Urban Design Guidelines

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PART A URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES
1.0 THE CITYS VISION
To create a safe, attractive, stimulating, accessible, and barrier free environment in which to live and work. (Part 2.6, - objective for Urban Design as contained in the City of Kitcheners Official Plan) The following principles will be used in implementing this Vision and in guiding Kitcheners urban form. Encourage innovative, high quality design at landmark locations Provide a high quality public realm.
Appeal
Provide functional and attractive design. Provide an appropriate scale and a sense of proportion.
Built Form
Encourage a compatible built form. Encourage high density. Support compact development in the central neighbourhoods.
Function
Promote accessibility/usability/safety for all groups. Offer choices and variety in terms of housing, commerce and modes of transport. Promote the protection and sustainability of natural environments. Encourage strong and clearly defined pedestrian connections and linkages.
Order
Encourage legibility in design i.e. clearly understandable design patterns. Provide a balanced and efficient distribution of activities. Promote the continuity and improvement of established development patterns and streetscape design.
Identity
Encourage distinctive and recognizable design. Provide a focus for activity. Reinforce neighbourhood character and place making.
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2.0 INTRODUCTION
Urban Design is concerned with the following: Designing buildings and the spaces between them. Managing the resources of the built environment, both new and existing. Meeting the needs of the developers and the users of the urban environment. Coordinating the various design disciplines to achieve a team approach to urban development. Encouraging sustainability The Guidelines are presented in a hierarchical fashion. Community Design and Neighbourhood Design, deal with urban design at a larger scale. Site Design, addresses detailed site planning issues, Building Design and Massing examines specific building design and streetscape issues and Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design addresses safety and security in site design. The Guidelines are intended to be flexible. They are not intended to prescribe specific design solutions but rather to express the preferred design objectives of the City. The development process is viewed as a cooperative venture between the City and the development industry. A successful development will achieve the Citys Vision while meeting the individual needs of the proponent. Each section of the document contains a goal and specific design guidelines. The goal establishes the overall aim of the particular subject. The design guidelines set out directions and techniques, which will achieve the stated goal and the Citys Vision. The Guidelines are supported by Design Briefs (Part B) and a comprehensive set of Design Standards (Part C). The Design Briefs address specific land uses or types of development and the Standards contain detailed information, definitions and technical criteria. Specific design standards and policies are referenced throughout the Guidelines. Although comprehensive Design Briefs are only available for certain forms of development, the requirements contained in Part A and Part C of the Urban Design Manual should be regarded at the early design stage of all projects. There may be instances where due to site conditions or unique circumstances, certain guidelines and standards may be in conflict with each other or physically not achievable. In all cases, proponents are encouraged to discuss these conflicts with the appropriate City staff. In the development of City projects, all Departments shall have regard for these Guidelines. 2.1 The Evolution of Kitcheners Urban Form Kitcheners present urban form has been shaped by several factors, including the local economy, transportation and population growth. This form is very much a product of these factors linked together over the last century.
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Good urban design seeks to create a safe, functional and attractive built environment. An equal partnership among respective professions, including Architects, Landscape Architects, Planners and Engineers is required to achieve this objective. The City of Kitchener is committed to achieving a high standard of urban design in the public and private realm. These guidelines, in conjunction with Council approved Urban Design Briefs, have been adopted by City Council in order to implement the existing urban design policies contained within the Official Plan. Amendments to the content of the Design Manual will be adopted by City Council, with the exception of minor amendments that are technical or editorial in nature which will be approved by the Director of Planning. These Urban Design Guidelines represent a framework for establishing Kitcheners future urban form. It sets out a number of positive design principles, which should be followed in the design of new communities, sites and buildings. These guidelines should be reviewed and evaluated with all planning processes and approvals including plans of subdivision and site plan approval. The purpose of the Guidelines is to ensure that new development is consistent with the Citys Vision for urban design stated herein. New development should demonstrate conformity with the five guiding principles contained within the Vision: Function, Order, Identity, Appeal and Built Form.
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The first land use plan for the present day City of Kitchener was developed by Thomas Adams and Horace Seymour in 1924. It was characterized by a comprehensive zoning by-law used largely to protect housing values and help create an orderly development of the City. A total of five zones were created: heavy industrial, light industrial, business, residential and detached private residential. Building height and building lines were also regulated. directed the urban form of the City for many years to follow. In 1949, an Official Plan was adopted by the Kitchener-Waterloo Suburban Planning Board. A ring road was incorporated into the plan, which eventually developed into the present day Conestoga Parkway. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, the preference for ranch-style and split-level homes led to an increasing demand for land. Servicing costs became an important factor in determining how the City would develop i.e. access to water and sanitary sewer facilities. The curvilinear street pattern emerged as the dominant street design, in place of the earlier established grid pattern. Today, there has been a renewed focus on planning issues in the Citys downtown and a new commercial policy structure based on a nodes and corridor model. In addition, the preservation of heritage buildings and the creation of heritage districts have emerged as an important component of the planning process. New suburban development design includes the preservation and integration of important natural features and the use of decorative street furniture. All of these issues call for a need to include urban design as a key component of the planning process.
Adams-Seymour Plan 1924. First City Plan
The Adams-Seymour plan was also characterized by a dominance of the grid-iron street pattern. The plan contemplated the growth of Kitchener outside of the established nineteenth century form of Berlin (the former name of the City). In addition, distinct residential districts were created, and business and industrial areas were located along primary arterial roads. After the Second World War, the development of new housing dominated the form of the City. Through the development of the National Housing Act, middle and lower-middle class citizens qualified for a residential mortgage, a factor which greatly increased the demand for new housing. The general thought of the time was that single-family houses were an essential housing form to which Canadians should aspire. The major growth in demand for new suburban housing
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3.0 COMMUNITY DESIGN
This section deals with urban design at the planning community scale. The guidelines are intended to create diverse places for living, working and recreation. Local communities include Forest Heights, Stanley Park and Laurentian West. As a general statement, communities should have a mix of land uses including a variety of housing types and park spaces, schools, shopping areas and employment opportunities. Many communities in Kitchener are bound by major streets such as Fisher Hallman Road or large natural features such as the Grand River forming a community edge. Over time, the urban form of communities has changed particularly as it relates to the street network, building types and park space design. Today, a design-based approach is encouraged to create communities that promote a sense of place, have integrated street networks with transit-oriented development, effectively integrate natural and heritage resources and include walkable neighbourhoods with interesting streetscapes, focal points and destinations. The attention to detail is also important to create or strengthen distinct themes or character. In all cases, a high standard of community design will ensure that all elements are integrated with one another and contribute to complete communities. The following guidelines are intended to assist in creating a vision and design principles within a community Plan. This will be further implemented in the neighbourhood concept plan, subdivision design and ultimately the site plan stage.
A grid street pattern with transit supportive development is typical for many older communities across the city.
3.1 Creating a Sense of Place
Goal
To create communities that have a distinctive character, pedestrian-friendly streets and prominent landmarks, views and vistas.
Design Guidelines 3.1.1 Community Structure
Create a community of identifiable and walkable neighbourhoods and districts. Identify and incorporate existing natural, cultural and built heritage features into new communities. Design urban areas to allow for direct and convenient access to major destinations and focal points. Provide a variety of public spaces for passive and active uses. Provide a variety of focal points at prominent, accessible locations. Incorporate transit supportive development along planned transit routes.
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3.1.2 Streetscapes
Design streets for various modes of travel with emphasis on pedestrian use, comfort and aesthetics. Create interesting gateway features at prominent community entrances. Establish a distinct theme or character for prominent streets and gateways. Provide consistent streetscape elements to complement and unify the built form (i.e. decorative street lights, tree hierarchy, signage, etc.) and to assist with way finding. Promote activity along streets by locating building entrances and windows close to the street, benches and building entrances at major transit stops and integrate public spaces along street frontages. Promote eyes on the street by minimizing front yard setbacks and providing porches, doors and front windows facing the public street. Plan for active uses such as retail, services and restaurants at the street level to encourage pedestrian activity and movement between private and public spaces. Minimize the use of physical noise attenuation measures.
Active streets are created when front doors face pubic streets. Boulevards with distinctive landscape details and branding, along with the maturing forest area, create an attractive gateway into the Doon Mills community.
Ensure garages do not dominate the streetscape. The following design alternatives should be considered: Limit garage width and projection. Construct garages flush with the front of the dwelling. Develop detached garages to the rear of the dwelling, accessible by either rear lane or front driveway. Locate garages below the ground floor level. Construct tandem garages. Ensure streets are well lit. Coordinate street tree plantings and street lighting to avoid blocking street lighting. Enhance streetscapes through tree planting. Ensure optimal conditions are provided for the maintenance and health of trees. (ie. appropriate
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A prominent community focal point can be created through a major landmark feature such as this clock tower located in a roundabout intersection.
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topsoil depth and soil chemistry, structural soils for urban conditions and sufficient root zone.) 3.2 Trees and Woodlands
Goal 3.1.3 Landmarks, Views and Vistas

