What we learned from pop-up engagement
Milieu’s on-going goal is to facilitate a human-centered approach to urban planning and development.
As part of this approach, we conducted a pop-up engagement as part of our partnership with the City of Guelph’s Civic Accelerator. We ‘popped-up’ in busy places around Guelph, like the Guelph Public Library, and the Guelph West-End Recreational Centre.
We spoke with passers-by to get their feedback about our tool, www.milieu.io, and get their take on urban planning in Guelph.
(Pictured) On December 8th, 2016 we brought www.milieu.io to residents in partnership with the City of Guelph.
Here are 6 things we learned from the local residents:
- Residents are aware of developments in their community.
- Developments are often only seen when construction is already underway.
- Information is shared mostly by word-of-mouth.
- If individuals are confident that their voice will be heard, then they will participate.
- There is a need for quick and easy information about urban planning and developments.
- Engagement with residents needs to feel relevant and personal.
This was part of our online/in-person combined approach. We want to highlight how important it is to engage communities where they live. Our pop-up engagement brought seven groups of questions to the residents of Guelph about urban planning and development, but our intention was to keep the conversation natural so residents could best express their needs.
Question 1: What’s being built in the city?
We asked the participating residents whether they knew about some recent developments in Guelph.
171 Kortright Road West
The development consists of a student housing complex that replaces the former St. Matthias Church property. The developer, HIP Development Inc., applied to change zoning from an institutional — educational, spiritual and other services zone to a specialized residential apartment zone. Final plans for the property allow for a five-storey apartment building with 81 units.
“ Neighbours protesting against the project do not have the resources to sustain the legal process or hire good lawyers. I found out through reading the Tribune newspaper.”
5 Arthur Street South
A new condo and townhouse development by Fusion Homes is currently under construction in the downtown core. The development has a total of 650 units and is expected to be finished by the end of 2016.
“There are four high-rise buildings down on Arthur Street — I’m pleased! They look nice and they’re in a good spot.”
“A brand new development is almost finished, called the MetalWorks factory. You should check out their website. They’ve used tons of green space.”
Question 2: How did you find out about that development?
We asked the participants how they found out about the developments they mentioned. Some mentioned seeing notice signs. One man mentioned hearing about it on local radio. There was a general sense that Guelph Mercury Tribune, one of Guelph’s leading newspapers, was also a good resource for hearing about what was being built in Guelph.
The developments mentioned above are all are available for viewing on the City of Guelph Planning and Development website. However, the majority of people claimed to have become aware of them just by walking or driving by construction of development.
Question 3: What is your reaction when you see a new development or a site plan?
Several people said they felt surprised upon seeing a new development, perhaps because many of the same people said that they were unaware of the development until construction had begun.
The first point of contact with a development can be simply visual. One participant mentioned that they “…just hope that the development looks nice.”
Or, sometimes a site plan can create excitement. A grandmother and her young grand-daughter mentioned their anticipation of a new splash pad to the South End Community Park, off Clair Road West.
The grand-daughter said,
“There was supposed to be a splash pad at the park, they had put up a sign.”
The grandmother added,
“Unfortunately, it was only finished in September, when the summer was over.”
Question 4: What frustrates you about the development process?
Traffic is a big concern for drivers, cyclists and even pedestrians.
“I feel a lack of consideration in transportation in planning. Inconsistent road constructions and dangerous bike routes really frustrate me,”
One participant said. Several residents made note of narrow roads and pathways, causing problems in accessibility and congestion.
Residents care about how buildings and developments look in the context of their neighborhood. “I don’t like seeing big and ugly developments that don’t match community buildings,” one participant stated.
When it comes to accessing information about planning and development, there is a need for quick and easy information.
“I’d rather review information online and spend ten minutes online than participate in person. I’d like to get involved, but sometimes life happens.”
a young father said. Similar comments arose about their lack of time for community involvement: “There is a lot going on in my daily life, but I would like to participate more if I had more energy.”
There are also many reasons that citizens don’t participate in urban planning, but the most common problem seemed to be a feeling that their voice won’t be heard. For developments encountered during the planning process, at least half the participants expressed a sense of helplessness.
“When I see notice signs for developments, I feel like there is nothing I can do about it.”
One participant noted that “small businesses cannot compete with big stores,” but he feels there is nothing he can do about the situation: “I generally accept it and move on.”
On the other hand, if a resident feels confident about community groups and decision makers in their community, they are more likely to get involved.
“I don’t stress [about community engagement]. There are people in the city that do good.”
Question 5: Have you attended a public consultation? What would make you go to a public consultation?
Usually, we have personal reason for attending a public consultation. Many residents of Guelph expressed that they would not attend a public consultation unless they were angry enough about a development.
A mother with a daughter in her twenties with a medical condition shared her experience about seeking out affordable housing. She discovered that there was nothing to rent for her daughter that fell in between affordable housing and social housing. She explained,
“The social housing list is difficult for my daughter to get in because her medical condition, autism spectrum disorder, does not qualify to receive relief.”
This prompted the mother to write a proposal for innovative housing partnership that addresses the crack between the two programs, targeting citizens with an “invisible condition” such as her daughter.
Question 6: Have you ever contacted city staff about a development?
There were mixed reviews about emailing the city about developments. Two participants complained that city staff was slow at returning their messages. Alternatively, two participants said that they had gotten and a quick and satisfying reply within a few days.
“When I called the city to ask about what is being built, I was redirected several times before I got any information,” one woman said.
If it is guaranteed that comments and concerns submitted online are read by the city staff, participants are more than willing to contact their MP. “Delegates should openly advertise their responsibility to listen,” one said.
Another participant expressed that she would feel more comfortable communicating if there is someone, perhaps a community association, that can represent her.
Question 7: Do you share information about developments with people you know? What would make you share?
For everyone we asked, word-of-mouth was the most powerful way to share information about developments. When the information was interesting, controversial, or personal to residents, it was more likely to be talked about with family and friends.
In conclusion:
Low levels of community engagement can be indicative of how a city feels about a process. Good community engagement can build positive working relationships between communities and decision makers, like city councillors, and urban planners. Understanding the perspectives, opinions, and concerns of residents is the first step to building better cities together.
