Tag Archives: City

Zoning Bylaw Amendments in Established Neighbourhoods

VVCA News & Events, , ,

The City of Saskatoon, Planning and Development Division has been preparing proposed amendments to the Zoning Bylaw regulating primary dwellings (one-unit, two-unit and semi-detached dwellings) in established neighbourhoods. We have been working hard over the past few months to achieve a set of amendments which will encourage sensitive infill development and allow design flexibility for builders.

Included are changes to the standards for building height, building length, site width, and front porch encroachments. There are also proposed changes to the Sidewalk Crossing Bylaw to disallow curb cuts and driveway crossings in the older neighbourhoods. The information will be posted on the City of Saskatoon website prior to the meeting.

A public information meeting will be held on

Thursday, October 30 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Presentations will occur at 5:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (the same material will be presented at both times)
Mayfair Library 306 – 33rd Street West.

In order to focus on the guidelines for primary dwellings, the amendments to regulate small scale multiple unit dwellings on corner sites (four per corner) will be deferred until early 2015.

For more information, please contact Paula Kotasek-Toth at paula.kotasek@saskatoon.ca or call 306-975-7621

Varsity View Neighbourhood Traffic Review

VVCA News & Events, , ,

Thursday, December 11, 2014
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Albert Community Centre
610 Clarence Avenue South

Residents of the Varsity View neighbourhood are invited to attend a public meeting to review and discuss a draft traffic plan for their area. The meeting will be hosted by the City of Saskatoon, Transportation Division.

On January 21, 2014 Varsity View residents participated in discussions and identified ideas and solutions to address traffic concerns in their neighbourhood. Based on feedback and information received during this meeting, other sources, traffic counts and existing traffic studies, the Transportation Division has prepared a draft area-wide traffic plan. The meeting on December 11th will provide Varsity View residents, business owners, property owners, local groups and other stakeholders an opportunity to comment on specific traffic adjustments being proposed for this neighbourhood.

Please join us as we discuss the traffic issues that affect you and your neighbourhood.

Please send comments to:
Justine Nyen, Traffic Safety Engineer
Transportation & Utilities Department, City of Saskatoon
222-3rd Avenue North Saskatoon, S7K 0J5
Email: justine.nyen@saskatoon.ca Ph: (306) 975-2454 Fax: (306) 975-2971

“Like A Girl” Event

VVCA News & Events, , ,

The City of Saskatoon has partnered with SaskSport and Women in Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation to present another “Like A Girl” Event for young women between 10 – 14. This event will take place at the SaskTel Soccer Centre on Sunday, September 14th with registration at 12 Noon and the event running from 12:25 – 5:00 pm.

Special facilitators and sports being presented are as follows:

Heather Moyse – Rugby
A multi-sport athlete with accomplishments including Bobsleigh Olympic gold medalist (2010, 2014); Rugby Sevens World Cup silver medalist (2013); 4th in match sprint at PamAm Track Cycling Championships (2012).

Shannon Comerford – Fencing
A member of the Canadian Women’s Foil Senior National Team who has earned silver medals at the Pan American Championships (2009 to present).

Ashley Olynick- Golf
A member of PGA of Canada and a certified personal coach at GolfTec. She played collegiate golf at Texas A&M University Corpus-Christi and was player of the year in 2009.

Miranda Biletski – Wheelchair Rugby
A member of Team Canada who has achieved a bronze medal at the American Zonals (2009), silver medal at Four Nations (2010), 5th place World Championships (2010), bronze medal at World Challenge (2013) and silver medal at America’s Zonals (2013).

Please call (306) 975-3378 to register.

Meet The Artist: Heather Shillinglaw

VVCA News & Events, , ,

Shillinglaw artwork: Sweetgrass Sway
The City of Saskatoon is hosting a public art presentation by Sweetgrass Sway artist
Heather Shillinglaw. The public is invited to meet the artist and hear her talk about her
artwork. Sweetgrass Sway is a temporary public art project comprised of 12 feather
shaped flags with images of sweetgrass on them and arranged in the infinity symbol.
It is currently installed at the entrance to Cosmopolitan Park at the top of the University
Bridge and end of College Drive through the City’s temporary public art Placemaker
Program.

The presentation will be:
Saturday, August 23rd, 2014
11 am
Kehrig Gallery
8th Floor of The Bessborough Hotel
803 – 601 Spadina Crescent East

Shillinglaw Poster

For more information about the Placemaker Program, please visit www.saskatoon.ca
and search under “P” for Placemaker Program.

