Urban Design

The Urban Design group develops and coordinates urban design strategies for the City of Hamilton. Urban design staff work with stakeholders, other City staff and the community to develop Streetscape Master Plans, Urban Design Guidelines as well as other policy documents and design strategies that guide the development and improvement of our urban environment. Working within the Community Planning and Design Section we also provide urban design input into secondary plans for new and existing neighbourhoods, review specific site plan submissions as part of the development approval process and advise Public Works on the implementation of improvement projects related to urban design.

A few of the secondary plans that incorporate Urban Design policies are:

• Nash Neighbourhood Secondary Plan;
• Trinity Neighbourhood Secondary Plan;
• Ainslie Wood Westdale Secondary Plan;
• Rymal Road Secondary Plan;
• Setting Sail: The West Harbour Secondary Plan; and,
• Putting People First: The Hamilton Downtown Secondary Plan

Urban Design considers the function, use and relationships of visible components of the city to create attractive, safe and memorable urban environments, and requires an integrated and comprehensive design process.

Current Projects:

• Hamilton's Civic Gateway Design Study
• Hamilton Official Plan Urban Design Policies
• Longwood Road Streetscape Master Plan

Completed Projects:

Adaptive Reuse Potential of Heritage Structures:

• St. Mark's Church

Urban Design Guidelines & Standards:

• Downtown Heritage Character Zone Design Guidelines  (2006)
• Binbrook Village Community Core Urban Design Guidelines  (2004)
• Urban Braille System Guidelines
• Preparation of an Urban Design Analysis and/or Guidelines  (2009)
• Preparation of an Urban Design Brief (2009)

Urban Design in Public Spaces:

• York Boulevard Streetscape Master Plan  (2010)
• The King Street West Streetscape Master Plan  (2004)
• Downtown Mobility Streets Master Plan  (2003)
• Hughson Streetscape Master Plan  (2003)
• King William Streetscape Master Plan  (2003)

Urban Design Studies for Site Specific Development:

• Beach Boulevard  (2006)
• King and Bay Streets Development  (2006)
• 87-89 King Street East Housing Development  (2005)
• Hamilton's Farmer's Market Improvement Study  (2005)
• Hamilton Public Library Improvement Study  (2005)
• Hatt Street in Dundas  (2005)
• James and Vine Streets Development Potentials  (2005)
• Tivoli Site Development Potentials  (2005)
• Stoney Creek Olde Town Urban Design Plan  (1997)