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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDowntown Advisory - 1997-04-10 1 DAC\1997-04-10 KITCHENER DOWNTOWN ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES APRIL 10, 1997 The Kitchener Downtown Advisory Committee met this date under the Chairmanship of Councillor Mark Yantzi with the following members present: Councillor Karen Redman, Dave Mota, Nancy Brawley, Deb Schlicter, Denise Strong, Peggy Walshe, Michelle Morissetti, Lillian Kehl, Deborah Budd, Martin de Groot, Edee Schmitt and Chris Winters. Staff Present: Brock Stanley, Sybil Frenette, Terry Boutilier, Larry Masseo, Brian Page, Cathy Livingston, Grant Nixon, John MacDonald and Avril Tanner (Minutes). Regrets: Mayor Richard Christy, Councillor Berry Vrbanovic, Robert Braun, Marleen Guttensohn, Karen Taylor-Harrison, Rita Westbrook, Janice Williams, Marianne Wasilka, Regis Coladipietro, Myrta Sahas, Trudy Beaulne and Neil Carver. 1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA - APRIL 10, 1997 It was moved that the Agenda for April 10, 1997 be approved. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - MARCH 20, 1997 It was agreed upon that the minutes of March 20, 1997 were an accurate reflection of what took place at the meeting. Moved by: Councillor Karen Redman Seconded by: Deborah Budd CARRIED 3. URBAN DESIGN GUIDELINE PRESENTATION Brock Stanley explained how the Urban Design Guidelines came about and that a final draft has now been released. Comments are being requested from all committee members and are due by April 30, 1997. He then introduced Cathy Livingston who then gave the presentation. Terry Boutillier mentioned that there will be a question and answer period on April 15 in the Council Chambers and indicated that anyone is welcome at the meeting. It was indicated that we would be discussing this item at our next meeting and would forward any comments that the committee has. It was pointed out that that the committee may wish to pay particular attention to Section 10 and the Site Signage sections in the Guidelines & Standards portions. The following information was given as answers to specific questions. They would like to encourage a lot of landscaping in the Market Village area, however, it was pointed out that any maintenance qualities will be beyond the Urban Design Guidelines. They would like to continue Market Village along Eby Street and incorporate the use of the City parking lot on Eby Street. The main difference between the existing standards and the proposed standards relating to the Municipal Plan is the new standards are more transit oriented and include standards that have been requested by the industry in the past. In general some of the standards are the same and some are different. Increased standards have been incorprated for landscaping. Discussions occurred concerning developers building industrial or commercial buildings in residential areas and in turn creating residential properties somewhere else to ensure that we are not eliminating residential building in the city. It was pointed out that there is a renewed interest in building residential properties in the downtown. The City has regulatory authority to enforce most of what is contained in the guidelines, however, there are some items we do not have authority on and are encouraging people to follow the guidelines on the basis that we the industry are now setting a new community standard. 4. LIGHTING DESIGN STUDY - LIGHTING CONCEPTS FOR THE DOWNTOWN Brock Stanley indicated that John MacDonald would need about three or four minutes to prepare for his presentation. He indicated that the Lighting Study started in December 1996 and mentioned that there was 4 Phases involved in the project. Phase 1 - Mapping and Information Gathering, Phase 2 - Conceptual Design (a conceptual look at what we would like to occur), Phase 3 - Development and Phase 4 -Tender Process. He mentioned that the detailed design elements would be coming at a later Phase and that the Lighting Design Conceptual Study will be going to Planning Committee on April 21 st for Council's Approval, at which time we would progress to Phase 3. John MacDonald mentioned that they were in a multi-staged process and reviewed this process with the committee. He pointed out that when requesting Council's approval on the 21 st they would also be including strategies for dealing with problems that would have to be addressed on the private end of things. John reviewed the 7 Street Types in the Downtown: Civic Streets - Examples would be Queen and Gaukle, they are dominated with Museums, Libraries, City Hall etc. Main Streets - Example would be King Street Commercial Streets - Majority of streets with mixed uses. Thoroughfares - Would include arterial roads Residential Streets - Neighbourhood Streets Laneways (Residential Laneways) Neighbourhood Link Streets (Those who do not feel comfortable using any streets in the downtown to get to the Downtown) Would like to physically create a link street to encourage those who would like to walk to the downtown to have a safe feeling area to do so. The following was reviewed with the committee. CEDAR STREET TO KING: Current Proposed o. Highway Type Lights o. Glarey o. Improve Colour, change to metal halide o. If designated as a Neighbourhood Link ~long the opposite side of the street from the o. Encourage private owners to leave lights KING STREET EAST: Current Proposed · . Highway Lighting · . Glare · . Put in pedestrian style paired lighting · . Closer spacing than presently on King KING STREET: Current Proposed · . end of pedestrian .. Retain existing staggered placement of Poles on the high scale pole height Glare · . Improve colour by shifting to metal halide · . Provide guidelines for the ,_, to have store front lighting · . Retention of the taller standard, spaced 'oposal for King East, is consistent with the ore canyon like area of King compared to the KING & CEDAR STREETS: Current I Proposed · . A lot of Traffic Signals · . It is a Node or an downtown. entrance to the · .Would like to gain more space at this · .Whatever we do on King Street we need · .Create a major emphasis with lighting. · .Choose a more pedestrian oriented style · .Put more lights on the light poles at QUEEN STREET: Current Proposed · .There is a series of new lantern type fixtures · . Silvered reflector in light fixture. · . Some formal styles of lighting as the poles are in line with one another or paired. · . Would like to keep the same fixture type paired. · . Improve colour of light - metal halide and · . Increase lighting of businesses in the · . Make a statement with more fixtures on a ONTARIO STREET: Current Proposed · . Atypical Commercial Street · . Cobra-headed highway lighting · . Notall Highway lights · . Less formal than on civic streets i.e., · . Use fixtures of the same type of scale ered or informal. HALLS LANE: Current Proposed · . Need for more light. · . Safety in the laneway is presently not consistent with its current use and physical layout. · . What would make this area safe would · . Install building mounted fixtures. · . Need to address corners or alleyways by · . Initially install more public lighting as s a corresponding reduction in public lighting · . The challenge for this type of area is that :her similar areas. · . Improve the colour and glare on wall .~quired. · . Treat the area in a staged manner so )usinesses using the laneway the lighting usage. It was explained that a Neighbourhood Link would be a community based program that would take into consideration elements of landscaping, public and private property as well as cycling and walking routes. It would be brought all the way to King Street and would encompass creating a sense of community along the street. This program would require a partnership with the community as their input would be required to determine which streets should be designated as Neighbourhood Links. In some cases it is quite clear which streets should be designated as Neighbourhood Links and in other cases it is not so clear. The Committee was informed that we should be keeping in mind the use of the street when deciding to designate it as a Neighbourhood Link street. The Lighting Study will be going to Planning Committee on April 21 st and the Lighting Team would like to obtain approval in principle at that time. Some portions of the construction will be completed in 1997 after Council's Approval of the construction phase occurs in June. Construction phases for King Street East and Cedar through Charles will be submitted for Council's approval in Fall of 1997 and construction would be completed in 1998. It was indicated that in some cases we will be improving existing lighting fixtures instead of replacing the fixtures. It was stressed that a Partnership with the community will be an essential tool in creating a feeling of safety in the Downtown. It was moved that the Kitchener Downtown Advisory Committee approve the Lighting Design Concepts in principle. Moved By: Michelle Morrisetti Seconded By: Councillor Karen Redman CARRIED. 5. DISCUSSION ON DOWNTOWN STRATEGIC PRIORITIES Mark pointed out that Marianne suggested that we put a whole meeting aside or look at holding a special meeting to discuss this item. After some discussion it was decided that the Kitchener Downtown Advisory Committee would join the Safe City Committee on May 6, 1997 at 4:00 pm in the Human Resources Training Room to discuss any comments they wish to forward pertaining to the presentation of the Urban Design Guidelines. It was also decided that the next Kitchener Downtown Advisory Committee Meeting would start at 8:00 am and go to 11:00 am to deal specifically with the Strategic Priorities only. 6. UPDATE ON THE DOWNTOWN ACTION TEAM Sybil mentioned that the following has occurred in the past month: There is more news on the job front, 130 new employees will be coming to the downtown this spring and another 200 on the verge of being announced. Offers have been presented for housing developments. Jobs and housing are continuing to increase in the downtown. Looking at developing an ambassadors program, working with police but not acting as police to hand out information, move along panhandlers, increase street safety, these people would have appropriate training from the police to deal with difficult problems that may arise. In situations where we have repeat offenders the police would be called in to deal with the situation. Properties are starting to sell in the downtown. Looking at additional landscaping in the Civic Square. 7. K.D.B.A. REPORT The following report was given: Would like 10 corporations to donate $10,000.00 each to put up 4 murals, themes and walls have been identified and a selection of artists are being approached. A brochure is being development to be given to the corporations to explain the program in detail and what we would require from them to complete the program. A networking night is being planed for the downtown businesses on May 7th, they are trying to get businesses together by using a social theme. 8. NEW BUSINESS There will be a Public Meeting held on Tuesday April 22 at 6:30 for discussion on Body Rub Parlours. There will be two meetings held concerning the Skate Boarding Park. The first meeting will be on April 21 st in the afternoon and the second meeting will be on April 28 in the evening. Nancy Brawley mentioned that on April 19 & 20 there will be a Downtown Open House Weekend at the Real Estate Board. Karen Redman noted that the King Street East Neighbourhood has sort of fallen apart, however, Birgit Helig indicated that she would like to continue attending the Kitchener Downtown Advisory Committee Meetings as a member. Avril will check with Lloyd to find out if this is possible. It was noted if she could not continue as a member it would be possible for her to attend as an observer but not be able to vote. The meeting adjourned at 10:30 am. Avril Tanner, Committee Secretary LIST OF ATTACHMENTS 1. Kitchener Downtown Business Association - 1997 Strategic Plan 2. Kitchener Downtown Business Association - Annual Report.