who we are and what we do

RFA planning consultant inc. is a professional consulting firm based in Belleville, providing land planning services since 1994.

The firm provides services in south-eastern Ontario municipalities including:

• City of Belleville
• City of Quinte West
• Prince Edward County
• Hastings County
• Lennox and Addington County
• City of Kingston
• Frontenac County
• Northumberland County

The firm is led by Ruth Ferguson Aulthouse, a widely recognized planner with over 25 years experience. The firm has a reputation for extensive knowledge of the planning process in south-eastern Ontario.

We are familiar with every stage of the development approval process for all types of development. The firm has been involved in a wide scope of residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional projects in urban, suburban and rural locations.

RFA provides a high level of client service, formulating reliable and effective recommendations for clients. There is a strong work ethic with on-time and on-budget delivery of services.

The firm understands how to create a working balance between private and public interests in land use planning. This creates a high level of success for our clients. Our goal is to foster progressive development and create attractive, livable communities.

ruth ferguson aulthouse MCIP, RPP

education

Bachelor of Environmental Studies
(Honours Urban and Regional Planning)
University of Waterloo, 1981

Municipal Administration Program
St. Lawrence College, Kingston, 1984

professional affiliations

• Member, Canadian Institute of Planners/Ontario Professional Planners Institute since 1983. Recipient of OPPI Volunteer Service Award.
• Member, Ontario Professional Planners Institute Disciplinary Committee, 1993 - 2003
• Representative-at-large/Secretary, Ontario Professional Planners Institute Executive Council, 1987 - 1992
• Director, Eastern Ontario District, Ontario Professional Planners Institute, 1985-86

professional experience

Ms. Ferguson Aulthouse is a registered professional planner who has practiced in Eastern Ontario for over twenty-five years. She established a Belleville-based planning consulting firm in 1994.

Since graduation from Waterloo University in 1981, Ms. Ferguson Aulthouse has worked in senior positions for the public and private sector. She possesses a broad range of planning experience and has been responsible for all phases of planning and development, from project initiation and design through to implementation and professional testimony at the OMB. A representative selection of assignments she has undertaken is outlined below.

official plan policy

• Chief Planner for the Batawa Development Corporation and Sonja Bata; Prepared “A Model for Sustainable Development in the Community of Batawa” planning report and land use plan; and “Official Plan Amendment 23” for the Batawa Special Policy Area, Adopted by Quinte West Council Dec, 2007.
• Project Planner for Hastings County Official Plan Update; prepared demographic and economic report for Background Study and Rural, Hamlet and Development policies for draft Official Plan.
• Prepared Residential Policies for the City of Belleville Official Plan Review, including intensification policies and land use review for 11 planning units.
• Chief Planner for the County of Prince Edward Official Plan Update. This project resulted in five background studies as the basis for the planning policy:
  • Agriculture - including farm and non-farm resident surveys, and a comprehensive soils field survey.
  • Community Improvement - detailed background studies of eleven hamlets and villages.
  • Housing - comprehensive assessment of housing requirements, including affordability, as well as population and development trends.
  • Tourism - study utilizing computer mapping to develop tourism corridors based on accommodation surveys, natural, cultural and historical attractions. Also a comprehensive paper on heritage conservation planning.
  • Environment - documenting wetlands, ANSI’s, aggregates, servicing and transportation corridors.
• Developed strategic and land use policies for Official Plan; designed and co-ordinated extensive consultation program for municipal councils, agencies and the community, including workshops and surveys. PEC Official Plan was adopted in 1993.
• Project Manager for Camden East Official Plan.

secondary plans

• Prepared Secondary Plans for Bell Creek in the City of Belleville, Rossmore in the Township of Ameliasburgh and Potter Creek, Wallbridge and Holloway in Sidney Township.

zoning by-laws and community redevelopment

• Responsible for Zoning By-law Updates in Sophiasburgh and Ameliasburgh Townships.
• Preparation of Community Improvement Policies, Background Reports, Government Funding Applications, together with detailed Redevelopment Plans for the Village of Tweed, Village of Harrowsmith, Town of Picton, Hamlet of Rossmore and the Village of Wellington.

