Anita Yu, Senior Associate, Turner Fleischer Architects; and Anthony Di Santo, Manager of Development, FRAM Slokker, provided an overview of the Brightwater Redevelopment and highlighted key accessibility features and design components including circulation features; common spaces and amenities; barrier free units; and barrier free kitchens and kitchenettes.
Members of Committee provided suggestions and accessibility considerations related to: the placement of handrails; accessible laundry spaces; colour contrast considerations; tactile indicators in front of the elevators; use of the dynamic symbol in signage; accessible seating in vestibules; placement and varying height for coat hooks and light switches; lighting lux and intensity; placement of garbage receptacles; audio and visual emergency alarm indicators; fully equipped kitchen cabinets; landscape maintenance, set-backs and overgrowth; pet and service animal relieving stations; micro-mobility and EV charging stations; affordability; additional accessible parking spaces; aging in place and universal design considerations.
Anita Yu, Senior Associate, Turner Fleischer Architects stated that feedback received from the committee would be brought back to the project team for discussion and consideration.
In response to a question from Committee member Husain regarding the use of the Region of Peel accessibility features guidelines, Veronica Montesdeoca, Accessibility Planning Specialist, advised that the Region of Peel guidelines are outdated and that staff utilized, in addition to other pieces of legislation, the CMHC National Housing Co-Investment Fund Environmental & Accessibility Requirements for new construction design guidelines for the project.
Marwan Kassay, Housing Development Project Manager, stated that Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation funding requires that 21 per cent of units be fully barrier-free, and that the entire project site be universally designed.