Master regulatory compliance, enforce sustainable design criteria, and streamline site plan reviews to build resilient, thriving communities.
Municipal urban design plays a critical role in shaping how communities grow, balancing development objectives with the public interest and long-term city-building goals. This practical session explores how urban design connects planning policy, architecture, landscape, transportation, mobility, safety, and the public realm. Using the City of Vaughan as a municipal context, participants will examine the urban design review process for Official Plan and Zoning By-Law applications, Site Plan Applications, Subdivision and Block Plans, and related development proposals. The session will highlight common design issues, review considerations, approval requirements, and the use of local and international precedents to achieve better outcomes for urban spaces and places.
Key Topics Discussed:
Urban Designer | City of Vaughan
Alex Yang is an Urban Designer with the City of Vaughan, Ontario, Canada, specializing in Development Planning. In this role, Yang serves as a municipal staff resource supporting the City of Vaughan Design Review Panel on development, parks, and open space planning initiatives. Prior to working in public sector municipal planning, Yang gained experience in the private sector with NAK Design Strategies. Yang holds a degree from the University of Toronto.
Urban Designer | City of Vaughan
Ben Nagarajah is an urban designer and development planning professional with the City of Vaughan. Based at the Vaughan Civic Centre, Ben specializes in municipal urban design, infrastructure planning, and environmental assessments. Dedicated to sustainable community growth, he collaborates across municipal teams to review and advance key regional development and parks planning files.