To incorporate trees and woodlands of value into new development.
Use massing and architectural detailing to create a landmark structure in locations that terminate significant views. Provide special attention to heritage resources and public buildings that occupy prominent sites by creating pedestrian scale pubic spaces for residents and informal gathering near the building entrance. Frame prominent intersections by locating buildings or other significant structures close to the property line. Protect existing views and vistas of built and natural landmarks. Create new opportunities for focal points where possible through the location of streets, intersections, walkways, lookouts, built form and site design. Encourage public art in prominent locations to create recognizable features and landmarks.
Design Guidelines
Protect larger woodlands and maintain, enhance or restore adequate linkages between natural areas. Creation of new linkages should be considered where none presently exist if ecologically appropriate. Design new development to incorporate, protect and conserve existing healthy trees and woodlands. Avoid the fragmentation of woodlands and maintain or create appropriate buffer areas for conservation of significant natural features and functions. Minimize grading and hydro geological changes to the existing site to avoid disruption to natural systems. Incorporate existing trees into the streetscape, where possible.
City Design Standards and Policies
Tree Management Policy Storm Water Management Facilities Design Brief for Suburban Development and Neighbourhood Mixed Use Centres
Frame prominent intersections by locating buildings close to the property line.
Single loaded streets are an effective design strategy to integrate new subdivision development with woodlands.
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Design Guidelines
Conserve significant heritage resources including buildings, structures, district streetscapes and landscapes using strategies such as: Preservation - maintaining and/or restoring a heritage resource within its context of setting. Adaptive re-use rehabilitation of a heritage resource for a new function. Incorporation integration of individual components of a heritage resource into a new development. Contrast integration of new, contrasting building materials in a way which respects the integrity of the heritage resource.
Protection of the root zone, soil structure and the understorey growth is necessary to ensure the survival of mature trees and woodlands. Paige wire fencing and signage at a woodland in a new subdivision in the Chicopee area protects trees during construction.
Sensitively rehabilitate heritage buildings where required for persons with disabilities while having the lowest impact on significant heritage features. Identify significant architectural details and features of heritage resources and incorporate similar details and features into new building designs. Design strategies should be sensitive to existing heritage resources, providing for some reproduction of character defining features while maintaining some distinction between old and new. Ensure that the design and location of lighting, streets, signage, parking, public works facilities, grading and other site features respect the integrity and character of the heritage resource. Ensure that new development proposed near significant heritage resources is compatible and incorporates a high level of urban design particularly as it relates to views, streetscape character and building material selection. Ensure all new development is in compliance with the policies and consistent with the guidelines of any applicable Heritage Conservation District Plan and the recommendations of any applicable heritage impact assessment as approved by the City.
Planning and conservation strategies in the Strasburg Creek Watershed and the Huron Planning Community include a vision for an Environmental Education facility and the maintenance of ecological integrity within the 200 hectare Huron Natural Area.
3.3 Heritage Resources
Goal
To ensure new development complements and, where possible, incorporates heritage resources of natural, historical, architectural or cultural significance.
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Heritage Conservation Policies, Section 5.3 Official Plan Upper Doon Heritage Conservation District Victoria Park Area Heritage Conservation District Plan St. Marys Heritage Conservation District Design Brief for Suburban Development and Neighbourhood Mixed Use Centres
A typical residential streetscape within the Victoria Park Area Heritage Conservation District.
3.4 Street Network
Goal
To create a highly connected street network providing for appropriate traffic distribution, safe pedestrian and cycling conditions, barrier free access and efficient public transit.
Design Guidelines
Minimize the impacts on natural environment and cultural heritage features. Ensure the street network, including layout and design, accommodates all intended users including pedestrians, persons with disabilities, cyclists, emergency vehicles and automobiles. Design streets to accommodate all intended functions such as travel lanes, on-street parking, transit, bike lanes, landscaped medians where proposed or required. Some functions may be prioritized. Design the street network based on a hierarchy of streets to accommodate different functions with emphasis on non-motorized travel. Encourage a dedicated bicycle route along a major street or to major destinations. Design the street network with a direct and efficient transit route in close proximity to highter density neighbourhoods and transit supportive uses. Improve access to transit routes by
The Shantz Terrace housing development, at the corner of Ottawa Street and Maurice Street, integrates the historic building on this townhouse site through thoughtful site planning and the appropriate use of materials, building form and roof lines.
The Bread and Roses housing development demonstrates that additional height can be well integrated through careful consideration of building setbacks, massing and materials.
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providing multiple local street connections to transit routes.
Create an interconnected street pattern that promotes connectivity between abutting neighbourhoods, provides good connections within neighbourhoods and to major destinations. Balance the use of grid and curvilinear street patterns to increase route options. Ensure the local street network is easy to navigate and is well integrated with the arterial road network. Improve connectivity and accessibility by providing multiple local street connections to arterial streets with interval spacing of 200-400 metres between intersections. Ensure intersection spacing of no more than 60 metres along collector and local roads. Provide direct pedestrian access between arterial streets and adjacent neighbourhoods (walking distances should be minimized and steps or steep grades should be avoided).
Discourage street networks that provide limited access between neighbourhoods and are not continuous.
Design intersections to balance the needs of automobiles, trucks, buses, cyclists, persons with disabilities and pedestrians. Where necessary or appropriate, incorporate consistent traffic calming measures to moderate vehicle speeds and promote pedestrian and cyclist movement. Design streets to avoid reverse lotting. Where appropriate, a system of service streets and looped local streets located parallel to major streets may be used to avoid reverse lotting on arterial streets. The use of private rear lanes may also be considered. Design street patterns which optimize passive solar gain where possible (i.e. east-west street orientation to maximize south exposure of buildings).
Preferred street network which provides continuous connections between neighbourhoods and major streets.
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Locate buildings in commercial areas close to or at the property line to facilitate pedestrian access and encourage transit use. Provide continuous sidewalks on both sides of roadways to support transit use and walkable communities. Orient higher intensity uses toward existing and planned transit facilities, corridors and planned commercial areas. Ensure transit facilities are easily visible, well lit and integrated with the ultimate landscape design in terms of tree/shrub planting, grading, etc. Coordinate transit stops with major activities, pedestrian routes and building entrance locations. Shade trees should be planted near transit stops to provide shade from the summer sun, but not in a location which blocks street lighting.
Pedestrian safety and accessibility is improved through mid-block pedestrian connections.
Traffic Calming Policy Transit Supportive Policy City of Kitchener Cycling Master Plan City of Kitchener Subdivision Manual Design Brief for Suburban Development and Neighbourhood Mixed Use Centres
3.5 Transit
Transit Supportive City of Kitchener Sidewalk Policy Design Brief for Suburban Development and Neighbourhood Mixed Use Centres
Goal
To ensure new development is transit supportive.
Design Guidelines
Design for convenient pedestrian access with transit routes. Minimize walking distances between transit stops and primary activity areas. Design neighbourhoods so that transit service can be provided to 95% of all dwelling units within 450 metres walking distance of a transit route. All multiple dwelling units should be located within 300 metres walking distance of an existing or planned stop. A closer location is encouraged for the higher density uses. Location of existing and planned transit stops should be considered early in the design process.
Large shopping centres and planned commercial areas serve as nodes in the transit system.
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Coordination with the Citys recreational and open space objectives. Monitoring and response program for all parks and natural systems. Create an interconnected open space system with a variety of park spaces located within walking distance to most homes. Provide for a continuous and linked community trail system separate from the street network. Design urban areas to allow for appropriate public access to important natural features, community trails and major park spaces. Provide significant park frontage along streets to improve safety, accessibility, visibility and identity. Locate district and community scale parks as primary focal points which are easily accessible from surrounding neighbourhoods and contain a variety of activities and amenities for all residents. Locate active recreational uses and any associated parking facilities in a manner which minimizes conflict with adjacent residential uses. Provide small-scale parks and sitting areas to encourage community interaction. Provide plazas or urban squares in key commercial areas, which are well lit and well integrated into the immediate area. Consider opportunities to integrate public art features. Provide trail connections leading to park spaces, natural areas and other destinations such as schools, employment and community facilities.

