Design Review Panel

DRP Coordinator
Call 905-546-2424 ext. 1393
Email [email protected]
Due to COVID-19, all meetings are being held virtually. The Design Review Panel Mandate has been updated and includes a Virtual Meeting Protocol.
The City of Hamilton's Design Review Panel is a voluntary technical panel that will provide expert and impartial design advice and guidance to Planning and Economic Development staff on urban design matters of development within Design Priority Areas.
The Design Priority Areas include:
- Downtown Hamilton Secondary Plan Area
- Areas of major change and corridors of gradual change within the West Harbour Secondary Plan Area
- Primary corridors as shown on Schedule E of the Urban Hamilton Official Plan
- Any other large scale project across the City selected by the Director of Planning
The panel is strictly an advisory body and makes recommendations. It does not have the authority to approve or refuse projects or make policy decisions, or recommendations on land use.
Dates: Meetings occur on the 2nd Thursday of the month.
Time: Meetings are held in the afternoon, see agenda as times may vary.
Virtual Meetings. To attend, contact [email protected] by 12 noon the day before the meeting to receive the meeting link via email.
Reminder: DRP meetings are open to the public for observation only.
We ask all applicants/agents to arrive 15 minutes prior to the indicated start-time of your application.
2023 Meetings
Upcoming Meeting Date | Submission Deadline |
---|---|
May 11, 2023 | April 21, 2023 |
June 8, 2023 | May 19, 2023 |
July 13, 2023 | June 23, 2023 |
August 10, 2023 | July 21, 2023 |
September 14, 2023 | August 25, 2023 |
October 12, 2023 | September 22, 2023 |
November 9, 2023 | October 20, 2023 |
December 14, 2023 | November 24, 2023 |
Agenda | Submission/Summary |
---|---|
Time: 1:30pm |
Applicant Summary: 92-100 John Street N & 61-81 Wilson Street(PDF, 288.47 KB) Design Brief: 92-100 John Street N & 61-81 Wilson Street(PDF, 25.88 MB) |
Time 2:45 |
Applicant Summary: 325 James Street North(PDF, 624.87 KB) |
Agenda | Submission/Summary |
---|---|
Time: 1:30 pm Site Address: 117 Jackson Street East Application Type: OPA/ZBA File Lead: Edward Winter Proponent: DiCenzo Construction Company Limited c/o Anthony Dicenzo |
Applicant Summary: 117 Jackson St E(PDF, 246.16 KB) Design Brief: 117 Jackson St E(PDF, 14.77 MB) |
Time: 2:45 pm Site Address: 392 Main Street West Application Type: Site Plan File Lead: Edward Winter Proponent: Main Margaret Inc. c/o Bousfields Inc. |
Applicant Summary: 392 Main St W(PDF, 617.71 KB) |
Agenda | Submission/Summary |
---|---|
Time: 1:30 pm Site Address: 1866 Rymal Road East Application Type: OPA/ZBA File Lead: Devom Morton Proponent: Jawid Fakiri via Agent Reema Masri |
Staff Summary: 1866 Rymal Rd E(PDF, 577.82 KB) Applicant Summary: 1866 Rymal Rd E(PDF, 305.75 KB) Design Brief: 1866 Rymal Rd E(PDF, 3.39 MB) Architecture Package: 1866 Rymal Rd E(PDF, 8.68 MB) Landscape Plan: 1866 Rymal Rd E(PDF, 452.34 KB) Pedestrian Wind Assessment: 1866 Rymal Rd E(PDF, 1.26 MB) |
Agenda | Submission/Summary |
---|---|
Time: 1:30 pm Site Address: 1284 Main Street East Application Type: OPA/ZBA File Lead: Daniel Barnett Proponent: Delta Joint Venture Inc. c/o GSP Group |
