| Downtown | plan bets on pedesirians Beautification would effectively become city policy, not just the work of volunteers . Stories by JEFF NAGEL PRYING people out of their cars and getting them onto the sidewalks is the central strategy of the city’s new vision for strengthening the downtown. The just-released Downtown As- sessment and Evaluation Study is ex- pected lo lead to creation of a downtown chapter of the city’s Offi- cial Community Plan. The city commissioned the report — “prepared by consultants Urban Systeins Ltd. and local architect Dan Condon in consultation with local business owners — as part of their rebuild of the OCP. It’s all about making the downtown more appealing — for shoppers, lourists, businesses and above all pedestrians. ‘The — words ‘pedestrian’? or “‘pedestrian-focussed’’ are sprinkled so liberally through the document, it ap- pears to be the new mantra for keeping the downtown lively and vibrant. The key planks of the strategy include: Wi Requiring developers to design new buildings more attractively than some of the cinder-block construction of the past, M@ More attractive city infrastructure. That means more brick sidewalks, un- derground services instead of overhead power lines, more trees and landscaping, altractive public spaces, and gateways that mark the entrances to downtown. MA relaxation of the way the city re- quires businesses downtown to supply parking. That would eliminate the need for nost parking lots in the downtown core area. “We want to create a pedestrian- friendly downtown core,”’ city planner David Trawin says. ‘We don’t want to Parking lots — like the ones beside Royal Bank and Tim Hortons — are dead zones in a city’s downtown core, he . ly redevi L 2 ote ae “*" tersection — brickwork sidewalks, ‘trees said. a Roan Ut ude) aa They're emply spaces which mean pedestrians have to walk farther between shops, he said. And each access into a parking lot takes away au-street parking space and adds to traffic congestion as drivers try to get in and out of them. Trawin said the plan would let properly owners develop some of those lots in the core into buildings, New parking lots that are created downtown should be behind buildings, accessed via alleys. And most parking lots serving downtown should be located oulside the core commercial area. Some city councillors are skeptical that local motorists can be broken of their ex- pectation of being able‘to park right in front of their destination. “This isn't Robson Street,” councillor Ron Vanderlee said, ' “If you have to walk more ‘than half a block. people are complaining,’”’ Val George added. “You have to make the core area a place where people will actually want to walk.” That*s where the plan’s other com- ponents come in, said Urban Systems planner Marion Town: “You have to make the core area a place where people will actually want to walk,” she said, “You have to make it different from what the mall experience is,”’ Town said. “Robson Street works because il’s a cool place to go to.”’ The plan divides downtown up inta eight separate sub-zones, with different uses, design guidelines and objectives. The look The overall Look of the core downtown area Would be consistent with that of the newly redeveloped Greig and Kalum in- ge Flat ae aie BEAUTIFICATION SOCIETY volunteers are behind Soe the annual effart to SEA keep downtown blooming with flawer planters. But a new plan for downtown would put greater official emphasis on beautifying and landscaping the area. in protected grates or planters. That (heme would also be taken beyond the core on Lakelse Ave. — all the way lo Eby St. going west and to Atwood going east, Outside the core, in the multi-family, village residential, mixed use and com- mercial recreation areas, the look would be somewhat softer ~~ boulevards should be planted with sod and trees. Better lighting and more standards and fixtures are urged for all downtown streets. Enhanced landscaping is also urped along all downtown streets. Much of the plan delails the role of trees downtown, for purposes of aesthetics, screening, and wind reduc- tion. Shrubs and planting boxes are also contemplated, Landscape elements, decorative walls and fences are to screen adjacent less desirable views and to screen residential | ia "_ eT THE RECONSTRUCTION of the intersection of Greig Ave. and Kalum St. last fall to include sidewalk brickwork and trees is an example of what planners want to see spread throughout the downtown core in an effort to make the area prettier and much more inviting to pedestrians. Proposed zones make room for artisans, more residents EIGHT DIFFERENT sub-zones are envisioned in the proposed plan for downtown. Core commercial