Locate buildings close to the street along transit corridors.
Higher density uses, such as stacked townhouse units, are appropriate near transit stops and shopping areas.
3.6 Parks, Open Spaces and Trails
Goal
To provide a variety of outdoor recreational and amenity opportunities for all age groups. To provide an accessible linked parks and open space system.
Design Guidelines
Design Standards and Policies
Ensure that the following are addressed in the location and design of parks, and the preservation of natural features: The existing ecological characteristics of the natural features, future management strategies, and the timing of construction.
City of Kitchener Parks Master Plan City of Kitchener Leisure Facility Master Plan City of Kitchener Public Art Policy Design Brief for Suburban Development and Neighbourhood Mixed Use Centres
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An interconnected open space system can be created through an integrated community trail system that provides accessibility to different neighbourhoods and park spaces.
Pedestrian interest is improved when public art is provided in urban squares.
Hibner Park on Ahrens Street is an intimately scaled open space, only 0.2 ha, and includes a fountain, play area, sitting areas, decorative lighting and gardens. It is a visual focal point and gathering spot in this older neighbourhood.
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4.0 NEIGHBOURHOOD DESIGN
This section deals with urban design at the neighbourhood scale, a scale of development which is larger than a city block or individual subdivision development and smaller than a community which includes a variety of neighbourhoods and supporting land uses. Local neighbourhood examples include Cedar Hill, Belmont Village, Forest Hill and Williamsburg. Kitchener has many neighbourhoods that vary in terms of scale, density, built form and character. From a general design perspective, the City has two categories of neighbourhoods, Central and Suburban, which can be defined by their geographic location in the city. The Central Neighbourhoods include Downtown and the immediate surrounding neighbourhoods. They are generally characterized by mature treed boulevards, a grid or modified grid street pattern, shorter block lengths, housing diversity and convenient access to shops, schools, employment and transit. Many Central Neighbourhoods are evolving through adaptive re-use and infill development projects. New development is expected to be compatible with existing neighborhoods. The Central Neighbourhood guidelines are also supported by the Mixed Use Corridor Design Brief and Downtown Design Policies and Guidelines. The Suburban Neighbourhoods are located at the outer portions of the city outside the central area and include greenfield areas. Compared to Central Neighbourhoods the Suburban Neighbourhoods display a greater variation in terms of scale, form and function. New development within these neighbourhoods will be subject to detailed design guidelines contained in the Design Brief for Suburban Development and Neighbourhood Mixed Use Centres.
Specific urban design guidelines apply to two types of neighbourhoods, central neighbourhoods located in the central part of the city, and suburban neighbourhoods, located at the outer portions of the city.
4.1 Central Neighbourhoods
Goal
To ensure new infill development is compatible with the existing neighbourhood.
Design Guidelines 4.1.1 Character
Respect the existing neighbourhood character through compatible building massing (building height, scale and location), building design principles and streetscape elements. Contribute to lively, attractive, pedestrian-friendly streetscapes. Promote an urban street relationship by locating buildings close to the street, particularly along transit routes, with parking in the side or rear yards. Vehicular parking should not detract from the character of the neighbourhood.
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Use materials that are similar to those found in the existing neighbourhood. Allow opportunity for contrast and variety. Maintain the rhythm of existing building separations, the size and dimensions of existing faade openings, and the proportion of opening to wall. Emphasize the ground floor level facing the street with strong vertical and horizontal articulation, window openings and building entrances. Avoid locating mechanical equipment in public view or facing public streets. Provide effective screening techniques where not possible. Incorporate decorative piers or fencing at prominent site entrances. Sensitively integrate signage into building design with emphasis given to pedestrian-scale signage, artistic design elements and decorative lighting.
Neighbourhood character is reinforced when new development respects the traditional building line and incorporates similar building materials with creative design solutions such as bay windows.
4.1.2
Built Form
Design buildings at a height and scale which is compatible with the surrounding area. Consider specific massing options that establish an appropriate relationship to the surrounding built form. Locate buildings close to the street particularly at street intersections. Respect the traditional building line. Maintain a human scale of development through a comfortable street enclosure which is created through appropriate building massing in relationship to the street width (the height to street width ratio). Reinforce the pedestrian environment through appropriate building massing technique. Emphasize the base sections of taller buildings through appropriate building setbacks/stepbacks. Provide a change in massing (building heights) for sites with multiple buildings.
Transit supportive development is achieved when higher density development is located close to the street with building entrances and windows facing the street.
4.1.3
Amenities
Strengthen connections to parks, schools, recreational and cultural facilities where possible.
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Encourage underground parking for higher density projects. For multiple dwellings, provide on-site amenities such as play spaces, recreational facilities and landscaped outdoor seating areas. Consider alterative amenity spaces for compact development such as rooftop gardens and rooftop decks. Provide opportunities to accommodate short term and long term bicycle parking. Consider opportunities to integrate public art into the site or building design features to enhance identity and public realm quality.
Neighbourhood character is reinforced when buildings are located close to the street and frame the intersection.
Mixed Use Corridors Design Brief Design Guidelines for Downtown
A public art feature was incorporated into the St. Marys High School redevelopment.
4.2 Suburban Neighbourhoods