City Proposed Infill Regulations

VVCA News & Events, ,

The Neighbourhood Level Infill Strategy (Strategy) made recommendations to address concerns regarding infill development that is currently occurring in established residential areas within Saskatoon. The Strategy recommended amending the development standards contained in the City of Saskatoon’s (City) Zoning Bylaw No. 8770 for primary dwellings (one-unit, two-unit, and semi-detached dwellings), and small multi-unit dwellings (up to four units) on corner lots. The Planning and Development Division is proposing changes to the Zoning Bylaw that will ensure that these types of infill development are more compatible with existing residential development.

Background and information materials will be available on www.saskatoon.ca, click “I” for Infill Development Strategy, along with the opportunity for residents to submit comments online.

The Strategy is one component of the overall Growing Forward! Shaping Saskatoon project to help guide investments to accommodate Saskatoon’s growth to half a million people.

Bike to Work Day

VVCA News & Events, ,

The Bridge City Bicycle Co-op and In Motion are pleased to present Saskatoon’s second annual Bike To Work Day on June 4, 2014

About Bike To Work Day:

The mission of Bike To Work Day (BTWD) Saskatoon is to attract new cyclists to commuting while celebrating the efforts of those that already use their bikes to get to and from work.

We aim to have a network of Commuter Stations in locations around the city from 7 – 9am on the morning of Wednesday, June 4th, 2014. Local businesses and organizations in Saskatoon are invited to participate in BTWD by hosting a Commuter Station – a place for commuters to stop for grab-and-go refreshments, information, and a little fun on their way to work.

Benefits of Cycling to Work

Cycling is a healthy, convenient, low-cost and socially responsible form of everyday transportation that improves our community by decreasing traffic congestion and reducing air pollution. We hope this event inspires more people to use their bicycles for regular, active transportation and experience the benefits of increased mental and physical health upon arriving at work.

Host a Commuter Station:

If your business or organization is interested in hosting a Commuter Station, please read through the details on www.biketoworksaskatoon.com and submit a Commuter Station Request Form. Please note that filling out a form implies agreement to adhere to the commitments and responsibilities as outlined in the Station Manager’s Guide on the BTWD website.

March Greetings from your Councillor

VVCA News & Events,

Dear Varsity View residents:

The best thing about winter in Saskatchewan is how it helps us appreciate the longer and warmer days of spring. I love those first warm days in Saskatoon when people flood out onto the MVA trails and parks and share the euphoria of the new season – hopefully coming soon.

As you read this we are right in the final stages of getting the Varsity View Local Area Plan to City Council. Thanks so much to all of the residents who have spent their valuable evenings in meetings with each other debating ideas for your neighbourhood into the future on parking, traffic, parks, infill, cycling, safety, the University, and more. The document is rich with information and ideas about Varsity View and worth reading especially if you live there! It is available on-line – probably easiest to find if you search Varsity View Local Area Plan on Google.

(City of Saskatoon link to VVCA LAP)

I am interested to hear your feedback about the snow clearing/removal operations that we have had so far in 2013/14. While we didn’t have as much snow as last year, with the additional funding from the budget we did change quite a few things up and are doing a review of the program to see what worked and didn’t work. I am also hopeful that we are going to see a much improved street sweeping program this spring too.

The Neighbourhood Infill Design Guidelines/Granny suite recommendations should be coming to Council this spring – after a great deal of work by many Ward 6 residents providing input and direction to this process.

We are also into a very important stage with the Growth planning work we are doing through the Growing Forward/Shaping Saskatoon planning process. We are getting down to brass tacks on overhauling and modernizing the Transit system, developing an Active Transportation Master Plan, determining the best way to build “density corridors” and sorting out the best way to get people across the river. This is laying a foundation now for a new design our City for the future. There will be more public meetings, and you can check out www.growingfwd.ca to learn more and provide your ideas.

If you want more information on this or anything else – please check our my website at www.charlieclark.ca – and you can sign up for my riveting civic e-newsletter too!

Enjoy the spring!
Charlie Clark
306 229.4447
Charlie.clark@saskatoon.ca
@charlieclark6 on Twitter

Earth Hour 2014

VVCA News & Events, ,

As many of you may know, Earth Hour 2014 is just around the corner! On Saturday, March 29th at 8:30pm, the City of Saskatoon will join others from across Saskatoon (and around the world) to take part in this global event to acknowledge the importance of environmental awareness and action, during and beyond the hour.