master plans and feasibility studies

• Loyalist East Business Park Master Plan, Loyalist Township
• Recreational Trails Master Plan - Phase 2 - Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance
• Township and City of Kingston Waste Diversion Site Analysis EA
• City of Kingston Old Industrial Area Study
• City of Belleville Economic Development Strategy
• Green Creek Sewage Treatment Plant Expansion EA, RMOC

commercial/institutional development

• 170 bed LTC Facility, 564 Tanner Drive, Kingston
• Quinte Gardens Retirement Complex, Belleville– 478 units
• Belleville General Hospital Expansion, Quinte Health Care, Belleville
• Mackay Insurance Building, 209/211 Dundas Street East, Belleville
• The Grange of Prince Edward Vineyard/Winery Project
• 126 unit Retirement Home, Giffels, Station Street, Belleville
• Project Planner for Bell Boulevard commercial area (80+ acres) in Belleville on behalf of 7 landowners including Ivanhoe Cambridge. Responsibilities included Official Plan policy report, development approvals, testimony at OMB, coordination of phasing, servicing and cost sharing, and site plan approval. Development plans included large format Zellers retail store, Loblaws food store, and major expansion of the Quinte Mall, including Famous Players Cineplex, Sears Furniture and Appliance Store, and Staples Business Depot.
• Kingston Centre Redevelopment, Ivanhoe Cambridge
• Peter Smith GM Dealership, Highway 62, Belleville
• Wesley Acres Youth Camp, Prince Edward County

residential development

Ms, Ferguson Aulthouse has been responsible for the design and approvals of numerous residential and community projects. In these, work has included research, site analysis and design, coordination of special studies and sub-consultants, municipal planning applications and approvals. The following are recent examples:

• River Park subdivision, Stirling Bridge, Kingston – 144 units
• Harbour Landing condominium, Rentx Group/ Duvanco Homes, Belleville – 57 units
• Settlers Ridge subdivision, Bax Vintage Homes, Belleville – 500 units
• Deerfield subdivision, Mirten and Geertsma Homes, Belleville – 140 Lots
• Grandview subdivision, Geertsma Homes, Quinte West – 26 lots
• Oakridge subdivision, Duvanco Homes, Quinte West – 22 lots
• “Town Hill” infill project, Elliott and Sage, Picton, 7 units
• Pine Ridge subdivision, Red Gate Developments, Picton – 69 units
• Main Street condominium, Davin Corporation, Picton – 58 units
• Tracey Park Drive subdivision, Bax Vintage Homes, Belleville –31 Lots
• Macaulay Village subdivision, Davin Corporation, Prince Edward County – 305 units
• Settlers Landing subdivision, Bax Vintage Homes, Quinte West – 11 Lots
• Vintage Shores subdivision, Steve Weese, Prince Edward County – 12 Lots
• Bayshore Walk infill project, Bax Vintage Homes, Belleville – 6 units

employment record

1994 - Present
President, RFA Planning Consultant Inc.
Belleville, Ontario

1988 - 1993
Chief Planner, Ainley and Associates Limited
Consulting Engineers and Planners, Belleville, Ontario

1986 - 1988
Senior Planner, Proctor and Redfern Limited
Consulting Engineers and Planners
Ottawa/Kingston, Ontario

1983 - 1986
Director of Planning, Township of Sidney
Belleville, Ontario

1981 - 1983
Township Planner, Township of Muskoka Lakes
Port Carling, Ontario

appointments

• Member, Board of Governors, Albert College, Belleville, Board Chair 2006-2009
• Member, Belleville General Hospital Foundation Board of Directors
• Member, Leadership Committee, Excellence for Life Campaign, Quinte Healthcare Corporation
• Former Director, Lake Weslemkoon Conservation Association
• Former Member and Past-Chairman, Belleville 2000 Task Force
• Past Vice-President, Quinte Arts Council
• Former Member, Kingston Working Group and Environmental Assessment/Planning Act Working Group, Commission on Planning Development Reform in Ontario

lorna brown C. TECH.

academic qualifications

Architectural Technician (Honours)
Loyalist College, 1987

professional affiliations

The Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists

community service

Organizational committee member for the Amazing Pace with the Quinte Lung Association

summary of experience

Over the last 20 years, Lorna has worked with consulting planning and engineering firms within the City of Belleville. She has held the position of Senior Design Technician with significant experience in both civil engineering and municipal planning. Lorna is able to incorporate her planning and engineering skills, and extensive knowledge of AutoCAD, to develop a project through every phase of the development process, from concept plan to detailed design drawings.

As a Senior Design Technician, Lorna works as part of a team, providing technical service and support to senior staff in the design of major land development projects for both the private and public sector. Her projects have been throughout Eastern Ontario including Kingston, Belleville, Prince Edward County, Quinte West, Brighton and Cobourg. She has designed and drafted site plans, draft plans of subdivision or condominium, and land development projects that incorporate planning and engineering strategies for new and redeveloped municipal infrastructure projects.