A comfortable street enclosure is created when buildings are located close to the street and maintains a compatible massing relationship to the street.
Goal
To create diverse, attractive, walkable neighbourhoods that contribute to complete communities.
Design Guidelines 4.2.1 Character
Conserve existing site features in a sensitive manner, and incorporate as a neighbourhood focal point where possible or appropriate.
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Create a street pattern that contributes to neighbourhood identity and character. Encourage a variety of focal points that contribute to neighbourhood identity and walkability. Design interesting park spaces that contribute to neighbourhood identity or character. Create attractive streetscapes through housing variety, articulated building facades and consistent street tree planting Encourage enhanced and coordinated streetscape elements that contribute to a neighbourhood theme or character. Establish a street hierarchy that is well-connected to the surrounding neighbourhoods and to arterial streets. Encourage higher quality streetscape elements along major streets. Reduce physical barriers to neighbourhood interaction through attention to street design, connectivity and noise attenuation.
Neighbourhood character and interaction is improved through interesting park space designs and elements. Existing trees can be conserved through creative street designs and park space features.
4.2.2
Built Form
Create an urban street condition by locating buildings close to the street. Encourage taller buildings along wider streets. Encourage buildings to be located close to the street, particularly along transit routes and street intersections. Consider alternative solutions to accommodate site conditions and use. Provide a change in massing (building heights) for sites with multiple buildings.
A strong neighbourhood entrance is created when buildings are located close to the street.
4.2.3
Amenities
Ensure neighbourhoods have direct access to major destinations such as park spaces, areas of employment, shopping and institutions. Provide a variety of park and open space features within walking distance to most homes.
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Provide enhanced transit stops at key locations in neighbourhoods. Consider opportunities to provide enhanced streetscape elements, street furniture and amenities at major destinations. Consider opportunities to provide interpretive signage or way finding in the public realm to prominent site features. Consider opportunities to integrate public art into new neighbourhoods or public spaces.
Design Brief for Suburban Development and Neighbourhood Mixed Use Centres
Neighbourhood character and identity is improved through enhanced amenities, such as architectural mailbox facilities and decorative lighting.
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5.0 SITE DESIGN
This section builds on the broader principles established in the previous sections and addresses specific site design topics. Site planning, operational and landscape design topics for new development will be addressed, as well as additions to existing buildings and structures. Attention to individual elements improves the attractiveness of a development from the street and on site. The following guidelines ensure that new development functions well for pedestrians, persons with disabilities and all forms of transport, including automobile, transit and bicycles. 5.1 Site Circulation
An example of a well defined pedestrian route through the use of trees and other landscape
Goal
To ensure that site circulation is safe and functional for all persons and vehicles.
Provide weather protected shelters and lighting at transit stops.
5.1.2 Vehicle Circulation and Parking Design Guidelines 5.1.1 Pedestrian Circulation
Provide barrier free sidewalks leading directly from the public street, transit stops and parking areas to the principal building entrances. Install weather protected entrances with sidewalk ramps at all public building entrances and major transit stations. Minimize pedestrian and vehicular crossings on site. Provide barrier free access throughout the site, avoiding drains, catch basins and similar obstructions. Identify and emphasize major pedestrian routes through the use of signage, bollards, new sidewalk linkages, pavement markings, trees, appropriate scaled lighting, and continuous hard surfaces. Provide pedestrian links between neighbouring properties, large central parking lots and mid-block linkages for residential development projects.
Locate parking areas (particularly barrier free parking spaces) in close proximity to building entrances. Provide vehicle parking at the side and rear of buildings. Front yard parking is discouraged.
Vehicle parking is encouraged to be situated to the side and rear of the building and close to the entrance.
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Clearly define primary vehicle routes on the site through the use of signage, curbing, bollards and line painting. Parking areas should be separated from primary vehicle routes and driveway entrances to public streets. Link parking areas on abutting commercial properties to provide for movement between lots. Provide landscaping around the perimeter of parking areas and laneways. Use low level screening adjacent to public streets. Use dense screening (i.e. solid fences, coniferous plant material) when adjacent to residential development. Provide raised traffic islands to break up large parking areas. Traffic islands should be of a suitable scale and size to accommodate shrub and tree planting. Traffic islands should be barrier free where they are part of the pedestrian circulation system.
Ensure parking lot planting does not obstruct views of approaching traffic and pedestrians. Landscaped areas should be designed to avoid creating a hiding place for those with criminal intent. Provide adequate lighting levels and uniform coverage in parking areas and service/utility areas. Screen parking areas to avoid illumination of adjacent properties by automobile headlights. Provide well drained areas, separated from parking spaces, to accommodate winter snow storage. Provide convenient and easily visible locations for bicycle and motorcycle parking.
This parking lot provides a convenient and easily visible location for bicycle parking. Landscaped islands provide additional definition of vehicular and pedestrian site circulation.
Avoid dead-end parking aisles Provide an adequate number of shopping cart corals in central locations throughout commercial parking areas.
Provide ground cover other than sod within raised traffic islands. Select parking lot plant material with the following qualities: Ease of maintenance and free of nuisance fruit or berries. Hardy, strongly branched. Pollution, salt and drought tolerant.
5.1.3 Parking Structures
Integrate ground level, street oriented uses within parking structures where possible.
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Ensure that entrances and ramps are at a uniform scale with other facade treatments and streetscape elements.
5.1.4 Commercial Parking Lots
Controlled access gates should provide proper on site vehicle stacking to avoid congestion on adjacent streets. Main traffic aisles should be incorporated to provide direct and continuous circulation routes throughout the site. A pedestrian pathway(s) for safe travel through the site should be provided. This could be accomplished in the form of a landscaped pathway and appropriate demarcation. Provide lighting to eliminate any dark space or potential entrapment areas. Attention should be paid to areas where predators can hide, such as in forests or along railway lines. Provide internal landscaped islands and landscaping around the perimeter of the lot to reduce the heat impacts of asphalt and to soften the appearance of the parking lot.
This parking garage has been designed to fit into the character of uptown Waterloo.
Provide barrier free parking close to entrances and elevators. Ensure parking structures include the following safety features: Adequate and uniform lighting. Protected light fixtures. White paint to improve light levels and reduce glare. Clearly indicated exit routes and doors. Locks and self-closing devices to secure entrances and exits. Alert signs to remind users to lock all vehicle doors and check back seats. Mirrors and circular support columns to avoid potential entrapment and hiding area Ensure that new parking structures incorporate articulated facades that contribute to the streetscape, and compliment the surrounding built form and building features. Consider active uses along primary street frontages. Provide indoor bicycle parking spaces or dedicated rooms within large parking structures.
Provide a minimum 6 metre wide route with a minimum center line turning radius of 12 metres to accommodate a fire route through the lot. Where controlled access gates are used, emergency access gates are to be provided.
5.1.5 Driveways
Maximize the distance between site access driveways as well as the distance between site access driveways and street intersections. Provide mutual driveways where appropriate, especially along major collector and arterial roads to minimize the number of driveways. Ensure pedestrian safety and maximize visibility through the proper location of driveways.
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This service area at Sportsworld Crossing consolidates many site services in a single area that is located partially below grade and out of public view.
Sportsworld Crossing provides a well designed pedestrian walkway through a busy parking area.
Orient continuous sources of noise and odour away from sensitive adjacent uses. Use noise attenuation measures where necessary. Locate recycling and garbage handling within the primary building or within an accessory structure. Ensure adequate access for the related service vehicle.
Access to Roads Surface Parking Facilities Outdoor Lighting Drive Through Facilities
5.2 Site Services
Goal
To ensure that site servicing components are functional, attractive and appropriately screened from public view.
Design Guidelines
Ensure loading bays, recycling areas and garbage storage facilities are located away from public streets or screened through the use of landscaping, walls and buildings. Eliminate conflict between service/loading areas and vehicle/pedestrian routes. Design on-site circulation to eliminate reversing or maneuvering on public streets. Screen commercial outdoor storage from public streets and adjacent residential uses.
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Deep well garbage and recycling systems are aesthetically pleasing and can be easily accommodated on a site.
Apply a higher level of design and articulation (i.e. thick cornice lines or glazed spandrel windows) to garbage enclosures facing public streets or close to internal driveways. A higher level of landscaping may also be required.
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Encourage roll down doors to reduce entrapment opportunities and improve storage concealment. Encourage deep well garbage collection systems. Locate utilities underground to improve the appearance of the development. Where above ground utilities are necessary, ensure compatibility with other site features.
Maintain unobstructed visibility to building entrances, key architectural features, signage and public spaces. Locate plant material in a manner which provides adequate site lines for both motorists and pedestrians. Group trees and shrubs to frame building elevations and to add visual interest to blank facades and open spaces. Install landscape elements which provide colour and decoration, having regard for local seasonal changes. Install plant material to soften building elevations, maintain a pedestrian scale and provide definition to public walkways and open spaces. Provide landscaping to screen and buffer parking areas, open storage and other site service elements.
Ministry of Environment and Energy Noise Guidelines Landscape Design Storm Water Management Facilities
5.3 Landscape Design
Goal
To provide landscaping which enhances each building or project as well as the streetscape.
Design Guidelines
Provide landscaping at the streetline which contributes to the continuity of landscaping between adjacent properties.
This low level parking lot screening helps to buffer the parking lot while providing seasonal colour to the streetscape.
Provide protection from excessive summer sun and cold winter winds, especially adjacent to outdoor areas where people congregate. Stabilize steep embankments through the use of soft and hard landscape material, such as retaining walls, ground cover and trees. Select plant materials which are ecologically sound, appropriate for the existing and future site conditions, and suitable for all seasons.
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This streetscape landscaping provides continuity between adjacent properties and has a calming affect upon the street.
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the street line. If beyond 15m of the street line, street numbers shall be 300mm.
Construct ground supported signs with a horizontal orientation at a height proportionate to the development. Ground supported signs should incorporate building and landscape materials used elsewhere in the project.
Entrance planting at the award winning Queens Heights,, provides and enhances unobstructed visibility to the building entrance at a human scale. Hard and soft landscape materials have been used to accentuate the entrance while stabilizing a steep embankment and providing protection from the outdoor elements.
Incorporate drought resistant plant material in order to reduce long term maintenance requirements and conserve water (xeriscaping). Select native plant materials where appropriate and avoid the use of invasive plant species.
Landscape Design
5.4 Site Signage
A well designed ground supported sign is simple, bold, includes the street number and is detailed in concert with the architecture of the building.
Goal
To ensure that exterior site signage provides an adequate amount of information and does not dominate the streetscape.
Design Guidelines
Provide clearly visible street numbers on ground supported signs for identification and emergency response purposes. The minimum height of all street numbers shall be 150mm if within 15m of
Limit the number of messages on signs to avoid graphic overload. Simpler signs are more easily read. Generally signs with ten items of information, including words, symbols and abbreviations or less can be read by the motorist. Signs with more than ten items of information (graphic overload) create clutter in the streetscape.
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The signage on this property illustrates a uniform height of signage and presents a coordinated look.
This ground supported sign illustrates an example of graphic overload.
Provide a uniform height and location of fascia signs on multiple tenancy buildings in order to portray a unified image. Use signage to promote a particular image in neighbourhoods with a distinctive character. Artistic signage that promotes the character of a given area is preferred. Automatic changing copy signs are not permitted near residential properties, street intersections and highway interchanges/frontages.
This photograph of Eby Street at Market Lane captures the character of Market Village. Many residential buildings have been converted to retail and restaurant uses. The signage is compatible with the character of the area.
Provide on-site directional signage to orient people within a development. Main site features (i.e. telephone, washrooms, exits) should be identified. Provide Multiple Unit Identification Signage for all multiple building commercial and residential developments (excluding sing apartment buildings
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and street fronting townhouses) to provide for ease of orientation.
Provide appropriate landscaped areas on the site to properly identify the location of portable signs. Ensure that mature landscaping and signage work in harmony with each other.
City of Kitchener Municipal Code, Chapter 680 Emergency Services Policy
5.5 Lighting
Goal
To provide clarity of night-time visibility for pedestrians and motorists and to minimize the intrusion of light onto adjacent properties.
An example of full cut-off pedestrian scale lighting in the Sportsworld Crossing Development.
Design Guidelines
Design site lighting that considers all building and user needs. Particular attention is to be paid to pedestrian areas, driveways, transit stops, parking, service areas and buildings. Implement a hierarchy of lighting to reinforce design continuity and decoration. For example, building entrances should have a higher level of lighting than a parking lot. Use cut-off and non-visible reflective type lighting to eliminate glare and light spillage on neighbouring properties. The source of light (the element) must not be visible from adjacent residential properties. Select exterior street lighting fixtures based on compatibility with the character of the neighbourhood and in keeping with the Citys inventory of available light fixtures.
Use pedestrian scaled lighting (3.5 to 4 metres high) to clearly identify pedestrian routes, and illuminate public spaces. Use metal halide, incandescent or fluorescent lighting (white light) in order to provide a better colour rendition and detail.
Full cut-off fixtures provide lighting where its needed without upward light spillage.
Provide uniform lighting by installing more fixtures with lower wattage than fewer fixtures with higher wattage.
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Coordinate lighting systems and landscaping to ensure that plant materials or other landscape features do not obscure site and street lighting. Use lighting to accentuate historic buildings, landscape features and public monuments. Consider decorative, pedestrian-scaled lighting along public walkways and new public spaces. Consider decorative light fixtures for major public buildings, large development projects and public spaces/focal points.
Emergency Access Policy and Multiple Unit Identification Policy
5.7 Building Clusters
Goal
To arrange buildings to create safe, secure and usable internal spaces.
Design Guidelines
Outdoor Lighting Onlighting Downtown
Orient building clusters to public streets. Respect existing neighbourhood building patterns and massing. Provide pedestrian connections between on-site open space and adjacent public open spaces. Ensure high connectivity with active use areas and low connectivity with sensitive natural areas.
5.6 Emergency Access
Goal
To minimize emergency response time.
Design Guidelines
Ensure that emergency vehicles can gain easy access to, within and from the site. Provide on-site vehicle circulation and parking which does not conflict with the use of emergency access routes. Provide clear pedestrian passage to and from the building to enhance emergency access and exit. Identify maximum spatial separation between front door entrance and street line for emergency access. Identify the location of hydrants and sprinkler connections through the use of signage and bollards. Provide identification signage for all multiple tenancy developments. Signage is to be provided at the front and rear faces of commercial buildings in order to identify building units, hydrants and emergency routes.
An example of a building cluster oriented toward the public street.
Design internal open spaces and activity areas as an integral component of the site. Play areas should be clearly visible and have multiple entry and exit points. Provide seating for adults at play areas.
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Design building clusters and open space areas to optimize sunlight and shading in all seasons. Take advantage of site conditions such as grading and existing plant material.
Consider the location of site services such as garbage enclosures, loading areas and fire routes early in the design process. Site services require ease of access and maneuverability for large vehicles, including ingress and egress in a forward motion. Separate pedestrian routes and recreational facilities from vehicle circulation and parking areas. Design visible and well lit pedestrian routes along natural desire lines. Provide open space and/or outdoor recreational areas at an appropriate scale for the type of development.
Excellent play environments, such as this one at the Tallpines Townhouses, are well designed, provide adequate space for play activities and fit well into the site as part of the outdoor living area.
Well designed recreational space includes places for adults and children in an outdoor extension of their living environment.
Provide recreational facilities in residential projects suited to the age and abilities of the occupants. Use barrier free design principles in play and relaxation areas. Consider site grading requirements early in the design process to maximize accessibility. Recreational facilities are not to be located within storm water management areas.
The interior courtyard of the Lancaster Maples is oriented to the south creating a warm micro-climate for use in the spring and fall and full solar exposure for the interior living areas. The large shade trees retained on the site provide shade and cooling in the summer.
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Orient noise sensitive uses away from off-site noise sources and arrange buildings to provide passive noise attenuation. Orient principal internal and external living spaces southward to maximize passive solar gain. Situate buildings to avoid overshadowing of adjacent buildings and pedestrian routes.
Design Guidelines
Provide public art in all major public works and building projects. Provide a reasonable contribution of public art, with significance, as a component of all major commercial, office and institutional projects.
The Duke Street entrance to Kitchener City Hall is the setting for this publicly funded sculpture. The modest budget for this three component work was included at a tiny fraction of the overall project cost. Play environments which are isolated may be considered unsafe, and therefore unused.
Provide landscaping to allow for shadowing during the summer and maximum solar exposure during other seasons.
Cluster Townhouses Outdoor Amenity Areas for Senior Citizens Outdoor Play Spaces for Children Emergency Access Multiple Unit Identification Policy Storm Water Management Facilities Landscape Design Shadow Studies
The foyer of the Canada Trust Building on King Street includes a striking wall mural which is also visible from the street.
5.8 Public Art
Goal
To encourage the provision of art in major building projects.
Use artist-designed functional components in publicly accessible interior areas (lobbies, reception areas, meeting rooms) and outdoor areas (plazas, landscaped spaces). Also consider using artists design in signage and banners. Plan for public art in the conceptual stage of the development in order to integrate art works into
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the building and site design. Public art should provide a focal point in the development and become a prominent landmark for the community.
Public art may include a wide range of art forms. Building or landscape elements, such as fountains, decorative doorways, signage, architectural features, lobby or other public area design elements, murals, sculpture or other graphic expressions of any materials (glass, metal, concrete, fabric, wood, neon etc.) are considered public art.
An example of public art being a prominent landmark for the community and a focal point for the development
Consider the following in determining the location for public art: Public art is encouraged to be integrated into the site and conceived with the historical and future context in mind. Public art should be sited at the more publicly accessible parts of the site. Public art should be sited in a manner which does not jeopardize other design objectives such as providing clear site lines, barrier-free access and personal safety and security.
Zoning By-law 85-1, Section 5.19 (Public Art Bonusing Provisions in the Downtown) Public Art Culture Plan II
Urban Design Manual