This year, the City of Saskatoon is inviting community associations, businesses, organizations, students and community members to share their Earth Hour stories online. An online forum is available at http://shapingsaskatoon.ca/forums/earth-hour for people to post why they feel earth hour is important, how they’ve participated in the past, and what they’re planning this year. We hope members of your community association will consider contributing to this online discussion, as well as help us spread the word by sharing this opportunity with friends, family, and colleagues.

Saskatoon Transit is also offering FREE Transit on Saturday, March 29, 2014 from 7:30 pm until 1:00 am as a way of showing support for action on climate change. Reduce your footprint and save money by giving transit a try!

We also encourage you to post your Earth Hour photos online to show the world how you’re participating in Earth Hour! Simply post your photos to your Facebook or Twitter account on March 29 with the hashtag #yxeEarthHour to show how you’re taking action on climate change. Two lucky winners will be drawn to receive a 1 month bus pass and transit promo prize pack from Saskatoon Transit!

To find out more about Earth Hour 2014, please visit: http://www.saskatoon.ca/departments/utility%20services/environmental%20services/pages/earthhour.aspx

Varsity View LAP Moving Forward!

VVCA News & Events, , ,

The Varsity View Local Area Plan (LAP) continues to move forward toward adoption by City Council.
The tentative schedule includes:
• Municipal Planning Commission – Tuesday, March 18th (noon – Committee Room A – City Hall),
• Neighbourhood-wide come & go open house – Wednesday, March 19th (4:30pm-7:00pm – Brunskill School Library),
• Planning & Operations Committee – Tuesday, March 25th (noon – Committee Room A – City Hall),
• City Council – Monday, March 31st (7:00pm – City Council Chambers – City Hall).

Varsity View Neighbourhood Traffic Review

VVCA News & Events, , ,

The City of Saskatoon (COS) hosted the first in a series of traffic review meetings on January 21st at the Albert Community Center.  The purpose of this meeting was to collect resident and stakeholder feedback on new and existing traffic concerns in the Varsity View area.  This is the first of three meetings that will occur between the City, residents and stakeholders, with follow-up meetings being planned for spring and fall 2014.  It should be noted that this review is considering the Varisty View area, but not the Grosvenor Park area, as Grosvenor will have it’s own separate review.

During this session, residents and stakeholders were asked to give their feedback and suggestions on current traffic issues and potential solutions.  COS traffic engineers were in attendance to offer up suggestions on how other areas have overcome traffic issues.  Many issues and concerns were brought forward, but paramount to all these seemed to be the topic of pedestrian safety.  There was much discussion around the idea of lowering speed limits in the neighbourhood, as well as employing certain types of traffic calming measures such as speed bumps, curb extensions, and diverters to name a few.  It was pointed out that COS installed yield signs at all uncontrolled intersections in the fall of 2013.  Some residents felt that these yield signs were already having an effect on traffic behaviour.

Bicycle lanes were also an important topic.  Some in attendance confirmed that a proposal to add a bike lane to Wiggins Avenue has been temporarily set aside in lieu of the bike lane initiative just announced for downtown Saskatoon.  Others expressed concerns that a high volume of cyclists use sidewalks instead of roadways in the Varsity View area.

The Varsity View Parking Permit Zone was also discussed.  COS traffic engineers came prepared to speak to some concerns already expressed by residents.  In particular, extending the permit zone to include the side of the streets surrounding President Murray Park, as well as potentially extending the zone further back in Varsity View from where it is now.

The COS is hoping to collect feedback from residents and stakeholders on their concerns and potential suggestions.  The following website has been put in place by the city to post information on the traffic review process, and collect your feedback.  Please visit the website to submit your concerns and solutions on how we might face our traffic related challenges:

http://shapingsaskatoon.ca/discussions/varsity-view-neighbourhood-traffic-review

PLEASE NOTE, the deadline for submitting feedback in Varisty View is March 31st, 2014.

Varsity View Neighbourhood Traffic Concerns

VVCA News & Events, , ,

Tuesday, January 21, 2014
7:00 pm- 9:00 pm
Albert Community Centre
610 Clarence Avenue South

Residents of the Varsity View neighbourhood are invited to attend a public meeting to discuss traffic concerns in their area. The meeting will be hosted by the City of Saskatoon, Transportation Division.

