Sustainable Suburbs - Detailed Agenda

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

Municipal Land Use Policies and Smart Growth in Canada: Past, Present and Future

An advocate of sustainable land-use planning and development speaks out on the many costs of urban sprawl to Canadian communities. Hear about the fight to improve Canadian neighbourhoods through policy change initiatives and projects.

• Build cities and suburbs for people: end-user approach to planning and development
• Shape your city: protection of city landmarks
• Change the role of legislation: prohibiting sprawl through municipal smart growth policies

Use your voice to fight for change: create suburbs worth living in.

John Sewell, Urban Activist and former Mayor of Toronto,

CASE STUDY: ADDISON CIRCLE (ADDISON, TX)

Edge City Infill: Retrofit Your Suburb Through Strategic Densification

From an auto-dependent Texas edge city riddled by disconnected development patterns to 2002 CNU Award Winner, the Town of Addison has become a place where 15,000 plus residents can "live, work, play, and stay". Hear how the Town of Addison was successfully transformed into a New Urbanist suburb.

• Take advantage of planned growth, reduce infrastructure costs and intensify tax revenue streams per acre
  
• Densify strategic areas for walkable streets and reduce traffic congestion
  
• Measure success and resident satisfaction

Give your suburb an urban fabric that fosters sustainability.

Thomas C. Brink, Vice President, RTKL

Mid-Morning Networking Break

Interact with conference speakers and fellow attendees.

CASE STUDY: DOWNSVIEW PARK

Towards Responsible and Sustainable Land Use: A New Suburban Vision of Development with Implications for all Communities

Downsview Park's mandate to transform 572 acres of former military base lands and structures using innovative, efficient and sustainable design concepts and techniques will result in the creation of a contemporary community. Downsview Park is challenging the traditional concept of 'park' by envisioning green space, active sports and recreation, education and institutions, and commerce and residences, in an integrated and interdependent way.

• Transform a greyfield site and repurpose an inventory of historic aviation structures into healthy, vibrant and diverse neighbourhoods
  
• Construct a model of development for sustainable living demonstrating sustainable practices in its design, construction, operation, and maintenance
  
• Encourage walkable street networks and smart commuting alternatives

Source practical insights into sustainable land-use to become the next "sustainable community".

Bill Bryck, President and CEO, Parc Downsview Park Inc

David Anselmi, Senior Vice President, Development and Sustainability, Parc Downsview Park Inc.

ZONING PANEL

Practical Approaches to Creating Livable Suburbs Through Straightforward Zoning Reform

Current zoning laws in North American suburbs are encouraging sprawling patterns, depriving residents of pedestrian oriented, dynamic neighbourhoods. Join panelists to discuss what changes are required and analyze successful examples of sustainable zoning laws.

• How and where to employ form based codes
  
• How to get mixed-use zoning approved
  
• Educating communities on the need and benefits of change

Assess how a sustainable approach to zoning can unlock your municipality's potential.

Edward Sajecki, Commissioner, Planning & Building Department, City of Mississauga	Audrey Bennett, Director, Provincial Planning Policy Branch, Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Greg Christenson, President, Christenson Developments

Networking Luncheon

Join the conference speakers and your peers for a relaxing luncheon.

INDUSTRY EXPERT

Community Engagement 2.0: Involving Younger Stakeholders Through Social Media

Social media can help your public consultation process, engage younger generations and address common problems such as apathy and NIMBYism. Join this session to learn how social media gives you a "new in" with younger demographics.

• Find alternative venues of communication with community stakeholders
  
• Know what social media can and cannot offer
  
• Benchmark your community engagement success with social media

Learn how social media can help you meaningfully engage your community.

Ian K. McCallum, Managing Associate, Dialog Partners

CASE STUDY: SEATTLE PUBLIC UTILITIES

Innovative Green Stormwater Infrastructure to Build Sustainable Communities

Poorly managed surface water run-off correlates with deteriorating water quality, increased erosion, flooding, and impacts climate change. Natural alternatives are essential if we are to change our current course. Hear how Seattle addresses the challenges, benefits and successes of its projects.

• Integrating stormwater management into transportation and land-use planning
  
• Treating stormwater as a resource through hydrology
  
• Lessons learned from using natural drainage approaches to stormwater management and combined sewer overflow control

Benefit from this integrated approach to stormwater management.

Bruce Bachen, Director of Drainage and Wastewater Quality Division, Seattle Public Utilities

Mid-Afternoon Networking Break

Interact with conference speakers and fellow attendees.

CASE STUDY: YORK REGION TRANSIT

Addressing Transportation Needs Today: Cost-Effective Solutions with Speedy Implementation that Can Work in Your Community

BRT is quickly becoming a feasible alternative for cities across Canada. It provides cities facing transportation demand increases with an intelligent, flexible and low-cost solution. Hear how York Region Transit is successfully implementing its BRT projects.

