Whyte Avenue Corridor Study

Public Workshop #2 September 28, 2016

Tonight’s Agenda

6:00 Registration, meet the team, tour panels

6:30 Presentation

7:00 Tour panels and provide feedback

9:00 Wrap-up

We will be starting in 5 minutes…

WELCOME

Project Updates

edmonton.ca/planWhyte

Tonight’s Presentation

1. Project Overview

2. Summary of What We Heard

3. Technical Updates

4. Draft Design Vision and Guiding Principles

5. Present Design Scenarios

6. Next steps

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Meeting Purpose

• Review project

• Share feedback from Phase 1 of project

• Introduce draft vision, principles, and scenarios

• Gather your feedback

Study Purpose

1. To understand how Whyte Avenue’s heritage, character and livability can be strengthened; and

2. To explore opportunities for additional development potential for the area over the next 20-25 years.

Study Area

86 Avenue

79 Avenue

98 Street 109 Street

What will the study accomplish?

• Create design vision, principles and concept

• Identify recommendations for

– Heritage preservation

– Potential development opportunities

– Urban design

• Amendment to the Strathcona Area Redevelopment Plan (ARP)

What will the study not do?

• Expropriate land

• Signage Enforcement

• Conduct detailed design and or construction

• Designate heritage buildings

Why are we doing this study now?

• Continued development pressure on area

• Current City policy framework

• City Council expectation

Project Team

• Project Lead is Sustainable Development with support from: – Planners

– Urban Designers

– Heritage Planners

– Local Economic Development staff

– Transportation Engineers

– Community Recreation Co-ordinators

– Consultants

Project Timeline

We are here

Opportunities for public involvement

Public Engagement (to date)

• Stakeholder email, phone, meeting(s)

• Heritage resource walking tour

• Workshop #1

• Online open survey

• planWhyte Avenue Pop-Ups

• Online closed survey

• Workshop #2

How Decisions are Made

• Your input is one key element of the City’s decision-making process

WHAT WE HEARD

Workshop #1 Overview

We presented information on:

• Project Background

• Corridor Context

• Area Character

• Land use and development patterns

• Transportation Network and Mobility

• New Development

Workshop #1 Overview

We asked questions about:

• Existing Conditions

• Areas of Change and Stability

• Creating a more Livable Community

What we heard: Existing Conditions

• What defines the area’s character? Pedestrian-friendly main street – Vibrancy of activity – Eclectic mix of people – Heritage character

• What do you do in the area? Dining and eating along Whyte Avenue – Shopping – Attending all the festivals and various cultural events – Socializing with friends and family

• What are the area’s key strengths? Walkability – Sense of place – Diversity of retail shops – Farmers Market

• What are the area’s key issues? Traffic safety and pedestrian and cycling conflicts – Vehicle traffic – Underutilized spaces like vacant or empty parking lots – Area safety

What we heard: Areas of Change & Stability • What should be preserved/enhanced within the area?

What we heard: Areas of Change & Stability

• 79% people surveyed reported it was important to understand and commemorate the history of the area

• 82% people reported it important to preserve and retain the area’s heritage

• 81% people stated it was important to ensure that new development reflect the historical heritage character of the area

What we heard: Areas of Change & Stability

• Building Form 53% of people wanted to keep the same types of shapes of buildings that make up Whyte Avenue’s existing visual image, character and main street.

• Building Mass (Width) 77% of people wanted to keep with the existing building widths with their smaller storefronts along the avenue which help establish the avenue’s character, visual interest and identity.

What we heard: Areas of Change & Stability

• Building Mass (Height) 54% of people wanted to keep existing building height permissions up to 4 storeys providing where they provide for a sense of enclosure and human scale at the street.

• Building Transition 61% of people indicated that the existing scale and ‘fit’ between buildings and their surroundings should be maintained and used to reduce development impacts.

What we heard: Community Livability

• What uses/amenities could improve the area? More restaurants and dining opportunities – Retail/commercial – Housing options – Office

• What kinds of public space could enhance local attractiveness and livability? More pedestrian access and connectivity along Whyte Avenue – Sidewalk patios – Temporary special event road closure of Whyte Avenue – Streetscaping

• What improvements could be made for mobility? Strong transit connection to downtown – Greater pedestrian and area safety – Safer pedestrian crossings – Public realm

Technical Analyses

We are also undertaking the following studies:

• Market Study

• Mobility and Infrastructure

Market Study

• Currently examining market trends within area

• Examining key areas within the corridor

• Reviewing demographic shifts

• Identifying significant redevelopment projects

• Next steps to include business inventory, demand analyses, best practices review.

Mobility & Infrastructure Study

• Reviewing existing study area conditions: – Pedestrians, Cyclists, Transit, Motor Vehicles &

Parking – Water, Storm, Sanitary and other utilities

• Will conduct transportation and servicing analyses and identify opportunities for corridor improvements

• Assist in review of preferred scenario and study recommendations

VISION & GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Vision Statement

To preserve and strengthen the existing heritage core commercial area, control for development along

Whyte Avenue, and direct moderate to higher intensification to key nodes along the corridor

Guiding Principle 1 Acknowledge the Whyte Avenue corridor area will continue to evolve over the long-term

Guiding Principle 2 Preserve and strengthen the heritage and character of the corridor

Guiding Principle 3 Ensure new infill and redevelopment is appropriately located and scaled to both main street and surrounding community

Guiding Principle 4 Improve mobility and connectivity within the corridor and to surrounding communities

Guiding Principle 5 Enhance the pedestrian public realm and place-making opportunities within the corridor

Guiding Principle 6 Pursue sustainable urban design excellence

DESIGN SCENARIOS

Building Types

Scenario 1:

Focus -

Scenario 2:

Tell us what you think about…

Next Steps 1. Collect feedback from workshop #2

2. Conduct online survey

3. Synthesize all feedback and technical findings to create preferred vision, principles, concept

4. Draft recommendations

5. Review with internal city stakeholders

6. Present to Edmonton Design Committee

7. Hold a third public meeting for public input

8. Revise study and recommendations

9. Take to City Council Urban Planning Committee for consideration and endorsement

10. Implement study recommendations

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

edmonton.ca/planWhyte

THANK YOU