proposed residential development – urban design brief

PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT – URBAN DESIGN BRIEF

1187 BURNHAMTHORPE ROAD EAST

PREPARED FOR: THE TOWN OF OAKVILLE

PREPARED BY: KORSIAK URBAN PLANNING & JRI ARCHITECTS

VISION

INTRODUCTION

ZOROASTRIANISM

CONTEXT ANALYSIS

SURROUNDING LAND USES

ROAD, TRANSIT, CYCLING AND TRAIL NETWORK

PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

POLICY CONTEXT

NORTH OAKVILLE URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINES

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ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN PRINCIPLES

SITE PLAN AND MASSING

SITE ACCESS AND CIRCULATION

VEHICULAR CIRCULATION AND PARKING

BUILDING DESIGN

FAÇADE ARTICULATION

COLOUR AND MATERIALS

ELEVATIONS

FRONT

SIDE

REAR

CONCLUSION

VISION

INTRODUCTION

Korsiak Urban Planning and JRI Architects have

prepared this Urban Design Brief on behalf of

the Ontario Zoroastrian Community

Foundation. The purpose of this brief is to

establish the contextual relationship of the

proposed development to adjacent buildings,

streets, and areas. Further, it will provide an

illustrated explanation of how the overall

design responds to the physical context of the

site and its surroundings, taking into account

the intent of the North Oakville Urban Design

& Open Space Guidelines.

LOCATION CONTEXT

The subject lands are located on the northern

side of Burnhamthorpe Road East, between

Ninth Line and Trafalgar Road. Further north of

the property is the 407 Express Toll Route.

VISION

ZOROASTRIANISM

Zoroastrians are the followers of the Persian prophet Zarathushtra who lived and preached the first monotheistic religion in the

world approximately 3,500 years ago. After the fall of the Persian Empire, Zoroastrian followers became scarce with only a few who

chose to leave Iran rather than face persecution or conversion. According to a 2012 study completed by The Federation of

Zoroastrian Associations of North America, Canada is home to the fourth largest population of Zoroastrians, with a population of

approximately 6,400 individuals of the estimated 120,000 worldwide.

An Agiyari (fire temple in English) is the place of worship for Zoroastrians. As of 2017, there are only 27 temples, outside of those in

India, worldwide. Only two other Zoroastrian temples are in Canada, ‘Meherban Gutv Daremeher’ located in Toronto and ‘Arbab

Rustam Gutv Daremeher’ located in Burnaby, British Columbia. Zoroastrian temples, or a ‘Charar-Taqi Fire Temple’ (meaning four

directions), are designed with the walls and openings facing the four cardinal directions. The alignment of the walls with the solar-

based cardinal points is designed to use the position of the sun at sunrise, noon-meridian, and sunset to determine seasons and

significant days of the year.

CONTEXT ANALYSIS

SURROUNDING LAND USES

NORTH

To the north of the property is vacant land which is part of the

1141 Burnhamthorpe Road East property. Beyond that is

farmlands, followed by the 407 Express Toll Route.

SOUTH

The southern border of the property is Burnhamthorpe Road

East. The vacant on the other side of Burnhamthorpe Road East

will be future residential subdivisions developed by Mattamy

Homes. Located southeast of the site is the Joshua Creek Driving

Range and Tennis Facility and located southwest of the site is the

Joshua Creek Heritage Art Centre.

WEST

On the west border of the property is 1141 Burnhamthorpe

Road East which is the site of a residential dwelling and a number

of older barns and related agricultural structures. The

surrounding land is vacant, apart from farmlands located further

north. Further west is a residential dwelling and farmland

(Twinholm Farms).

EAST

On the east border of the property is 1265 Burnhamthorpe

Road East which is the site of a single residential dwelling and an

older barn. The site looks to be the base of operations for

surrounding agricultural land. Further east is vacant land and a

dog boarding facility.