6.0 BUILDING DESIGN AND MASSING
Building design and massing contributes to urban quality, sense of place and compatability. Massing refers to the buildings physical form, which includes roofline, wall plane, rhythm and is influenced by specific design features and architectural treatments that break down bulk into defined, articulated components that relate to one another, surrounding built form and the street. A high quality building design will enhance pedestrian usability and help create attractive streetscapes. Good building detail is important in contributing to a rich and vibrant urban place. Significant public locations such as landmark sites, terminus sites, corner buildings, heritage buildings, and infill sites require special consideration. These guidelines do not advocate a particular architectural style. Rather, they encourage individual architectural expression. Attention is placed on certain building elements to achieve good form through a variety of architectural expressions. The Ontario Planning Act gives municipalities the authority to request and approve building elevations limited to building mass and conceptual design. The general guidelines contained in this section of the Urban Design Manual, and any other approved Design Brief, shall be used to evaluate building elevations.
A well defined entrance from the street at the Regional Building on Frederick St.
Locate active uses such as retail, service shops and restaurants at the street level to encourage pedestrian activity and interaction between internal spaces and the public realm.
Emphasize the main building entrance. Canopies over doorways and other treatments are encouraged to provide weather protected outdoor space. Avoid blank walls along the principal building elevation facing a street, private roadway or rear elevations facing residential properties or public space. Where blank walls are unavoidable, use architectural techniques (banding, soldier course, pilasters, glazed windows, etc.), murals and additional landscaping materials to enhance the elevation. Vary and articulate building facades to provide visual interest. Building mass along streets can be broken up by a series of bays to create the impression of smaller building units. Design buildings to ensure a transition in scale, form and height from adjacent buildings. Use building mass, location of windows, horizontal lines, cornices, gables and roofs to create transition and a change of scale.
6.1 Massing and Building Design
Goal
To provide attractive building forms, facades and roof designs which are compatible with surrounding buildings.
Design Guidelines
Locate the main building facade towards a public street or internal courtyard. Principal walls should have windows along the street or interior space to provide casual surveillance and break up the building mass.
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Organize tall buildings into distinct sections including a strongly defined base element to improve the pedestrian environment, an articulated middle section to minimize bulk and a defined top section which contributes to an interesting skyline. Mix long and short townhouse blocks on residential streets to provide for variation in the streetscape. Avoid single monotonous elevations through use of rooflines, colours, chimneys, window bays, materials, and other features. Articulate corner and rear elevations.
Enclose or screen rooftop mechanical equipment. Integrate roofs and screening with the design of the building in terms of form, materials and colour.
The roof design of the Regional Building on Frederick Street encloses the HVAC equipment and provides an identifiable shape to the structure.
Mixed Use Corridor Design Briefs
6.2 Infill Development
Goal
To ensure infill development complements existing buildings and neighbourhood character.
Design Guidelines
Design buildings at a scale which is compatible with adjacent structures. New buildings should respect the established heights and setbacks in the neighbourhood. Design buildings to be compatible with the surrounding built form through appropriate building mass, design features and materials. Use materials that are similar to those found in the existing neighbourhood. Maintain the rhythm of existing building separations, the size and dimensions of existing
The attention to detail in the building and site design of Kitchener Housings Linden Terrace are a reflection of the Citys commitment to achieving a high standard of urban design.
Detail buildings using cornices, keystones, window bays, eaves, dormers, entrance canopies, and other such elements. Design rooftops to have some identifiable shape. Avoid square or flat rooftops on large buildings.
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faade openings, the proportion of opening to wall and vertical articulation. pedestrian comfort level. Use elements such as stepped building facades, canopies, arcades and appropriate plant materials.
Design buildings to respect the invisible lines created by existing neighbourhood building features such as cornices, gable heights, porch elevations, similar roof pitches and other defining elements. Create interest and vitality in new building facades using elements found within the existing neighbourhood (porches, dormers, bay windows, roof pitches, etc.). Ensure that all accessory building features and components including rooftop mechanical equipment, air conditioning equipment/units, and balconies are well integrated into the building design and do not negatively impact the streetscape. Provide adequate fire separation distance between new infill buildings and existing buildings. Accommodate vehicle parking and circulation in a manner that respects the existing neighbourhood condition. Vehicle parking should not dominate front yards and should not detract from the character of the neighbourhood.
Provide sheltered or canopied pedestrian spaces at all major building entrances.
Market Square on Frederick St. provides shelter at the street and is a well used transit stop.
Orient buildings, outdoor spaces and pedestrian activity areas to maximize sunlight exposure during the cooler months and shading during the warmer months. Minimize shadows cast on adjacent properties, especially outdoor spaces and pedestrian activity areas. The City may request a shadow study to demonstrate that the height and/or location of a building will not generate unacceptable amounts of shadow over adjacent lands. Depending on the size and location of a proposed project, the city may request a wind and/or snow deposition study to determine that any adverse climate conditions are mitigated.
Zoning By-law 85-1 Shadow Studies
6.3 Building Design and Microclimate
Goal
To minimize adverse microclimate impacts through building design.
Design Guidelines
Design buildings and site landscaping in order to reduce or mitigate an undesirable wind impact on
Shadow Studies Landscape Design

