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PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 21, 1999CITY OF KITCHENER
The Planning and Economic Development Committee held a special meeting commencing at 7:00 p.m.
this date under Councillor C. Weylie, Chair, with the following members present: Mayor C. Zehr and
Councillors J. Haalboom, John Smola, G. Lorentz and M. Yantzi.
Officials present: Ms. J. Dean and Messrs. B. Stanley, D. Snow, J. McBride, B. Page, W. Sleeth and L.
W. Neil.
1.EVALUATION OF DOWNTOWN LIGHTING PILOT PROJECTS
Mr. B. Stanley advised that the purpose of this special meeting was to consider and evaluate
Downtown Lighting Pilot Projects. He advised that the activity commenced in 1996 and reviewed
the process that resulted in lighting in the Downtown being investigated in a comprehensive way.
Mr. Stanley indicated that the Downtown was broken down into many component areas and
consideration was given to the best lighting alternatives for individual streets. He noted that the
study had the aim of installing a pilot project and then evaluating the results before developing
final recommendations. He advised that the pilot projects were now in place and pointed out that a
Council resolution had requested an evaluation of the projects take place. In this regard, Mr.
Stanley advised that following the formal portion of this meeting; the Committee would walk the
Downtown this evening to observe the characteristics of the pilot projects. Comments from the
Committee would then be taken back to the Lighting Committee for consideration and report to:
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firstly, the Safe City Committee on October 5; secondly, the Downtown Advisory Committee on
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October 14; thirdly, the Planning and Economic Development Committee on October 18 or 25;
and finally to City Council for consideration of recommendations.
Mr. John MacDonald, Architect appeared as a delegation with respect to the evaluation and tour of
the Lighting Pilot Projects. He distributed a suggested agenda regarding consideration of this
matter that also listed specific portions of streets where the Committee was asked to observe
examples of alternative lighting. Mr. MacDonald noted that the pilot projects had been linked to
various Public Works infrastructure projects that took place concurrently and that opportunities
during the pilot projects had presented themselves such as the reversion of one-way to two-way
streets. He also distributed an additional submission titled ‘City of Kitchener Downtown Lighting
Pilot Project Evaluation Matrix’ prepared by John MacDonald, Architect Inc. and Gabriel design.
In his presentation, Mr. MacDonald referred to some of the detail contained in this spreadsheet
and advised that the Committee during its walk this evening would be able to view the retrofit and
pilot projects as well as consider other issues involving the quality of lighting and its effects. In
conclusion, he noted that reaction to the lighting improvements from the pilot projects has been
very favourable.
Mr. Phil Gabriel, representing Gabriel design, appeared as a delegation and provided a brief
introduction relative to what the Lighting Committee has been considering. He noted that the
purpose of the walk after dark this evening was to observe how the street lighting functions within
the actual environment, or to put it another way, how well we see as a result of the street lighting.
He pointed out that the only real meter as to measuring the benefits of the lighting was the human
eye. Mr. Gabriel explained how the eye works differently during the day than at night and how
colours project different clarity and shadows. Further, he stated that the issue of improved lighting
must come down to a combination of efforts by both the municipality and property owners. Mr.
Gabriel advised that the Committee would walk both sides of King Street to Cedar Street as well
as Cedar Street South and then proceed through Market Lane to observe examples of various
nighttime situations and lighting examples that were both favourable and unfavourable. Mr.
Gabriel pointed out that recent advances have taken place in lighting technology that should be
taken advantage of and that new standards were continuously coming out of ongoing studies.
Councillor C. Weylie questioned if any lighting criteria could be established in respect to new
subdivisions and Mr. Gabriel advised that since there was such wide variance in subdivision
development within North America, it was difficult to establish criteria that met all situations.
2.ADJOURNMENT
PLANNING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 21, 1999- 138 -CITY OF KITCHENER
On motion, the formal portion of the meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m. after which, a walking tour
took place with Messrs. John MacDonald and Phil Gabriel providing detailed commentary and
pointing out example lighting situations to Committee members and City staff.
The walking tour concluded at 8:40 p.m.
L.W. Neil, AMCT
Assistant City Clerk