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Home My WebLink AboutDTS-07-163 - King St & The City Centre District: Streetscape Master Planl Kd LR Development& Technical Services Report To: Date of Meeting: Submitted By: Prepared By: Ward(s) Involved: Date of Report: Report No.: Subject: RECOMMENDATION: DTS Committee October 15, 2007 Grant Murphy Director of Engineering Engineering Services Eric Saunderson Design & Construction Engineering Services 6 REPORT Project Manager Cory Bluhm Urban Investment Advisor Economic Development Ward 1 & 6 October 9, 2007 DTS 07 -163 KING STREET & THE CITY CENTRE DISTRICT: STREETSCAPE MASTER PLAN - PROJECT UPDATE AND INFORMATION REPORT That Committee accept the following report for information and provide feedback on the flexible, pedestrian first, streetscape design for King Street. That City staff continue with the master plan process and project schedule outlined for King Street & the City Centre District. That City staff report back to Development & Technical Services Committee on November 5, 2007 with functional design drawings for King Street, a concept recommendation for Speakers Corner and a vision for the City Centre District. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: In accordance with the requirements of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment Act (Class EA Act), it is the intent of City staff to complete a comprehensive streetscape master plan for King Street & the City Centre District. The Class EA process shall provide the City with the framework to fulfill its obligations to the public and strategy to redevelop the downtown streetscape. BACKGROUND: Previous Public Consultation Processes The King Street Master Plan is building on previous public consultation processes which asked citizens to share their views on how downtown Kitchener should look in the future. These processes include: • Downtown Strategic Plan (2005 -07) • CulturePlan II (2005) • Environics Survey (2005) • Centre Block Redevelopment consultations (2005 -07) • A Plan for a Healthy Kitchener (2006) • Who - are - you - Kitchener public consultations (2006) • Help Design Downtown public consultations (2006) Most notably, more than 1, 000 citizens from across the City participated in a two -month "Help Design Downtown" public consultation process in the summer of 2006, which formed the basis of the City's current downtown design policies in the Municipal Plan and guideline for the King Street Master Plan. Key objectives of this process included: • Make Downtown Lively - by creating a great place for people with lively street activity • Make Downtown Livable - by maximizing plant material in public and private places • Inspire Creative, High Quality Design - to enhance street life / create local pride and interest. Subsequently, an additional key objective has been added which is specific to King Street: • Vibrant Shopping & Dining — to create curb appeal for stores, restaurants and new developments REPORT: Master Plan Objectives and Streetscape Design Elements - Pedestrian First Theme The pedestrian first, streetscape design model for the King Street Master Plan shall generally follow four key objectives, three of which were identified in the City's design policies, and one which was identified through consultation with the downtown business community. For each objective, the proposed streetscape incorporates a range of design elements which are being considered as part of the functional design. These objectives and design elements include A Lively King Street: • Wider sidewalks to accommodate more outdoor cafes, restaurant seating and retailing; • Moveable bollards that will allow for temporary road closures for special events; • Moveable bollards that provide on opportunity to convert on street parking spaces into space for outdoor cafes, restaurant seating and retailing; and, • Mountable curbs that improve pedestrian accessibility and allow the street to be programmed for major events. A Livable & Sustainable King Street: • New bike racks and new barrier -free parking stalls; • Improved transit stops and shelters; • Possible dedicated parking for hybrid and "smart" cars; • A narrower road width, combined with proper signage to create a shared bicycle /automobile road, whereby cyclists are given equal priority to the road; • Up to 60 additional trees planted in a soil medium that will allow them to grow properly; and, • Planter beds that can collect and filter storm water before it enters the sewers. A Beautifully Designed King Street: • Has an overall sleek, chic contemporary design style that will withstand time; • Uses high -end sidewalk materials in curbs and walking patterns; • Includes new, contemporary sidewalk furnishings (benches, bus shelters, garbage receptacles, bollards, etc.; and, • Would be designed as one of the most flexible streets in North America. Vibrant Shopping and Dining: • Tremendous curb appeal for stores, restaurants and condo developments; • Abundant tree plantings providing a comfortable shopping environment; • Audio and lighting systems that help set the mood and ambience of the street; and, • A flexible street design that allows businesses to modify the street over years as demands change or shift for different commercial uses. Next Steps: In accordance with DTSC Report 07 -110: King Street & the City Centre District: Streetscape Master Plan — Concept Selection, shown below is a general outline of the scope of work and phasing process completed / planned as part of this project: Concept Phase (June 2007) • Concept evaluation complete / streetscape theme selected for King Street: Development & Technical Services Committee - June 18, 2007 Council of a