CONTEXT ANALYSIS

ROAD,TRANSIT, CYCLING,AND TRAIL NETWORK

Due to the remote location, of the subject lands, roughly 2 kilometres from the nearest existing residential subdivision, access is fairly

restricted to automobiles. The nearest transit stop is the bus stop on Trafalgar Road at Burnhamthorpe Road serviced by Oakville

Transit Route 1, and GO Transit Line 20 and Line 46. Burnhamthorpe Road East does not currently have sidewalks or a dedicated bike

lane.

Trafalgar &

Burnhamthorpe

Bus Stop

CONTEXT ANALYSIS

PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The goal in developing 1187 Burnhamthorpe Road East is to establish a consecrated place of worship for the existing congregation

and to consider additional future uses that will aim to create and promote diverse communities in the Town of Oakville through

thoughtful design and architectural distinction. The proposal promotes the development of the site based on the strategic set of

design guidelines outlined by the North Oakville Urban Design & Open Space Guidelines.

The site planning focuses on the Burnhamthorpe Road Corridor initiatives by providing pedestrian-oriented design based on the

following design objectives:

• The proposed site will incorporate vast landscaped areas to allow for plant diversity while also providing retreat areas for

community members.

The proposed 2 storey development focuses on religious high quality architectural excellence through the following design objectives:

• The building is highly articulated to meet the currentTown of Oakville urban design standards.

• A contemporary approach to traditional vernacular architecture is utilized to fit in with the surrounding sites while providing a

combined modern/traditional addition along Burnhamthorpe Road East.

• Various forms of landscaping are integrated into the design of the building and around the site to reinforce the Towns initiatives on

Open Space Components and to enhance green linkages across the urban core.

The proposed project aims to comply with the Town’s vision and objectives for the future of North Oakville along the

Burnhamthorpe Road Corridor area by adding a mix of uses in the long term, and creating a well-designed religious building.

POLICY CONTEXT – NORTH OAKVILLE URBAN DESIGN & OPEN SPACE GUIDELINES

DESIGN GUIDELINES

3.5.2 Places of Worship

a) Places of Worship should be easily accessible by pedestrians,

cyclists and transit.

Pedestrian connections are proposed from the parking lot. As the

congregation will not change with the new place of worship, it is not

anticipated that there will be any foot traffic from Burnhamthorpe Road E.

However, pedestrian connections will be provided to the site at full-buildout

when transit service is available on Burnhamthorpe Road East.

b) Places of Worship are encouraged to be located at an

intersection and should address both street frontages.

N/A

c) When not sited at an intersection, Places of Worship should

directly front on to an Arterial/Transit Corridor, Avenue/

Transit Corridor, or Connector/Transit Corridor.

A religious requirement determined the proposed north-south orientation of

the building and the building is sited internal to the site in order to be seen

from the street as the landmark that it is intended to be. Constraints such as

the existing congregation hall and the watercourse floodplain minimize

opportunities to front directly onto Burnhamthorpe Road East at this time.

The place of worship is sited so that it can be developed using existing private

servicing, driveway access, and parking.

d) Places of Worship are strongly encouraged to be located

on the edges of residential areas or within the Urban Core

areas.

The place of worship is proposed in the transitional area, across

Burnhamthorpe Road East from future residential subdivisions.

e) Places of Worship should minimize floor area by creating

multi-level buildings to accommodate accessory and, if

applicable, complementary uses.

When municipal servicing is available, the OZCF will develop a second floor

on the place of worship to serve as a priest’s residence. The ground floor has

been designed to accommodate required religious components.

f) See Section 3.12. Vehicular Parking for parking

requirements.

The proposed place of worship will continue to use an existing parking lot.

However, parking will be redesigned at full build-out.


SITE PLANNING AND MASSING

The proposed site plan complies with the Town of Oakville’s development and design guidelines by providing an aesthetically pleasing

streetscape that includes substantial landscaping.

• A religious requirement determined the proposed north-south orientation of the building and the building is sited internal to the

site in order to be seen from the street as the landmark that it is intended to be. Constraints such as the existing congregation hall

and the watercourse floodplain minimize opportunities to front directly onto Burnhamthorpe Road East at this time. The place of

worship is sited so that it can be developed using existing private servicing, driveway access, and parking.

