Neighbourhood Planning

Wellington Street Community Design Plan

Wellington Street Reconstruction

Newsletter 2

A New Vision for Hintonburg,
West Wellington & Mechanicsville

PDF Version

Progress has been made on three important studies affecting the Hintonburg, West Wellington & Mechanicsville neighbourhoods. You are invited to a Public Open House to learn about preliminary results and to have an opportunity for continued involvement.

• The first study involves Neighbourhood Planning. The community has prepared a draft “Community Vision” document for the broad community, and has begun to advance strategies on various topics.
• The second study is the preparation by the City of a Community Design Plan (CDP) to guide the urban design and land use planning of the Wellington Street West corridor. Preliminary draft planning strategies have been prepared.
• The third study is the preparation of a Functional Design that will be the basis for the reconstruction and streetscaping of the Wellington Street West corridor. A preliminary plan has been prepared together with demonstrations of streetscaping possibilities and options.

The Study Area

The focus area common to all three studies includes an approximately 1.8 km portion of Wellington Street West from Island Park Drive to Bayswater Avenue, as well as the adjoining portion of Somerset Street easterly to Breezehill Avenue North. Hereafter, this will be referred to as the Wellington Street West Corridor.

PDF Version

Wellington Street West Community Design Plan (CDP)

The Community Design Plan (CDP) will set out a vision to guide both the future development of private lands and any undertakings of public works (both City and other government agencies). Since the last NPI newsletter, the Continuity Task Force (CTF) and City staff have accomplished the key milestones that will shape and move the CDP forward over the next few months.

First, the public consultation activities did a great job reaching out for valuable community input. The February 24 workshop provided a candid opportunity to benefit from the expertise of community residents, as we brainstormed and mapped community land uses and activities and key elements of the community’s physical character. (Check Workshop Summary Notes).

Building on the input received at the workshop, the NPI on-line surveys are providing another opportunity to comment on the CDP and another tier of informative public input.

Second, the on-going CTF meetings have provided important input and guidance. Over the course of theme meetings, numerous ideas and clarifications have been brought forth beyond the public input already received to date. These ideas informed the broad “Our Community Vision” draft document.

Third, draft Design Objectives and Framework were formulated for the CDP by synthesizing all the above efforts. These design objectives fundamentally provide ‘the what needs to be done’, both functionality & aesthetically along the Wellington mainstreet corridor in terms of all new and restored public and private built forms and spaces. The design framework provides guidance on ‘the how we should set about doing it’. It will shape and provide direction to the details of the many possible solutions. Proposing options and recommendations will be the next phase of work for the CDP beyond the June 19 Open House. Please come to Open House to review the proposed Design Objectives and Framework.

Wellington Street West Reconstruction – Functional Design

A preliminary draft Functional Design of the road reconstruction will be presented at the Public Open House. This plan responds to the corridor’s designation of an Arterial Road, Traditional Mainstreet, Transit Priority Corridor, and Truck Route. The preliminary design also responds to the community’s vision for the corridor that promotes a pedestrian, cyclist and transit friendly environment, including a high quality streetscape with as many trees as possible, wider sidewalks, safer crosswalks, and opportunities for public art. Accordingly, the street designs attempt to find a balance among the many interests that compete for space in a very narrow right-of-way along this strategic corridor in the city.

Key aspects of the preliminary design include:

• Wider sidewalks wherever possible
• Shortening of crosswalk distances
• On-road cycling facilities in the form of wide shared lanes where space permits
• Bulb-outs that define the roadside parking lanes and provide space for landscaping
• Bus bulges that provide space for bus shelters and other street furniture
• Maximizing the number of on-street parking spaces along the corridor
• Numerous opportunities for additional street trees, landscaping, and public art
• Opportunities to coordinate landscaping with adjacent private lands

Street Lighting and Overhead Lines

As a designated Traditional Mainstreet, the corridor is eligible for a high level and quality of streetscaping detail. However, the City’s proposed plans do not anticipate the burying of overhead power and utility lines due to the very high associated cost. Burying of lines is done by the City only in specific situations such as when designated by City policy or when Business Improvement Areas agree to share the high cost. Notwithstanding, there is an opportunity to improve the street’s visual environment through the installation of decorative street lighting. Optional street lighting themes will be presented at the Public Open House for preliminary public feedback.