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7.0 CRIME PREVENTION THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN
Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is defined as the proper design and effective use of the built environment to reduce crime and the fear associated with crime, and an improvement in the quality of life. The thrust of the CPTED concept is that manipulation of the physical environment can produce desired human behaviour or conversely reduce (or eliminate) undesired human behaviour. The concept involves more than physical security measures. It is based on the belief that crime can be directly related to the design of the physical environment and implementation of good urban design. CPTED does not purport to provide crime prevention solutions to the broad universe of human behaviour, but rather specific behaviours in a specific environment. The concept seeks to prevent certain types of crimes and the fear associated with them by manipulating variables that are closely related to the specific environment. CPTED is the specific design of physical space in the context of the needs of the legitimate users of that space, the expected/intended use of the space and the anticipated behaviour of both legitimate users and potential offenders. CPTED is a proactive approach to crime prevention. The principles of CPTED overlap in many areas and work together to provide a safe and secure environment for legitimate users of a space, while increasing the perception of risk to a potential offender. It is important to implement the CPTED principles at the earliest stage of a development project. Owners, developers, architects, planners, landscape architects, lighting and grading engineers need to work together to achieve the highest level of safety for all developments.
Goal
The goal of CPTED is to emphasize the perceived risk of detection and apprehension to a potential offender. The key is to have potential offenders perceive that an unwarranted intrusion will elicit a protective response from not only those having legitimate access to a space, but also the casual user of a space. The arrangement and design of buildings (interior and exterior), structures and open spaces can encourage or discourage undesirable behaviour and criminal activity. Ultimately, the CPTED concept strives to achieve a design that is appropriate for the designated use of the space by identifying the potential for criminal activity and providing a solution compatible with the designated use by implementing strategies that will enhance the effective use of the space.
Key Principles:
The key principles of CPTED are:
Access Control Surveillance Territorial Reinforcement Maintenance
Access Control This strategy is directed at decreasing criminal opportunity by denying access to crime targets and creating a perception of risk to offenders. This can be accomplished by the judicial placement of buildings, entrances/exits, parking areas, fencing and lighting for example. This strategy can also include the use of physical and mechanical means of controlling access through locking devices, alarm systems, and signage to mention a few. Access control limits the opportunity for crime by taking steps to clearly differentiate between public space and private space. The aim is to physically guide people through a space by strategically locating streets, sidewalks, building entrances, lighting and landscaping.
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This can be accomplished by the proper selection and placement of landscape material, lighting, building orientation, parking lot location, and window locations to provide maximum visibility and observation. Surveillance can also include more formalized measures such as CCTV, security guards or a police presence.
Clearly defined walkways guide people through spaces to the intended destination.
This play area is ideally located for maximum eyewitness potential and provides amenities for adults to supervise their children.
Define public space (sidewalk) from Semi-private space (front yard) and private space (front porch) with soft and hard Landscape elements (plants, ornamental fencing, alternative surface treatments).
Surveillance This strategy refers to the placement of physical features, activities and people in a way that maximizes visibility and observability of a space. It is directed toward keeping intruders easily observable and therefore less likely to commit criminal acts. Site and building design must ensure that users can see and be seen.
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Territorial Reinforcement
This strategy encourages legitimate users of a space to develop a sense of ownership and responsibility for a space. People have a desire to protect or defend their own space. Extending a persons sphere of influence can be a significant deterrent to a potential offender. Elements of territorial reinforcement can include the use of physical attributes that express ownership such as signage, fencing, and lighting, as well as symbolic barriers including landscaping and changing surface treatments that provide a psychological deterrent to a potential offender.
An intruder beyond the public space on this street would clearly stand out and be easily identifiable.
Maintenance
This strategy encourages the care and ongoing maintenance of a property ensuring the continual use of space for its intended purpose. Maintenance also serves as an additional expression of ownership over a space. Key elements for ongoing maintenance include regular pruning of landscape material, inspection of lighting and replacement of burnt out bulbs, removal of graffiti (within 24-48 hours), garbage removal. Maintenance is based on the Broken Windows Theory which has proven that the presence of one broken window will entice vandals to break more windows in the vicinity. Vandalism and graffiti encourages more vandalism and graffiti as does an uncared for property or building.
There is no mistaking the entrance to this building. The design of the entrance clearly indicates you are leaving public space and entering private space.
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for Issuance of Site Plan Approval or prior to Draft Plan Approval for subdivisions. Consultants submitting a CPTED report are to be knowledgeable in CPTED and formally trained. The CPTED report is to clearly outline how each of the CPTED principles will be incorporated into the development with details of the specific strategies to be implemented for each of the principles. As each development is unique and will have individual challenges, the suggested CPTED strategies provided in this section are not intended to be a checklist or complete listing of strategies, but rather guidelines to be considered in the design process.
A well maintained property tells people that someone cares about the property.
7.2 CPTED Strategies Subdivisions Subdivisions are the core of a community. They incorporate a multitude of uses; from housing to schools to neighbourhood shopping to public spaces, as well as the road network and public walkways that connect all of these uses. Consideration needs to be given to each of the uses in a subdivision and to how these uses will interact with one another. Gateway entrance features, traffic calming measures and front lotting dwellings onto public spaces will create a greater perception of risk to a potential offender and create a stronger sense of community.
Goal
Lighting maintenance is very important to ensure appropriate light levels are maintained to eliminate dark or shadowed areas.
To create a safe environment where people live, work and play.
7.1 CPTED Report Submission Requirements All development proposals in Kitchener are to incorporate the principles of CPTED. Certain site plan proposals, as determined by the Supervisor of Site Plan Development and certain subdivision proposals as determined by the Manager of Development Review, will be required to submit a CPTED report for the Citys approval as a Condition
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Design Guidelines Access Control:
The street network should be designed to limit access without disconnecting one area from another. Streets should be designed to discourage cutthrough traffic.
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Use pedestrian scale lighting in high pedestrian traffic areas. Landscaping should not create hiding areas or entrapment areas. Locate central mail boxes in high pedestrian and vehicular traffic areas.
Territorial Reinforcement:
Public spaces and parks should be signed with hours of operation and behaviour expectations. Locate public spaces and parks in front of dwellings to extend the homeowners sphere of influence to include the public or park space. Accentuate entrances with different surface treatments, architectural elements and landscape design. Where possible use shorter length streets to create more of a community feel for residents Design homes with front porches and recessed garages to encourage interaction between residents. All buildings should provide the municipal address on both the front and rear of the structure with numbers at least 150mm in height in a visible location.