Applicant Submission: 1284 Main St E(PDF, 21.2 MB) Applicant Summary: 1284 Main St E(PDF, 902.16 KB) Supplementary Architecture Package(PDF, 6.78 MB) Urban Design Brief(PDF, 26.88 MB) Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment(PDF, 24.98 MB) Sun Shadow Study(PDF, 92.94 MB) Preliminary Landscape Plan(PDF, 6.59 MB) |
2022 Meetings
Agenda | Submission Package | Video/Meeting Summary |
---|---|---|
Time: 1:30 pm Site Address: 499 Mohawk Rd East Application Type: OPA/ZBA File Lead: Aminu Bello Proponent: 499 Mohawk Inc. c/o Urban Solutions Planning & Land Development Consultants Inc. |
Submission: 499 Mohawk Rd East(PDF, 20.84 MB)
|
Agenda | Submission Package | Video/Meeting Summary |
---|---|---|
Time: 1:30 pm Site Address: 1310 South Service Road Application Type: OPA/ZBA File Lead: Mark Michniak Proponent: Jennum Properties Inc. c/o The Planning Partnership |
Submission:1310 South Service Road(PDF, 20.75 MB) |
Agenda | Submission Package | Video/Summary |
---|---|---|
Time: 1:30 pm Site Address: 639 Rymal Rd W Application Type: OPA/ZBA File Lead: Tim Vrooman Proponent: DiCenzo Construction Company Limited |
Submission: 639 Rymal Rd W(PDF, 5.76 MB) Staff Summary: 639 Rymal Rd W(PDF, 247.36 KB) Applicant Summary: 639 Rymal Rd W.(PDF, 199.4 KB) |
Video: 639 Rymal Rd W |
Meeting cancelled due to lack of submissions.
Meeting cancelled due to lack of submissions.
Agenda | Submission Package | Video/Meeting Summary |
---|---|---|
Time: 1:30 pm Site Address: 186 Hunter St Application Type: OPA/ZBA File Lead: Alaina Baldassarra Proponent: Urban Solutions |
Submission: 186 Hunter St(PDF, 25.53 MB) Staff Summary: 186 Hunter St(PDF, 205.89 KB) |
|
Time: 2:45 pm Site Address: 166-190 Main St W Application Type: Site Plan File Lead: Mark Kehler Proponent: MHBC Planning |
Submission: 166-190 Main St W(PDF, 39.78 MB) |
Video: 166-190 Main St W Summary: 166-190 Main St W(PDF, 228.14 KB) |
Meeting cancelled due to lack of submissions.
Agenda | Submission Package | Video/Meeting Summary |
---|---|---|
Time: 1:30 pm Site Address: 462 Wilson St E Application Type: OPA/ZBA File Lead: James Van Rooi Proponent: 2691893 Ontario Inc. (c/o Ironpoint Capital Management Inc.) |
Submission: 462 Wilson St E(PDF, 84.5 MB) |
Video: 462 Wilson St E |
Time: 2:45 pm Site Address: 647 King St E Application Type: Site Plan File Lead: Jennifer Allen Proponent: Manni Chauhan |
Submission: 647 King St E(PDF, 6.55 MB) Staff Summary: 647 King St E(PDF, 183.86 KB) |
Video: 647 King St E |
Time: 4:00 pm Site Address: 22 Cannon St E Application Type: OPA/ZBA File Lead: Jennifer Allen Proponent: MHBC Planning Ltd. |
Submission: 22 Cannon St E(PDF, 16.21 MB) |
During the Formal Consultation stage, it will be determined if you application is subject to the Design Review Panel.
If the DRP is identified as a requirement, the applicant will need to:
- submit a request for a DRP meeting
- submit a detailed submission package (at least 5 weeks prior to the DRP meeting)
DRP Submission Package
The purpose of the submission package is to provide the information needed for review and evaluation of the development proposal by DRP. It should highlight the key urban design features of a development proposal and explain why the proposed development represents the most appropriate design solution.
The submission package is prepared by the applicant and must include these materials:
- Completed applicant project summary sheet.