Wi Includes the blocks between the i- brary and the Co-op from Kalum to Emerson. Also runs east for another block along Greig and Lakelse to Atwood. And goes west on both sides of Lazelle and north side of Lakelse as far as Sparks St. HM Focus on shops and businesses oriented to pedestrian traffic. Alsa en- couraged are buildings that put commer- cial space on the ground floor and cither offices or residences upstairs. More resi- dents in the downtown area means more activity afler offices and shops close and better security for businesses. It also en- courages businesses with live-in owner- operators. mw Malls and parking lots are dis- catiraged in (he core commercial area, Mixed use W@ This zone is described as ‘an area in trausition that’s flexible but with a long-- tenn trend toward core commercial, ww it includes areas blocks of Lazelle and Lakelse west of Emerson, areas west of the George Little Park, and other blocks on the cast side of the core com- mercial area. if It allows some apartment building constniction, parkades and parking ga- rages. Live/work studios A block and 4 half strip of land on the south side of Greig ave., from Apsley St. at the east to west of Clinton St, just before the Skeena Hotel. Wi The idea is over time that strip could redevelop into live/work sludios that would be suited to artists, craftspeople and horne-based businesses or home in- dustries. @ ‘‘Artists and craftsmen in particular are encouraged to locate in this area of integration, mixing living, working and tourism,” says the plan. Multifamily residential BA zone that would allow higher densily residential development. BH Consists of most of the area below the Birch Hill bench east of Atwood St. and north of Lakelse Ave. Also includes the block north of Park Ave. between Eby and Sparks. Village residential Wi Smaller pocket zones that would be residential neighbourhoods for downtown residents. Medium-density residential would be allowed with in- novative design, including streetfront townhouses, small walk-up apartments and houses. Wi Includes a strip on the south side of Park Ave, between Eby and Sparks, and a somewhat larger area between Apsley St. and the curling rink. Community and public i Includes exisling city hall/RCMP station, George Little park, Riverside Park, library, arena and pool. Also in- cludes St Matthew centre between Atwood and Clinton, the Park Ave. medical centre and adjacent churches. Commercial recreational W@ Includes zrea surrounding the curl- ing rink. Shopping Centre Wi ltcludes the Skeena Mall and Safeway area from Eby to Emerson. areas from industrial uses. Entry gateways Special gateways would signal to visitors thal they are entering the downtown area, One would involve major landscaping at the back of the Skcena Mall and im- provements to its rooftop for those enter- ing downtown via the Sande Overpass. *Tnstead of looking at vents and air. conditioners, we'd pul something there, perhaps a nice facade,’’ Trawin ex- plained. A second gateway would involve omamental fencing and landscaping at Lakelse and Apsley for those arriving via the old bridge. Some improvements would also be made to the intezscction of Eby St. and Hwy 16, Trawin said. Also marked on the plan is the pedestrian walkway that could some day _cross from the railway tricks at’ Kalum St. There’s no money for such an admit- tedly expensive project, but city staff contend it’s still a good idea and con- linue to put it on long-term plans. What won't happen Overhead power lines and utility boxes won't be allowed in any new develop- ment in any downtown area. Also out are large freestanding signs in the core commercial and mixed-use areas and unfinished gravel parking lots. Building design The design guidelines are aimed at pre- venting more Large cinderblock buildings from going up without any altempt at making them more architecturally inter- esling. ‘We're not necessarily going for a Smithers sort of themé, but we want some sort of creativity to break up the boxiness of buildings,’’ Trawin said. For example, the guidelines say no wall will have a blank, uninterrupted length of more than 10 metres without some element — from changed masonry lo vines and trellises, doors or windows ~— that help break it up. “Attention must be paid to all faces of Structures thal have a ‘public face’ (facing a street,’’ the guidelines state. "Special attention should be given to the facades of buildings on corner sites." All facades are io have a recognizable . base and lop that are distincl from the tuld-portian of the wall or facade, Exterior building walls can’t be made out of materials like smooth-faced con- crete blocks, suuvoth concrete or vertical inclal siding. Although