Traffic calming measures should be implemented on higher volume streets to not only deter speeding but also impede escape routes from subdivisions. All streets should provide sidewalk on both sides. Provide gateway features such as a columned entrance with landscaping to clearly define the entrance to a subdivision. Public walkways should be limited in length and be observable from surrounding properties and streets.
Maintenance:
Maintain landscaping to a high standard in all seasons. Provide a light standard/fixture numbering system to allow the public to easily report broken or burnt out lights.
Surveillance:
Locate parks and open spaces in front of residential areas so they can be easily observed from nearby homes or provide a larger street frontage for views into park and open space areas. Dwellings should front onto streets (rear-lotting dwellings should be avoided as it creates a disconnect and eliminates the opportunity for surveillance).
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7.3 CPTED Strategies Parks, Open Spaces and Trails Parks, open spaces and community trails are very important components of any community. They need to be places where people of all ages feel safe while engaging in organized or passive activities. Care is to be given to ensure programmable spaces do not have conflicting activities adjacent to one another. Parks, open spaces and trails should be visible from homes and streets.
Provide suitable surface treatment to allow barrier free access.
Surveillance:
Locate parks and open spaces in front of residential areas so they can be easily observed from nearby homes. Provide a larger street frontage at park and open space entrances to maximize visibility of the area by passersby and street traffic. Use pedestrian scale lighting in high pedestrian traffic areas. Landscaping should not create hiding areas or entrapment areas. Locate playground equipment in areas that afford maximum surveillance opportunities. Provide lighting only in areas that are intended to support evening/night activities.
Goal
To provide a safe recreational environment for people of all ages.
Give consideration to placement of various types of activities planned for parks to ensure conflicting uses are not adjacent to one another. Locate public spaces and parks in front of dwellings to extend the homeowners sphere of influence to include the public space or park. Accentuate entrances with different surface treatments, architectural elements and landscape elements to define borders.
Parks, open spaces and trails should be designed to provide direct links to the surrounding community and neighbourhood. Trails should provide multiple points of entry and exit to prevent entrapment. Parks, open spaces and trails should be signed with the appropriate details of hours of operation, behaviour expectations and contact information for reporting problems. Provide an entrance feature at the principle access point for parks and trails. Design trails along preferred desire lines.
Maintenance:
Maintain landscaping to a high standard in all seasons. Provide regular garage pickup and garbage container maintenance. Encourage deep well garbage systems.
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Ensure trails are inspected in a timely fashion to remove any debris, garbage or deadfall from trees. Provide a light standard/fixture numbering system to allow the public to easily report broken or burnt out lights. Remove graffiti within 24-48 hours or sooner. Repair damage caused by vandalism within 24-48 hours or sooner.
Use walkways and landscaping to direct visitors to the proper entrance and away from private areas. Install shrubbery or low fencing to control access to private areas. Door locking devices should not be located within 1.0 metre of any window opening (side light). If door locking devices are within 1.0 metre of a window opening, the window should be covered with a protective window film. Provide secure locking devices on all windows and doors. Dead bolt locks are preferable on all exterior doors. Garage doors should be equipped with a garage door opener (do not keep the opener visible in vehicle).
7.4 CPTED Strategies Single Family Homes Residential areas are the heart of a city. Our homes are the centres of our lives, where we should feel most safe. And, while we may have multiple choices when it comes to walking through a certain part of town or using public transportation, we have few choices when it comes to the streets where we live. The guiding principle here is know they neighbour. Streets and homes should be designed to encourage interaction between neighbours. Examples of good design elements include a front porch, property lines that are defined simply by low shrubbery rather than high fences, exterior illumination and house numbers that are clearly visible from the street.
Surveillance:
Install light fixtures to fully illuminate all doorways that open to the outside to provide an average of 5 foot candles within 3.0 metres of the doorway. Front doors are to be fully visible from the public street. Windows should be installed on all sides of the building where permissible. Use motion detection lights to illuminate walkways and yard areas to provide visibility to all areas. Driveways should be visible from either the front or back door and at least one window. Maintain landscaping to provide maximum visibility to and from the house. Ensure landscaping does not impede visibility to and from ground floor windows.
Goal
To create environments where neighbours interact and to build and maintain homes that are not targets for criminal activity.
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Territorial Reinforcement: Goal
To create multiple dwellings with safe and secure common areas, parking facility and amenity spaces.
Clearly define property lines and private areas with landscaping, unique surface treatments or fencing. Dwellings should provide the municipal address on both the front and rear of the building with numbers at least 150mm in height in a visible location preferably with photocell lighting to ensure visibility at night. Use front porches or stoops to create a transitional area between the street and the home. Porch lights should be equipped with photocell technology or timer switches.
Maintenance:
Keep all exterior light fixtures in working order. Keep litter picked up and the yard neat. Maintain landscaping with regular pruning and keep the law mowed. The house, garage and any storage buildings should be kept in good repair. Ensure all window and door locking devices are maintained in good working order.
7.5 CPTED Strategies Multiple Dwellings Multiple dwellings pose the same problems as single family dwellings but these problems can easily be compounded by the number of dwellings and residents. Here we have a greater number of public areas to consider: shared interior hallways, elevators; laundry rooms and parking areas, and so on. Multiple dwellings dont necessarily mean multiple problems. Theres a certain amount of truth to the old saying theres safety in numbers and with neighbours who take responsibility for each other theres no reason why a multiple dwelling building cannot be a safe place to live.
Access to the building should be limited to no more than two points of entry. Elevators should be centrally located in high pedestrian traffic areas. Common hallways to be illuminated with a white light source to an appropriate level. Common building entrances should be equipped with automatic door closure and locking devices. Balcony railings should not exceed the height required in the building code and should not be of a solid or opaque material. Entrances into parking lots should be highlighted by landscaping or architectural design. Parking garages should have a secured access point requiring an access card or key.
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Common areas of the building (laundry room, mail room etc.) should have window openings to the exterior and to interior common hallways. Common areas of the building (laundry, mail room etc.) should be access card or key controlled. Unit doors to be equipped with a 1800 viewer.
Property lines should be defined by landscaping or a see-through fence. Landscaping and fencing should provide visibility into the site from the street. Building entrances should be accentuated by architectural features, lighting and landscape elements. All buildings and residential units should be clearly identified by street address numbers that are a minimum of 150mm in height and illuminated. Door locking devices should be located a minimum of 1.0 metre from any window opening. If door locking devices are within 1.0 metre of a window opening, the window should be covered with a protective window film. Common doorways should have windows and be key or access card controlled.
Surveillance:
Exterior doors should be visible from the public street. All doors that open to the outside should be well lit. All building facades should have windows. Parking spaces should be assigned to each unit but not be marked with a unit number. Visitor parking is to be designated and signed. Surface parking areas should be visible from windows and doors. Parking areas and pedestrian walkways should be well lit. Amenity areas should be visible from a multitude of windows and doors. Ensure that garbage enclosures do not create blind spots or entrapment areas. Elevators and stairwells should provide maximum glazing opportunities and be visible from windows, doors and common hallways. Ensure shrub material is maintained to a maximum height of 0.9 metres for clear visibility. All stairwells should be well lit and open to view, not behind solid walls. Surface parking areas should not be defined by berms or landscaping that shield them from view. Use open railings and open risers whenever possible in accordance with the Ontario Building Code.
Maintenance:
Maintain all common areas to very high standards. Keep trees pruned up to 1.8 metres from grade and shrubs pruned back from windows, doors and walkways to a maximum height of 0.9 metres. Enforce rules regarding discarded vehicles and inappropriate outdoor storage. Provide adequate garbage facilities and ensure garbage is removed in a timely fashion. Ensure all exterior and interior lighting in common areas is inspected regularly and burnt out bulbs replaced. Graffiti should be removed within 24-48 hours or sooner. Repair damage caused by vandalism within 24-48 hours or sooner.
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Provide a forum for residents/tenants to report vandalism and graffiti and perpetrators thereof (anonymously if necessary).
Require visitors pass through a checkpoint attended by someone in authority. Where possible require key or access card for entry. Public restrooms to be equipped with a maze entry system rather than doors. Secure outdoor amenity areas with appropriate height fencing where appropriate (such as daycare facilities).
7.6 CPTED Strategies Institutional Uses Institutional uses, such as churches, libraries, community centres and schools pose unique situations when applying the CPTED strategies. They can each involve a multitude of uses, different types of user groups and may have unusual hours of operation. That being said, there are ways to mitigate these situations by carefully designing buildings and sites being cognizant of their unique characteristics and applying CPTED in areas that will provide the greatest benefit.
Surveillance:
Avoid large blank walls which limit visibility and serve as targets for graffiti. Design exterior facades to have windows and architectural features with appropriate landscaping to deter vandalism. Do not block or cover exterior windows and doors with signage or opaque window coverings that obscure visibility. If using CCTV as a means of surveillance use light fixtures with a white light source such as metal halide to provide the best chromaticity (colour rendition). Erect signage advising the facility employs video surveillance equipment for security purposes that may or may not be monitored at any time. Locate outdoor parking areas (including bicycle parking facilities) and amenity space to be under observation from the main building.
Goal
To create institutional and public buildings which foster a safe environment for all users and deter the potential for criminal activity.
Clearly define the primary entrance to the facility with lighting, landscaping, unique surface treatments and architectural features. Limit the number of access points to as few as possible.
Provide highly visible, architecturally appropriate signage in the design, include the municipal address on way-finding signage. Clearly define the boundaries of the property with landscaping or a see through fence.
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Use window film on ground floor windows of buildings with high value targets (such as computer rooms in schools).
Maintenance:
Install landscape materials that mature within the available space and ensure that at maturity they will not obstruct light fixtures or visibility. Remove graffiti within 24-48 hours or sooner. Ensure all exterior and interior lighting in common areas is inspected regularly and burnt out bulbs replaced. Keep parking areas maintained and free from garbage or debris.
Clearly identify the building entrance (awnings, canopies, landscape planters etc.). Provide way-finding signage to direct patrons from parking areas to entrances. Locate cash registers at the front of the store near the main entrance with clear visibility to the outside. Rear access doors should be equipped with a 180 degree peep hole viewer. Ensure the building exterior does not provide access to the roof. Security alarms and appropriate locking devices should be installed on all exterior doors. Window film can be applied to windows and doors to prevent the smash & grab thief.
7.7 CPTED Strategies Commercial Store Fronts For a neighbourhood to remain healthy, its local businesses must flourish; and for a business to do well it must be a safe place to frequent. With the increase in separating commercial areas from residential areas, and the decline of commercial store fronts which often accompanies this separation, it is essential that CPTED strategies be followed when building or remodeling commercial property. Simple design features such as positioning cash registers near the main entrance and keeping pay phones visible can accomplish much in the way of making customers feel safe and secure.
Goal
To make commercial store fronts safe places for employees and shoppers alike.
Surveillance:
Windows should face front and rear parking areas for increased visibility. Signage is not to cover more than 15% of window and glass door area. Provide adequate lighting on exterior of building. Interior shelving and displays should not exceed 1.5 metres in height.
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Ensure loading areas and garbage enclosures do not create entrapment areas or hiding places. All entrances should be under visual surveillance by staff or monitored electronically. Unobstructed visibility should be maintained from the store to the sidewalk, street and parking areas. Pay phones should be located away from the store front and be visible from the cash area. 7.8 CPTED Strategies Shopping Malls Shopping malls often provide much of the public space in suburban communities and as such can be a mixed blessing. On one hand they perform the important function of being a town centre, serving as a gathering place for the community, while on the other hand, a mall can serve as an attraction for criminal activity. While the shopping mall continually grows in size and popularity, it also becomes a haven for abnormal users and the site of a growing number of parking lot crimes. It is now more important than ever that the people designing these centres implement CPTED strategies in the design process.
Property boundaries, where possible, should be delineated with high branching trees, low hedges, fences or gates. Private areas should be easily distinguishable from public areas. Stores with rear parking should be identified with fascia signs on rear faade of building and preferably a rear entrance. Position parking areas to be clearly visible from the building and street and delineate parking spaces. Operating hours should coincide with those of neighbouring businesses.
Goal
To create shopping malls that are safe places for people and their vehicles.
Maintenance:
Keep buildings and walkways clean, repaired and unobstructed. Maintain parking areas to a high standard without potholes or trash. Remove faded posters, broken signs and worn displays. Maintain landscaping to a high standard. Install attractive window displays in vacant stores to eliminate the abandoned image. Keep lines of sight open throughout site by pruning trees and shrubs to allow visual access to all parts of the site.
Signage should clearly mark public entrances in conjunction with landscaping and architectural features. Sidewalks and public areas should be clearly defined by way of unique surface treatments and/or landscaping. Loading and delivery areas should have designated hours of operation and be separate from public parking areas.
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Parking areas should not be bermed or landscaped to restrict visibility from the public street. Public restrooms should be equipped with a maze entry system rather than doors. Secure all exterior mechanical equipment. Ensure the building exterior does not provide access to the roof. All exterior garbage and recycling facilities are to be secured and ensure they are not potential entrapment areas.
Signage should clearly identify the interior businesses. Highlight public entry point with architectural features such as awnings or canopies and unique surface treatments on sidewalks.
Maintenance:
Keep buildings and walkways clean, repaired and unobstructed. Maintain parking areas to a high standard with no potholes, trash or graffiti. Install attractive window displays in vacant stores to eliminate the abandoned image. Maintain landscaping to a high standard. Ensure all parking lot and exterior building lights are inspected regularly and burnt out bulbs replaced immediately.
Surveillance:
Public restroom entrances should be visible from main pedestrian areas, but away from outside exits. Parking areas are to be adequately illuminated at night to ensure there are no dark or shadowed areas. Avoid creating dead-end alleys or blind spots in loading areas. Provide perpendicular parking in front of stores, rather than parallel, to allow greater visibility between cars and aisles. Provide secured parking close to the building for nighttime employee use. Large parking areas can benefit from pole mounted CCTV systems to serve as a deterrent to parking lot crimes. Provide multiple shopping cart corral location throughout parking areas.
7.9 CPTED Strategies Office Buildings Recent and historic events have changed peoples perception of safety in an office building environment. It can be difficult to distinguish between an employee and an intruder in many cases, making the building design and security measures evermore important. Office buildings are located in a wide array of settings, ranging from highly urban areas to industrial areas, suburban areas to rural areas. The location of the office building as well as the type of office building will dictate what level of security measures should be employed to secure the facility. Employing the appropriate CPTED strategies early in the design process can reduce the need for certain types of more traditional security measures that may create a fortress type appearance.
Define property perimeter with landscaping, decorative fencing and appropriately scaled signage.
Goal
To create an environment which fosters safety for employees while making intruders easily identifiable.
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Locate surface parking areas to be visible from office windows and doors. Restrict landscape material to 0.9 metres in height at building perimeter to maintain unobstructed visibility. Limb up trees to 1.8 metres to provide clear sight lines. Design interior spaces to have windows and doors providing visibility into hallways. Create amenity spaces where they are under surveillance by windows and doors. Stairwells and elevator vestibules should provide maximum glazing and illumination to provide open views and be located within view of reception and security desks. Public restroom entrances should be visible from nearby offices and be equipped with a maze entry system rather than doors. Buildings should be oriented to have the main entrance facing the public street. Parking spaces should be assigned to employees and visitor spaces clearly marked.
Limit the number of public entrances to preferably one or two. Each public entrance should be clearly identified by unique surface treatments and signage. Accentuate the primary entrances with architectural features, lighting, landscaping and unique surface treatments. Staff/employee entrances should be key or photo access card controlled. Public access to office buildings should only be available during business hours. Certain types of office buildings may benefit from more traditional target hardening measures such as anti-ram barricades, strategically located bollards, bars on windows or an active police or security guard presence. Require visitors to pass through or by a check point attended by someone in authority (visitor badges or a sign-in system are effective to monitor visitors).
Perimeters should be defined by landscaping or low fencing. Fencing should be designed to maintain unobstructed visibility from the street. Exterior private areas should be easily distinguishable from public areas. Reception and or Security areas should be positioned to screen all entrances.
Maintenance: Surveillance:
Keep all exterior areas neat and clean. Remove trash and debris immediately.
All public entrance points should be visible from a main reception or security desk.
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Maintain landscaping to a high standard with regular pruning. Ensure all interior lighting in common areas and exterior lighting is inspected regularly and burnt out bulbs replaced. Remove graffiti within 24-48 hours or sooner.
Avoid dead-end driveways and street designs to increase surveillance opportunities from passing traffic. Assign parking by shifts and provide late-night workers with close-in spaces. Plan storage yards for vehicular and visual access by patrol cars. Restrict access to roofs by way of dumpsters, loading docks, stacked items etc. Use a separate well marked and monitored entrance for deliveries. Entrance to parking areas should be controlled by fence, gate or attendant. Employee entrance should be close to employee parking and work station. Keep nighttime parking areas separate from service areas. Use separate docks for shipping and receiving. Pedestrian access to railroad tracks should be restricted. Delivery bays should be secured with locks.
7.10 CPTED Strategies Industrial Uses In most industrial design, the most important issue is the safety of those who will be working or travelling to the area. Unfortunately, safety is often given little consideration. After work hours, industrial areas are for the most part poorly illuminated, seldom under any type of surveillance and virtually deserted. Add to this isolation the industrial danger areas, loading docks, service entrances, blind alleys and expansive parking areas and you have the potential for an extremely unsafe environment. It is in this type of environment where CPTED strategies can really pay off.
Goal
To protect people, assets and equipment without creating a fortress scenario.
Surveillance:

Illuminate and define all entrances so that they are visible to the public and patrol vehicles. Position parking attendants for maximum visibility of property. Design the reception area to have a view of parking areas, especially visitor parking. Avoid creating hiding places in dead-ends or storage yard and loading docks.
Keep building entrances to a minimum and monitor them. Site entrances should be easily securable.
Gateway effect or formal entrance should be created with landscaping, fencing, gates etc. Deliveries should be limited to daytime hours.
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Vehicle entrances should be defined by different surface treatments and use of clear signage. Separate employee parking from visitor parking and keep shipping and receiving areas separate. Operating hours should coincide with those of neighbouring businesses. Secure storage yard and parking areas with fencing and gates.
Goal
To provide parking facilities that deter criminal activity and provide security for legitimate users and their vehicles.
Maintenance:
All landscaping should be maintained to a high standard. All lighting should be inspected regularly and burnt out bulbs replace. Keep storage yards orderly and do not store garbage on site. Remove graffiti within 24-48 hours or sooner.
Use attendants or cameras and sound monitors, indicate their presence with clear signage. Pedestrian entrances should be adjacent to vehicle entrances. Stairwells should be open and visible to the street, maximize glazing at stairwells.
7.11 CPTED Strategies Parking Structures Typically, parking structures are places of discomfort for legitimate users and can be an ideal location for many types of criminal activity. Unattended garages provide shelter opportunity for homeless persons in inclement weather and a secluded area for many types of criminal activity. For the typical user, there is a sense of isolation in these structures with little opportunity for, or access to help in an emergency situation. CPTED strategies can do much in the way of improving parking structure safety without tremendous cost. With the simple addition of high intensity light or painting the interior of the structure with white reflective paint, a parking structure will feel and be much safer.
Elevators should be close to the main entrance with the entire interior of the elevator in view when the doors are open, glass doors for elevators are preferable.
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Ground floor should be designed to be open for visibility, but secured to prohibit access by wire mesh or stretch cable. Access should be limited to no more than two designated, monitored entrances. Panic alarms can be installed throughout the garage provided there is personnel to respond.
Install light fixtures at a height that prohibits vandalism and protect with wire cages or an unbreakable material.
Do not allow free access to adjacent buildings without direct monitoring. Public and private parking spaces should be designated. Hours of use should reflect that of local business with secure closing during non-use hours. Secure all mechanical equipment areas both inside and outside the structure.
Surveillance:
All elevators should be monitored by cameras and sound and maximize the use of glazing. Exterior structure walls should provide openings reinforced with stretch cable railings to allow visibility into and out of the structure. Interior shear walls should provide openings reinforced with stretch cable railings for maximum visibility within the structure. Paint the interior of the parking structure with white reflective paint. Use white light source (such as metal halide) light fixtures strategically located to eliminate any dark or shadowed areas. Provide clear way-finding signage throughout the structure.
Maintenance:
Keep all surfaces clean and remove garbage/trash daily. Repaint when necessary. Regularly inspect all light fixtures and replace burnt out bulbs immediately. Remove graffiti within 24-48 hours or sooner. Repair damage caused by vandalism within 24-48 hours or sooner. Post signage with a phone number for users to report vandalism or graffiti in highly visible locations.
Use round columns where possible to eliminate hiding spots. Install convex mirrors in appropriate locations.

Urban Design Guidelines

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Urban Design Manual

Urban Design Manual

City of Kitchener Urban Design Manual: Part A Urban Design Guidelines

Urban Design Manual

Adams-Seymour Plan 1924. First City Plan

City of Kitchener Urban Design Manual: Part A Urban Design Guidelines

Urban Design Manual

3.1 Creating a Sense of Place

Design Guidelines 3.1.1 Community Structure

City of Kitchener Urban Design Manual: Part A Urban Design Guidelines

Urban Design Manual

City of Kitchener Urban Design Manual: Part A Urban Design Guidelines

Urban Design Manual

Goal 3.1.3 Landmarks, Views and Vistas

City Design Standards and Policies

Frame prominent intersections by locating buildings close to the property line.

City of Kitchener Urban Design Manual: Part A Urban Design Guidelines

Urban Design Manual

3.3 Heritage Resources

City of Kitchener Urban Design Manual: Part A Urban Design Guidelines

Urban Design Manual

3.4 Street Network

City of Kitchener Urban Design Manual: Part A Urban Design Guidelines

Urban Design Manual

City of Kitchener Urban Design Manual: Part A Urban Design Guidelines

Urban Design Manual

Pedestrian safety and accessibility is improved through mid-block pedestrian connections.

City Design Standards and Policies

City Design Standards and Policies

City of Kitchener Urban Design Manual: Part A Urban Design Guidelines

Urban Design Manual

3.6 Parks, Open Spaces and Trails

Design Standards and Policies

City of Kitchener Urban Design Manual: Part A Urban Design Guidelines

Urban Design Manual

Pedestrian interest is improved when public art is provided in urban squares.

City of Kitchener Urban Design Manual: Part A Urban Design Guidelines

Urban Design Manual

4.1 Central Neighbourhoods

Design Guidelines 4.1.1 Character

City of Kitchener Urban Design Manual: Part A Urban Design Guidelines

Urban Design Manual

City of Kitchener Urban Design Manual: Part A Urban Design Guidelines

Urban Design Manual

City Design Standards and Policies

Mixed Use Corridors Design Brief Design Guidelines for Downtown

4.2 Suburban Neighbourhoods

Design Guidelines 4.2.1 Character

City of Kitchener Urban Design Manual: Part A Urban Design Guidelines

Urban Design Manual

City of Kitchener Urban Design Manual: Part A Urban Design Guidelines

Urban Design Manual

City Design Standards and Policies

City of Kitchener Urban Design Manual: Part A Urban Design Guidelines

Urban Design Manual

Provide weather protected shelters and lighting at transit stops.

City of Kitchener Urban Design Manual: Part A Urban Design Guidelines

Urban Design Manual

5.1.3 Parking Structures

City of Kitchener Urban Design Manual: Part A Urban Design Guidelines

Urban Design Manual

5.1.4 Commercial Parking Lots