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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEcon Dev Adv - 2007-10-24 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES October 24, 2007 City of Kitchener The Economic Development Advisory Committee met this date, Chaired by Adrian Conrad; the following members were in attendance: Steven Voll, Howie Budd, Glen Woolner, Bob Denton, Len Carter, Ian Cook, Peter Benninger, Councillor John Smola The following people sent their regrets: Willy Heffner, Gerry Remers, Jeremy Auger, Lawrence Bingeman, Dan Piedra, Don Zehr, and Mark Collins The following people were absent: Staff in attendance: Silvia Wright, Cory Bluhm, Valerie Bradford, Tracey DeVille, Kathy Weiss, 1. Discussion Items King Street Master Plan – Design Presentation & Discussion 1.1 Cory Bluhm, Urban Investment Advisor, provided a presentation with the latest drawings of the King Street Master Plan – Pedestrian First Theme. The presentation provided background information on the process that was taken starting in Summer 2006 up to Fall 2007. The Committee raised the following questions: ? Will the bollards be removable by anyone? - Mr. Bluhm advised that they are designed to be removed by a key system; however, they are looking at the best design for public safety such as emergency service access ? How is a contemporary design long lasting? - Mr. Bluhm advised that it is a simple design – not overly detailed, we are looking for something simple however classic at the same time ? How do you qualify this as a ‘green’ streetscape? - It is more the planter bed system, using solar technology and adding more trees, we have not yet found another municipality that does this so we may be the first. Keeping in mind that this system only operates in the warmer weather, the water system will have the ability to be shut off so that the trees and plants can be protected from the road salt in the winter. ? The need for more parking has been raised before, what has been done on this project? - Did increase parking, listened to the local businesses, people park within a 3 block area, we are hoping that with this redesign, people will utilize the other parking lots and structures in the downtown ? Concern with the narrowness of King Street considering it is the main street and reducing it by 1 foot on either side will make it even more narrow, narrow street could cause cars to go slower; will this add to carbon monoxide - The traffic division has advised that traffic along King can’t really go any slower; therefore, there would be no or very little risk to adding carbon monoxide into the environment ? Adding benches will create some problems with homeless people – when we had benches 2 years ago they were occupied by these people and others could not make use of them or they were afraid of them - Goal is that every bench will be removable or portable, even the planting beds will have that option ? Has there been talk about Duke or Charles Streets? Adding on street parking, reverting back to one-way streets? - King is only one element of what we are planning, over the next few years we will be looking at the parallel roads ? New ‘shopping malls’ known as Lifestyle Centers (Sportsworld Crossing) are creating a new competition trends for the urban downtowns - how has the City prepared for this? - The Sportsworld Crossing will have ample parking compared to the downtown, but the downtown will have the residential component - Don’t forget about the façade of the downtown, the lifestyle malls touch on that – we will need to talk to the business owners and have them take some ownership in this area - We may need to add more police to the area – we do need to add more people that will make an impact – the best way to do this is to fill the streets with more people and by doing that the problems tend to go away - What about Victoria Park – can we incorporate that into this? - Parking is not clear as to which are long term and which are short term – some people can not spend 15 min driving around some of the lots are gated on the weekend we need to help people understand that it is easy to find a spot – its not that they are not there - Try not to follow trends, we should stay authentic keep the heritage, we need to treat them as they are – we need to understand the market in order to fill that opportunity - Sportsworld Crossing is selling a vision, creating a theme, how do we do that with the downtown – how do we get everyone working towards one goal have someone work with them to create the vision – there may be a bigger opportunity here - 2 separate issues – infrastructure and social / safety issues, until we deal with the social / safety issue we can’t do the other – we need more police on the beat, we need people on the street in uniforms that walk the streets to show presence – there is also the private sector they need to be on board with this with out the stores etc., we have nothing How does King Street become a place of positive economic change? What do we need to do to encourage change within the downtown King Street as a Catalyst: Mr. Bluhm provided an overview of the potential that King Street has and asked for feedback on what can happen: - not enough capacity in the core area to support the development – there is potential – it’s a critical mass issue where are condo developments going to go? What do we need to do to show that there is potential in the downtown? The easy projects are being done first, as we go along it will get more and more difficult – how deep is the market in Kitchener, there is demand but the more projects that get built, with such a mobile market, you will end up competing against the resale market. - The local development industry needs to change to the development industry - The Kaufman lofts will come up soon for resale and that will be a good test to see how they sell. - Need to have flexibility for the reurbanization - Take away the negatives - It will not go away until it is dealt with you can’t wait for the mass to get there you need to do what needs to be done to get there - Codes – need to look at what we can do to revise these for promoting a different type of building – we need to accommodate those with the smaller lot sizes - You don’t want to promote then have to turn people away - The city needs to stop rolling out the carpet to out of town developers and they need to look after the local people – the locals are the ones that donate to the local charities not the out of town ones – we need to promote this Beautification: We would like to challenge the local businesses, industries and / or property owners to step up and beautify their own property. - the retail community in the downtown are already suffering if a grant was provided 100% then it might work, the property owners may be more willing / prepared - get a very active business community committed to the downtown – there is strength in numbers, if everyone does it than it will be more successful - what about a tax reduction if you reface your building – there is a heritage tax rebate - zoning controls that limit the types of uses on King – we may need to implement this or adjust it, with to many social offices in the core that is all that we are going to get – right now there are not a lot of limitations we could look at that and adjust - without the expectations of a higher rent, owners may not be willing to update/upgrade their buildings, if the city is not willing to make the first step why would the business community do it - facades/renovations – maybe there are simple things that people can do for example promote the simple things that show people how they can change - its really about hand holding – for example, show people the potential their buildings have - do a building inventory – there was one done in the 80s – we need to use that as our bible – second floor buildings need to be cleaned up at least – remove the books and things stacked up on the window sills, wash the windows, refresh the paint – these things make a big difference - if it is possible – go in there with plans drawn, invitations to participate, prizes for the best improvements on the street, see what you get back – we need to pay attention to those who live, work and invest here - what is see as a vision is the city invests money in the façade and the façade becomes a condo to the street and that will help you keep control of that façade – the city owns the assets of the façade from a control stand point – someone that understands the condo law could do this – the city could then have control over the look of the building – there is an issue of the facades – you need to clean them up - standards need to be raised – how much time does council spend downtown – the city needs to do something about it – we need to educate the business owners downtown - common theme it is not going to happen voluntarily – the city has to take an active role and regulate a lot of this - KDBA has a role here – they need to relay this to their members Cory thanked everyone advised that the comments will be incorporated in the business case that he is developing. 1.3 Brownfield Awards At the annual CUI Brownfield award dinner on October 18, 2007, Stirling Bridge Limited (90 Woodside) was acknowledged as the winner of the Best Small Scale Project Category in Canada. Ms. Weiss showed the Committee and congratulations was given and the award will be presented to the developer by Council. 1.4 December Meeting Date Ms. DeVille, Committee Administrator, confirmed with Committee members that the December meeting will be held on December 12, 2007. Location details to follow. 1.5 Approval of September 26, 2007 Minutes On motion that the minutes of September 26, 2007 be approved. Moved by Steven Voll Seconded by Glen Woolner Carried. Meeting adjourned at 1:00 pm.