the building design rules apply primarily to sides facing streets, developments between Lakelse and Greig Ave. will also have to ensure sides backing onto (he alley are also treated as a “public face’’, Historical walk . A historical walk would be created for tourists, with quality signs ‘including maps and photos at key points such as the Apsley aud Lakelse army barracks and the old proviticla] police stalion at Kalum and Lakelse, Locations for historical markers to be emphasized with ornamental streetlights, planting, paving and benches, Markets or plazas A new public market or public use would be created at the south end of Kalu St And a linear “public space’? Would be created by closing part of Sparks St. be- tween Lakelse and Greig, no ~ Such. public spaces - would be “extensively landscaped to enhatice the visual, physical and- environmental qualities of the downlown,”’ The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, February 17, 1999 - AS Council’s antsy over rules for downtown SOME COUNCIL members -are worried new restrictions on con- struction downtown could make it harder — not easier — to attract new development there. A new cily plan for a more appeal- ing downtown is aimed at re- energizing the area, The gaal is to keep the downtown the main destinalion for most retail and office developers and counter the tendency of such projects to in- creasingly gravitate towards the highway, where big box retailers are attracting lots of customers.’ “If we want to keep the downtown alive and vibrant, shouldn’t it be casier to locale kere thin anywhere else in town?’ mayor Jack Talstra queried. ‘‘It sounds ike it might be tough to get something going here”? City planner David) Trawin — said downtown is already subject to develop- ment pennit requirements, but that the new regulations merely codify what city staff are already doing in directing devel- opers lo create moze esthetically pleasing structures, He also wants to limit the allowed uses in the city’s C3 highway commercial zone as an added measure, “If you want to keep downtown vibrant you nay fave to restrict some uses in oulside areas,” he said. For example, he said, office buildings are presently allowed in the highway commercial zone, which he suggested should be primarily for bighway-lype uses — car dealerships, big box retailers, fast food outlets and the Like. On Friday councillors gave initial ap- proval to a bylaw amendment from Trawin that would eliminate several uses from that zone, including nightclubs, of- fices, vet clinics, transporlalion uses, speclaly manufacturing and community care facilities. “Should we be allowing an office building owl along the highway when it would be better suited downtown?” Trawin asked. | He said the plan has another ad- vanlage. By creating sig- nificantly more multi-family zoned land downtown, he said, it will reduce the pres- sure on him to put pockets of multifamily land — - in residential David Trawin zones —- something that rarcly goes over well with neighbours, Although councillors fave some trepidation about the plas, they decided it should go lo the next stage. The city will try lo gel public comment on it by circulating the plan to interested parties and holding information sessions, Afier that there would be a formal pub- lic hearing before that chapter of the OF- ficial Community Plan is passed. REBUILDING THE CITY’S OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PLAN m@ Some city councillors in 1996 ran for office on a platform of rebuilding the Official Community Plan. At that time the ‘plan, adopted in 1993, had been rendered nearly obsolete by three years of record growth. Residen- tlal development had reached levels In ‘96 not anticlpated until 2004, m@ How outdated is the OCP how? The number of new residen- tial units built since 1991 Is at 689 — a level the 93 OCP didn’t pre- | dict we'd hit until some time be- tween 2007 and 2015. Bi Last year the clty adopted new parts of the plan covering environ- mentally sensitive and hazard areas, trails and walkways. g Work is now underway on a chapter for revitalizing the downtown, @ A social planning commission is now looking at quality-of-life is- sues that could lead to recom- mendations In a social chapter of the OCP, m@ Also to go ahead this year is the re-examination of the residen- tlal neighbourhoods portlon of the OCP, The planner Is walting for studles to come back on sewer and water needs, housing and population demographics. Major changes aren't expected, but residential zones will Ilkely expand and some new pockets of multi- family land will ilkely be created, Public hearings on the residential portions of the OCP aren't Ilkely before next fall.