A presentation will be made providing background information on the Traffic Management Program; as well as previously identified traffic concerns in the Varsity View neighbourhood. The presentation will be followed by a small group workshop to identify other traffic issues, and a question and answer session.

The Transportation Division will use the feedback received during the meeting to conduct appropriate traffic counts and studies. This information will be used to develop an area-wide plan for the Varsity View neighbourhood which will be presented in late 2014.

Varsity View Traffic Concerns Meeting.

Councillor’s Messages

VVCA News & Events,

JANUARY 2014

Happy New Year!

I hope you have all had a good Holiday season.   In this update I will touch on the 2014 Budget and the Infill Guideline situation.

Budget 2014

We completed the budgeting process in early December and passed the highest tax increase that I have seen – 7.4%.  This will result in about 108$ more per year (9$ a month) in property tax for a home worth $300,000.  I don’t take it lightly that we introduced this increase.  I believe that the increase in investment is needed to avoid paying even higher costs down the road if we allow our infrastructure to deteriorate further, but I also think that it compels us to make changes to how we do things to avoid these kind of increases into the future.

This will mean doing a meaningful review of our operations through empowering our staff, utilizing technology, and being willing to rethink our services in order to make the best of the resources we already have.  The recent street sweeping overhaul was one example of how we can improve things.

Second, as I have said before, we have to change the way we are growing our City.  Our own analysis is showing very clearly that right now growth is not paying for growth.   The new neighbourhoods we are adding to the outside edges of the City simply don’t cover the costs of what it takes to provide transit, fire, police, street sweeping, park maintenance, and transportation infrastructure it takes to keep them vital.  Channeling growth into a more compact form and building a transportation system that provides convenient alternatives to residents will be crucial to curtailing tax increases into the future.

I am as convinced as ever that we won’t be able to both keep taxes low and build urban sprawl.  I see no benefit in pitting suburban neighbourhoods against urban neighborhoods, this is not my intent.  What we need to do is take a look at these real costs and figure out as a whole City what the best growth model will be into the future.  This will be the focus of some very crucial planning over the next year as part of the “Growing Forward: Shaping our City” planning process.  More information can be found on my website or the City of Saskatoon website.

Infill Guidelines

The Infill Guideline process is moving forward and we have received the report developed with recommendations on guidelines for how to ensure new builds in old neighbourhoods fit in better and cause less harm to surrounding residents.  The document contains several key recommendations for protecting existing trees, ensuring that proper drainage plans are established, reducing the height of the sidewalls of new houses, and a number of other recommendations about the form that a building could take.  The report also recommends that garden and garage suites be allowed on a case by case basis after consultation, and that the City consider allowing up to 4 units to be developed on corner lots.

Now that the recommendations have been received, the details need to be worked out and formed into a bylaw.  There is a plan for a public meeting in the New Year to give people a chance to understand and discuss the recommendations further.  I have put a link to the whole report on my website at www.charlieclark.ca

If you want to get information on when this meeting will be or about other issues affecting Ward 6 and the City, please consider signing up to my E-newsletter which I send out about 3 times a month.  You can sign up easily through my website at www.charlieclark.ca

All the best!

Charlie Clark

School Zone Safety Reminders

VVCA News & Events, , ,

When the weather turns colder, more students are being driven to school. The City would like to remind drivers about the importance of “No Parking” and “No Stopping” zones as well as parking bylaws used for the safety of students. Drivers are asked to please obey signs when dropping off or picking up children from school.

“No Parking” and “No Stopping” zones ensure that drivers passing the school can clearly see anyone crossing the street.

“No Stopping” zones are created to address safety and avoid congestion. Stopping, even for a moment, to pick up or drop off passengers is prohibited.

Parking is prohibited in “No Parking” zones, even when the vehicle is occupied, unless you are actively engaged in the loading or unloading of merchandise or passengers. Drivers are NOT allowed to wait for their passengers while in a “No Parking” zone.

Other parking bylaws to remember in school zones to keep our children safe:

  • Keep “school bus” zones clear,
  • Leave 10 metres between your car and any marked crosswalk or intersection unless otherwise indicated by a sign or pavement marking,
  • Avoid double-parking, and
  • Stay back at least 1 metre from driveways and alley entrances/exits. Do not block driveways.
  • These bylaws are enforced by Saskatoon Police Services and City Parking Enforcement and may result in a fine. While not enforceable, drivers should also turn the ignition off when parked in the winter because the exhaust may affect visibility for pedestrians and drivers.