Proposed Intersection Modifications

One notable aspect of the draft design involves the proposed closing of the short westbound one-way portion of Wellington Street at the triangle where Wellington Street West turns into Somerset Street West. This closure is being recommended to improve traffic safety conditions at this very sharp corner and to provide an opportunity to enlarge and improve the adjacent streetscape and city park as an important community focal point.

The designs also propose a minor “straightening out” of several intersections east of Parkdale Avenue that now meet the street at an angle. This will improve pedestrian crossings as well as traffic safety in those locations.

Underground Services

The construction works will include the introduction, rehabilitation and/or replacement of various underground services including watermains, sanitary, storm and combined sewers, and utilities. This will include the reconstruction of lateral services to the property line. Efforts to eliminate flooding experienced in localized areas will be taken. This will include the City working with building owners to ensure that the roof drains are properly directed to the street’s stormwater management system.

The study is being planned to meet the requirements of Ontario’s Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA) that may apply.

Hintonburg / Mechanicsville Neighbourhood Plan

The Neighbourhood Plan Initiative (NPI) will result in the development of a Neighbourhood Plan document for the Hintonburg and Mechanicsville neighbourhoods. This document will be complete in spring 2008. The issues to be addressed in the final document include all the same issues that are currently being addressed along the West Wellington corridor. The consultation activities that are taking place right now, the input from the community and the online surveys, will all be integrated in the development of the Neighbourhood Plan document. In the fall, consultations efforts will expand to look beyond the Wellington West corridor.

The three planning projects are being coordinated within the NPI framework to ensure that what happens in one aspect fits with the others and ultimately work together to build towards the same vision of this community. The aim is that the three projects be undertaken in a co-ordinated way that allows for a sharing of ideas and resources.

Public Open House

The study progress and preliminary plans will be presented at the Public Open House. This meeting will allow participants to view information exhibits on the three studies and to discuss views in a casual environment with community volunteers, City staff, and consultants. BBQ hotdogs and drinks will be available at the Open House for $1.

Comment/questionnaire forms will be provided for written comments.

Other Stakeholder Involvement Opportunities

Since the projects started in 2006, there have been countless hours of meetings and discussions involving the community. Key activities already completed include:

• Planning Workshop - February 24, 2007, a day-long community workshop was held at the Hintonburg community centre that focused on a wide range of topics of interest to the community. The results were instrumental in shaping the draft Community Vision.
• Project Drop-in Day: A public open house meeting was held following the February 24 planning workshop. Approximately 300 persons attended, and many comments were provided on the three projects.
• Continuity Task Force (CTF): This task force was established to include participation of representatives from a wide cross-section of resident and business interests in the community. Many evening discussion meetings have been held over the winter and spring on topics important to the community. The CTF has solicited feedback and ideas from their constituents, and acts as a “go-between”.
• Business Community Advisory Group (BCAG): The City organized this group of business and landowners representing locations along the corridor. The role of this group is to provide input on various matters of concern including strategies for managing disruption during the construction period.

Study Timing

In the summer months following the Public Open House, plans and designs associated with the Community Design Plan and the Functional Design for the road reconstruction will be revised based on feedback received. The CTF and BCAG will continue to meet as required. Meetings with individual stakeholders will be conducted on a request basis.

In fall 2007, the CDP and Road Reconstruction projects will hold another Open House to present recommended strategies and solutions. Following this, staff reports will be prepared and presented to the appropriate City of Ottawa Committees of Council for their recommendation to City Council. This will provide an additional opportunity for stakeholder involvement. It is anticipated that Council will make decisions to approve the studies in fall 2007. The Neighbourhood Plan process has a longer time frame, and will continue progressing towards a 2008 completion.

Road Reconstruction Timing

Detail design of the road reconstruction will commence in fall 2007. Subject to Council budget decisions, designs will be finalized for tendering in winter 2008, with first phase(s) of construction to be initiated in the spring or summer 2008. Detailed strategies and solutions on how to best manage construction period disruption will be developed with community input during this time frame.

Further Information, Questions or Comments

Comments or questions are welcomed by:

Neighbourhood Planning Initiative
Wendy Royer
Project Control Coordinator
Community and Protective Services Dept.
City of Ottawa
110 Laurier Avenue West, 1st Floor Heritage
Ottawa, ON K1P 1J1
Tel: 613-580-2424, ext. 15491
Fax: 613-580-2843

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