- Photographs of the surrounding streetscape and adjacent lands to illustrate existing site conditions and surrounding context, along with a map identifying where each photo is taken.
- A design brief (approximately 4 pages in length) that includes a:
- concise summary and response to the applicable City urban design policies and guidelines;
- contextual analysis that discusses/illustrates abutting properties, key destinations and linkages within a 100m radius (a larger radius may be requested for larger/more complex projects). The contextual analysis should include:
- transportation networks for cars, cyclists and pedestrians
- focal points/nodes
- gateways
- parks/open spaces
- topography
- views towards the site
- the urban pattern (streets, blocks)
- future and current proposals
- public art
- heritage resources
- height analysis of the surrounding context for all tall building proposals
- Models and/or illustrations that show the project massing and relationships in its urban context.
- Detailed perspective drawings or computer models, placing particular emphasis on the first few storeys and how the project responds and relates to its urban context. Perspective drawings should be set within the existing streetscape, indicating compatibility with development on both sides of the street. The intent is to show the Panel how the proposed development’s design and scale relate to the existing context.
- Massing illustrations to provide the Panel with an understanding of the overarching approach to the design of the site
- Site Plan with all dimensions in metric as well as adjacent properties and buildings.
- Landscape Plan.
- A plan showing existing and proposed servicing, if requested by City staff during formal consultation.
- Section and floor plans.
- Building elevations detailing proposed materials and colours.
- Sun/shadow and wind studies (if requested by City staff during formal consultation).
- Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment (if requested by City staff during formal consultation).
All material is to be submitted to the DRP Coordinator in two formats:
- paper format: 14 hard copies (11x17 inch size)
- electronic format: PDF format (11x17 inch size) on a CD or USB stick
Presenting at Meeting
You will need to present your development proposal at the DRP meeting.The purpose of the presentation is to provide an opportunity for the applicant to explain the project to the panel members including: context of the project, its design, rationale and intent.
The presentation may be prepared as a PowerPoint Presentation or it can be mounted on panels of no larger than 0.9m x 1.2m (3’ x 4’) in size.
Deadline: The presentation must be submitted at least one week before the DRP meeting. It cannot contain material that was not included in the submission package.
The City’s DRP began as a pilot program in 2014 and the first full four-year term will be completed in December 2020. As Hamilton continues to experience significant revitalization across the City as our built environment evolves, we look to our DRP as an essential aspect of the development process to ensure high quality design.
While the Panel does not have the authority to approve or refuse projects, or make policy decisions, DRP members provide feedback to Planning staff on matters such as:
- The potential physical and aesthetic impacts of proposed developments
- Landscapes, streetscapes, parks, and infrastructure projects
- Supporting creative and unique design solutions
- Fostering an effective relationship with the development industry
- Improving the quality of urban design in Hamilton
- Increasing public awareness about urban design in Hamilton
Composition of the Panel
There are nine members on this panel that consist of:
- architects
- planners
- urban designers
- landscape architects
- heritage professionals
- green technology specialists
The recommendations of the panel are forwarded to Planning and Economic Development staff who accept them as input through the planning process and utilize these recommendations to shape the staff recommendation (or in the case of site plans the staff decision) going forward.
Panel members for 2021 to 2024
- David Clusiau OAA, AIBC, FRAIC, LEED AP (Architect)
- Dayna Edwards MCIP, RPP, LEED AP (Planner and Urban Designer)
- Joey Giaimo OAA, MRAIC, CAHP (Architect and Heritage Specialist)
- Hoda Kameli AAPQ, Associate Member OALA (Landscape Architect)
- Jana Kelemen MCIP, RPP (Planner and Urban Designer)
- Jennifer Mallard OAA, MRAIC, AIA (Architect)
- Jennifer Sisson RPP, MCIP, OALA, CSLA (Landscape Architect and Planner)
- Eldon Theodore MCIP RPP (Planner)
- Ted Watson OAA, Int’l Assoc. AIA, FRAIC, LEED AP, SCUP (Architect)