Western Irrigation District Canal Through Calgary

Water Management Committee

(Co-Chairs - Rick Carnduff, Stantec Consulting Ltd. & Chris Plosz, Hopewell Residential Communities)

Quarterly meetings with Water Resources to discuss issues such as the approval process, delays in issuing CCC's for storm ponds, peer reviews of engineering drawings, LID subdivision study updates and process improvement initiatives
Reviewing Rocky View County Wetland Policy and Riparian Policy Development Project
Reviewing sanitary sewer flushing velocities
Shepard Regional Drainage Study
Reviewing the City of Calgary’s Draft Erosion and Sediment Control Guidelines.
Stormwater Source Controls
Review of City Analysis pertaining to the design of evaporation & water re-use facilities
Alberta Environment Water Body Setbacks
ER Setbacks / stream classifications / Biophysical Impact Assessments
Discussions with The City regarding the performance of stormwater ponds
Reviewing the Draft Stormwater Management & Design Manual
Review of the findings of the Residential LID Subdivision Study
Working with Water Resources on process improvement strategies to address engineering drawing circulation delays, the creation of checklists and delays in the approval of as-built construction drawings

Rocky View County Liaison Committee

(Chair - Richard Geleta, BSEI)

Development Agreement / site servicing improvement agreement
Reviewing proposed revisions to Standard Specifications / Servicing Standards
Mechanisms to improve communication between the County and the development industry
Rocky View’s Municipal Development Plan and Land Use Bylaw
Storm pond approval process
City of Calgary and Rocky View Inter-Municipal Development Plan.
Review of the Draft Wetland Conservation and Riparian Policies
The County’s Utility Corporation
Related issues associated with Rocky View’s Growth Management Strategy
Review of policy documents and associated bylaws, including: Water Conservation Policy, Bearspaw Community Plan, Highway 8 ASP, Area “B” Plan, Accessory Dwelling Unit Study, Amenities Study, Commercial Design Guidelines and Hamlet and Cluster Land Use Districts

City of Airdrie Task Force

(Co Chairs - Brett Friesen, Hopewell Residential Communities and Phil Nottveit, Urban Systems)

2010 has been a very busy year for the Airdrie Task Force, which has been tasked with presenting industry’s concerns with regard to increased infrastructure levies, as well as proposed revisions to the Landscape Guidelines & Specifications and the Subdivision Servicing Agreement. Numerous meetings over the course of 2010 have been held and through the efforts of the Task Force members many of industry’s concerns were addressed during the negotiation of the infrastructure levies. Going forward, the Task Force will continue to work with Administration on reviewing design standards, with a goal to reducing costs for industry and ultimately the home buyer. We will also be looking at ways to promote UDI at both the political and administrative levels.

Transportation Committee

(Chair - David Thatcher, Stantec)

The Transportation Committee was reactivated in 2009 to address the growing number of transportation issues facing the development industry. The Committee’s purpose is to keep abreast of City and regional issues that affect the development industry by working together with local governing bodies to improve approval processes, guidelines and specifications related to transportation. The Committee’s focus in 2010 has included:

Review of the City’s Draft Mobility Assessment Plan and Transportation Impact Assessment Guidelines
Reviewing and documenting industry concerns pertaining to the implementation of the Calgary Transportation Plan
Review of the City of Calgary’s draft Roundabout Policy
Review of the City of Calgary’s city-wide TOD strategy
Review of the City of Calgary’s Connectivity Handbook
Review of the City of Calgary’s Active Mode Analysis
Ongoing discussion around forecasting models
Monitoring of modeling at the Regional Context Study level
Monitoring of High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes
Fire Department Site Access Standards
Industry implications associated with the downgrading of Expressways to six lane majors.
Discussion around residential trip rates

Environmental Task Force

(Chair - Ken Cook, Golder Associates Ltd.)

Water conservation (use of grey water)
The City's Brownfield Strategy with input into how the policies affect the development industry
Review of the Calgary Perimeter Greenway Project
Alberta Environment Guidelines and their impact on the development industry
City of Calgary Draft Biophysical Impact Assessment Framework.
Environmental impacts associated with the implementation of the new Municipal Development Plan
Calgary Synergy Advisory Panel
Review of issues being address through the ALIDP Partnership
Involvement with the Green House Gas external working group

UDI – Calgary also has a seat on The City of Calgary's Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC), which reviews and provides comment on environmental activities and policies of The City. The Committee is comprised of representatives from The City of Calgary, Calgary River Forum Society, Sierra Club, Alberta Health Services, Sustainable Calgary Society, Alberta Ecotrust Foundation and other organizations that focus on environmental issues. Bob Faktor and Travis Oberg are UDI’s representatives on the EAC. While UDI will often disagree with the recommendations put forth by the EAC, our participation on the committee ensures that the development industry’s perspectives/opinions are put forward and that we have a pulse on environmental issues that affect us.

Pavement Task Force

(Chair - Jim Montgomery, Almor Testing Services Ltd.)

As part of the 2010 Technical negotiations for Roads Specifications, the Pavement Task Force oversaw minor revisions to a few of the specification drawings. In 2011, we anticipate a more comprehensive review of the Roads specifications, particularly with regard to winter paving mix, pavement design life, properties of crushed based course gravel, compaction requirements and damages to monolithic sidewalks.

Shallow Utilities/Streetlighting Task Force

(Chair - Chad Blash, Tamani Comunities)

The Shallow Utilities and Streetlighting Task Forces were combined in January 2010 to address common/related issues. Task force meetigns commenced in March 2010 and there have been several meetings with Enmax and the Shallow Utilities Consortium. The following are the issues currently under review by this group:

ENMAX Developers Choice Delivery Model
ENMAX move to Project Specific Pricing for streetlighting installations
Review of a proposed shallow utility line assignment
TELUS’ new Guide to Subdivision Servicing
Negotiation with ENMAX regarding its Streetlighting Unit Rates & Purchasing Restrictions
Ways to improve communication and emerging issues though discussion with industry and the 4 Party Shallow Utilities Consortium.
Timing / coordination of streetlight installations
Coordination between industry
Review of proposed policy changes

Electronic Submissions Task Force

(Chair - Greg Maciejewski, Focus Corporation)

The Electronic Submissions Task Force continues to address emerging issues associated with the City of Calgary’s review of the block profile “as-built” drafting standard and the Calgary Regional Partnership’s CAD as-built digital submission standards. Other issues under discussion include:

Indentifying ways to improve delays in the sewer as-built process
Addressing requests for consultants to update boundary profiles
Defining the overall process from subdivision circulation submissions through to final drafting as-built submission
Consistency in the standards used by the various municipalities