whole — June 25, 2007 Feasibility Phase (June to August 2007) • Capital budget estimate and cost feasibility analysis (on- going) • Prioritization of projects as part of the 2008 Capital budget planning process (on- going) • Streetscape strategy development for the City Centre District (on- going) Design Phase (August to December 2007) • Preliminary design drawings (30% design package) completed for King Street • Public Consultation Centre re: design drawings for King Street, concepts for Speakers Corner and vision for the City Centre District — October 11, 2007 • Functional design drawings (60% design package) for King Street — October 26, 2007 • Business case / functional design drawings for King Street, concept for Speakers Corner and vision for the City Centre District presented to: Development & Technical Services Committee — November 5, 2007 Note: Associated reports include - Draft Private Sector Design Guidelines for King Street facades Draft Marketing & Business Attraction Strategy Speakers Corner Public Art Competition • Functional design drawings (90% design package) for King Street and Speakers Corner — December 24, 2007 Tender Phase (December 2007 to February 2008) • Functional design drawings for King Street and Speakers Corner completed (tender documents) • Concept drawings, details and strategies completed for projects planned for reconstruction in the City Centre District: Bell Lane, Francis Street North to College Street Duke Street, Francis Street North to Frederick Street Frederick Street / Benton Street, Charles Street East to Duke Street East Hall's Lane East, Eby Street South to Ontario Street South Hall's Lane West, Ontario Street South to Victoria Street South Water Street South, King Street West to Joseph Street Construction Phase (2008 to 2010 - to be confirmed) • Schedule and staging of construction for King Street and Speakers Corner to be finalised in December, 2007 FINANCIAL: Business case / cost feasibility analysis for King Street and Speakers Corner will be completed as part of the streetscape design proposal and presentation to Development & Technical Services Committee on November 5, 2007. COMMUNICATIONS: Stakeholder design workshop / charette (April 24, 2007) Public Consultation Centre / on -line survey (Kitchener City Hall Rotunda — May 22, 2007) Public Consultation Centre (W.L.0 School of Social Work - October 11, 2007) Direct Mail / email (downtown businesses, neighbourhood associations, advisory committees, etc.) Newspaper and radio advertisements Webpage www.kitchener.ca (detailed streetscape designs, renderings, feedback forms, etc. — September & October 2007) Information brochures circulated to downtown businesses, stakeholders and interest groups Stakeholder meetings and staff review discussions: • Corporate Management Team — March 20, May 1 and September 18, 2007 • KDBA Board of Directors and Marketing Team — July 10 and September 18, 2007 • Individual King Street businesses as requested — September 2007 • Downtown Advisory Committee / sub - committee — May 10, June 27 and October 2 , 2007 • Environmental Committee (date to be determined) • Economic Development Advisory Committee - June 27, 2007 • Greater KW Chamber of Commerce — October 9, 2007 • Region of Waterloo, Police Services — September 2007 • Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (Built Form sub - group) — August 20 and September 17, 2007 • Utilities Coordinating Committee — October 10, 2007 • Region of Waterloo, Grand River Transit — August 17 and October 11, 2007 • Centre Block Evaluation Committee (date to be determined) • Downtown Inter - department Resource Group — September 10, 2007 • Downtown Vitality Committee - September 2007 • Pedestrian Charter Working Group — July 19, 2007 • King Street East Neighbourhood Association — July 19, 2007 • City of Kitchener, Fire Services — September 26, 2007 • City of Kitchener, Planning and Economic Development — September 19, 2007 • City of Kitchener, Building Services — October 2, 2007 • City of Kitchener, Transportation Planning — September 28, 2007 • City of Kitchener, Engineering Services and CS Operations (Roads) — September 28, 2007 • City of Kitchener, Design & Development and CS Operations (Parks) — October 2, 2007 • City of Kitchener, General Staff Open House — October 1, 2007 Project Team: Eric Saunderson, Project Manager (CofK), DTS — Engineering Services John McBride, DTS — Transportation Planning Silvia Wright, CAO — Downtown Community Development Cory Bluhm, CAO — Economic Development Colleen Collins, CAO — Communications /Marketing Kathy Steiss, CS — Inclusion Services Cheryl York, CS — Arts & Culture Don Chapman, CS — Special Events Dan Ritz, CS — Design & Development Christina Weylie, Office of the Mayor and Council Linda Stewart, Kitchener Downtown Business Association Trevor McIntyre, Project Director (Consultant), IBI Group Don Drackley, Project Manager (Consultant), IBI Group Kelly Cobbe, IBI Group Jay Cheon, IBI Group Julius Aquino, IBI Group Ashish Ghate, IBI Group John MacDonald, John MacDonald Architect Inc. CONCLUSION: That Committee accept the following report for information and provide feedback on the flexible, pedestrian first, street design for King Street. That City staff continue with the master plan process and project schedule outlined for King Street & the City Centre District. That City staff report back to Development & Technical Services Committee on November 5, 2007 with functional design drawings for King Street, a concept recommendation for Speakers Corner and a vision for the City Centre District. Eric Saunderson Design & Construction Project Manager Grant Murphy Director of Engineering Services Cory Bluhm Urban Investment Advisor