• The intent of the proposal is to achieve the high-quality design and development standards desired for Oakville’s Burnhamthorpe

Road area.

• The layout provides safe and efficient servicing and vehicular access to the site.

• The building location of the proposal complies with the Town’s Zoning By-laws by providing a sufficient landscape buffer zone.

• The building is surrounded by a bed of landscaped areas and the site offers a variety of types of landscape that range in texture and

scale.

• The use of planters provides softer edges around the religious building while a mix of high and low plants, including some smaller

trees, will provide shade and a garden-like atmosphere for community members.

• The massing of the project has been organized in a manner that addresses the importance of its religious matter, following the four

cardinal points, while also having a presence on Burnhamthorpe Road.

• The 2-storey building’s mass is broken by a few series of smaller bays that promote pedestrian scale on grade, visually creating a

formal procession to the religious building.

• The site is connected throughout with sidewalks and landscaped stairs from Burnhamthorpe Road.

• The building has been designed well back of the setback to accommodate its religious procession to the building.


SITE ACCESS AND CIRCULATION: VEHICULAR

CIRCULATION & PARKING

• Vehicular access is provided off of Burnhamthorpe Road East

and surface parking will provide parking for visitors.

• The parking area is located towards the south of the site,

screened from streets by landscaping and the existing

community center.

• An existing landscape buffer to the east of the site will

remain to visually screen the parking area.

• The fire truck route is designed to fulfill OBC requirements.


BUILDING DESIGN: FAÇADE ARTICULATION

The building takes a contemporary/traditional approach to vernacular architecture. It is distinctive in its architectural form making it

unique to North Oakville. The building is designed with large open wings that are inviting to all worshippers and that allow

congregation space around the entire building. High quality design will be achieved through fine detailing of the stone masonry,

paneled precast, accent religious panels, and through careful attention to detail for glazing portions and sizes.

• The podium/base of the building is designed with a more traditional approach using solid forms to create a strong presence for the

temple base.

• The building features a ‘stepped up’ design from the front entry towards the prayer hall at the back of the building.

• The front mass is designed with traditional large bond stone and the prayer hall is designed with contemporary extra large stone

packed panels.

• High quality materials, such as precast and/or stone will be utilized, in combination with aluminum frames.

• Special attention to detail and craftsmanship will be given to this portion of the building for the entrance and pedestrian

scale.

• Windows will be included in the building where possible, however due to religious laws regarding the allowance of light into the

temple they will require special placement.

• Boxed accents on the main facades will be articulated with religious panels, which will add texture and special features to the

overall façade design.

• Sidelights will be used between religious panels near the entrance doors to enhance the architectural details of the façade.


BUILDING DESIGN: COLOUR AND MATERIALS

• The podium portion of the building will be dominated by natural limestone colouring for the stone and/or precast.

• Darker, monochromatic colours will be used within the accent bands that wrap other areas of the building.

• The glazed guards and balcony will add additional colours to the overall aesthetics of the building.

• Additional glazing on the building will be done in a stone colour to match the aluminum frames and maintain the overall neutral

color palette.

• Major building materials

include:

• Stone

• Precast concrete

• Glazing in aluminum

frames

• Glass for rails and the

balcony

• Religious stone cast

panels


ELEVATIONS - FRONT

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ELEVATIONS – SIDE (SOUTH)

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ELEVATIONS – SIDE (NORTH)

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ELEVATIONS - REAR

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CONCLUSION

The proposed temple design has incorporated religious requirements into a highly articulated landmark building, visible

from Burnhamthorpe Road East and sited amongst existing trees.

Further design and landscaping details will be provided in the coming months when the site plan application is submitted.

We will revisit the North Oakville Urban Design & Open Space Guidelines with Town staff when additional development is

contemplated for this site.

proposed residential development – urban design brief

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