Her knowledge includes local Official Plans, Zoning By-Laws and Engineering and MTO standards. She has assisted in the preparation of numerous Policy Statements, Official Plans, Zoning By-law amendments, Engineering and Storm Water Management reports.

lisa king BES

academic qualifications

Bachelor of Environmental
Studies (Honours), Geography
University of Waterloo, 1989

summary of experience

Lisa is a Senior Planner with RFA Planning Consultant Inc. where she has worked since September 2006. Her duties include conducting research, site visits, planning reviews, and preparing background reports and development applications.

Lisa has a background in municipal planning from her past employment with the City of Belleville as Special Projects Planner (2001-02) and with the Town of Pickering as Planning Technician and Planner (1989-1991).

Her municipal responsibilities have included implementation of the Official Plan, Zoning By-Law and Provincial Policy Statement; assisting citizens in understanding planning requirements; reviewing building permit applications and lawyers’ letters for zoning compliance; and processing development applications including preparing detailed planning reports respecting development applications with recommendations to Council.

In Belleville, Lisa has been involved with coordinating the work of the Downtown Façade Improvement Committee. In addition, she worked closely with representatives of the Waterfront Regeneration Trust, and various government departments and agencies to conduct a public consultation on the future of the Belleville Waterfront.

In Pickering, Lisa was also involved in preparing Committee of Adjustment and Land Division Committee Planning comments and representing the Planning Department at Committee of Adjustment Meetings.

Lisa is co-owner of her family’s business, Eco Energy, which designs and manufactures electric controls for solar systems primarily for industrial clients. She lives in a solar powered home with her husband and two daughters.

shawn legere BCD

academic qualifications

• Bachelor of Community Design, School of Planning
  Dalhousie University (2006)
• Fine Arts Foundation Drawing
  Nova Scotia College of Art and Design (2005)

summary of experience

Mr. Legere has gained extensive skills and particular interest in urban design and neighbourhood assessment. He has reviewed urban design documents for the City of Ottawa and Halifax Regional Municipality. His thesis for his bachelor honours degree in community design focused on the main venue site of a large sporting event for the Halifax Regional Municipality and its relevance to the surrounding land uses. He has gained commanding skills in all industry‐leading design and mapping applications (Adobe Illustrator, AutoCAD, and ArcMap). Mr. Legere joined the planning and development services department of RFA Planning Consultant Inc., as an urban designer/planner, and is currently pursuing the accreditation of Registered Professional Planner.

design methods

Able to evaluate issues of place, formulate solutions, ensure project effectiveness and budgetary constraints.

neighbourhood assessment

• Able to analyse key neighbourhood concepts such as, sense of community, place, and spirit of place
• Able to analyse density and land use mixture in the context of the surrounding land uses, pedestrian traffic circulation, both internal and external, as well as road network and vehicular circulation
• Able to delineate the boundary of a neighbourhood, also including census data analysis

environmental landscape analysis

• Able to use the understanding of physical, biological and cultural landscape evolution to analyse land capability, type of development and site placement
• An understanding of ecology relating to the interaction of natural and cultural processes to formulate solutions

streetscape/urban landscape analysis

• Able to use the principles, theories, and methods of urban form analysis in the urban and rural context
• Able to interpret the meaning of contemporary urban and rural form and how it has evolved
• Able to three‐dimensionally analyse of the “right‐of‐way” and make design recommendations for improvement

geographic information systems (gis) & computed aided design (cad)

• Extensive knowledge of Adobe Illustrator/InDesign applications
• Have a working knowledge of ArcMap applications and site analysis
• Proficient skills with AutoCAD applications

planning law

Understanding of the legal process and statutory requirements and an insight of Canadian legal issues from a planning prospective.

recent projects

• Young Cove subdivision, Murray Ward, City of Quinte West
• Sandbanks Summer Village (237‐cottage resort), Athol Ward, County of Prince Edward
• Belleville Arena Campus Master Plan, City of Belleville
• St. Peter Catholic Elementary School Relocation, City of Quinte West
• Welbank Meadows, Town of Picton, County of Prince Edward
• Clegg Development, Town of Picton, County of Prince Edward
• Sibbit Avenue Subdivision, City of Kingston
• Warner Pasture Subdivision, Township of Stone Mills

committees/associations

Vice‐Chairperson/Member, Street Smarts Advisory Committee, County of Prince Edward.

professional background

• 2010 - Present, RFA Planning Consultant Inc., Belleville, Ontario
  Urban Designer/Planner
• 2007 - 2010, Ainley Group, Belleville, Ontario
  Urban Designer/Planner
• 2007, Lakeside Planning & Design, Picton, Ontario
  Land Development Consultant