• Increase ridership and improve travel time
  
• Maximize operational cost-effectiveness and productivity
  
• Establish sustainable BRT best practices

Take back to your city innovative and low-cost transportation solutions.

Ann Marie Carroll, Manager, Operations, York Region Transit

CASE STUDY: REGION OF WATERLOO

Shaping Urban Growth from Vision to Practice

With an expected 50% population growth by 2031, the Region of Waterloo's new Official Plan establishes strategic directions for where and how growth will occur across the region. Hear how the Region of Waterloo is leading Ontario on collaborative growth management initiatives that give the region a sustainable urban form.

• Create conditions for reurbanization and alternative suburban development
  
• Use science based approaches to protect sensitive environmental areas
  
• Build community buy-in and political support

Emulate the Region of Waterloo's initiatives to achieve sustainable growth.

Kevin Curtis, Manager, Strategic Policy Development, Region of Waterloo

Conference Adjourns to Day Two

Evening Social Activities

Unwind and mingle with the delegates and speakers at our exclusive gathering. Bring your business card!

Opening Comments From the Chair

Jennifer Keesmaat, Partner, Dialog

CASE STUDIES: CORNELL AND OAK PARK, ON

Looking at the Successes and Failures of New Urbanist and Smart Growth Development in the Greater Toronto Area

The Smart Growth and New Urbanist movements have inspired suburban development for over a decade. It’s time to look at Ontario projects like Cornell and Oak Park and see what’s worked and what hasn’t.

• How have retail and employment ambitions been realized in practice?
• Does the physical form of new urbanist/ smart growth development support community building?
• How has new urbanism impacted planning at the regional scale?

Help your community learn the lessons of smart growth.

Warren Price, Senior Associate, Urban Strategies

CASE STUDY: WESTERN HARBOUR, CITY OF MALMÖ, SWEDEN

City of Tomorrow: Building the Path to Environmental Stewardship

Ten years ago, the City of Malmö built a plan for "a sustainable city" pilot project. Today, the project has turned Kockums, a large shipyard district, into Western Harbour, a city heated with 100% renewable energy, with mixed-use dwellings and accessible public transportation. Hear how Sweden's first climate neutral city district is defining the true meaning of sustainable urban development.

• Overcome challenges and roadblocks to pilot project development
  
• Assess the economic and social returns on environmentally-friendly urban development
  
• Review lessons learned, current status and future of the project

Make climate change part of your community's (sub)urban planning.

Kerstin Åkerwall, Deputy Director and Head of Planning Department, City Planning Office, City of Malmö, Sweden

Mid-Morning Networking Break

Interact with conference speakers and fellow attendees.

Networking Luncheon

Join the conference speakers and your peers for a relaxing luncheon.

INDUSTRY EXPERT

Canadian Demographic Shifts: Planning for a New (Sub)Urban Personality

It is time for city planners to take action on the rapid changes that are occurring in Canada’s suburban population. Suburbs lacking mobility and access to services continuously reduce quality of life among seniors, new Canadians and other residents. Grasp the interaction between urban and social planning.

• Provide seniors with improved quality of life
• Create inclusive communities that address cultural diversity
• Prioritize mobility and access to essential services

Change hostile suburbs into places in which we can all can thrive.

Rowan Faludi, Partner, urbanMetrics inc.

Mid-Afternoon Networking Break

Interact with conference speakers and fellow attendees.

TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY EXPERT

How to Create More Accessible, Multi-Modal Suburbs Through Transportation and Land Use Planning Innovations

Current demographic and economic trends are increasing the value of alternative modes and more compact, multi-modal communities. Hear a transportation industry expert discuss practical ways to prepare your community for the future through transport and land use planning innovations.

• Improve transport options, including walking, cycling, ridesharing, public transit, and telework
• Create complete streets and more attractive roadways
  
• Implement smart growth planning reforms, which result in more accessible, multi-modal community design
  
• Improve parking management to support more efficient transportation and land use development

Create better streets in your community.

Todd Litman, Executive Director, Victoria Transport Policy

PEER TO PEER BRAINSTORMING SESSION

Identifying the Challenges Facing Sustainable Suburban Development and Sourcing Strategies to Overcome Them

The perspectives and experiences of individual delegates will be brought together for this exclusive exchange on strategies that have worked, and some that haven't. Conference delegates will choose a suburban area in need of change and focus on the problem:

How do you build an action plan to ensure sustainable suburbs succeed?

One person from each table will be nominated to share their findings from their group. A moderated exchange will highlight your challenges and present practical solutions from your peers.

Learn valuable insight from your peers in this unique, interactive session.