Open House Display Boards (June 2007)
What is Neighbourhood Planning?
- A community planning process is ongoing with the objective of creating a Neighbourhood Plan for the identified area
- This Plan will look at the broad social and economic issues and needs of the Hintonburg and Mechanicsville neighbourhoods
- Some of the issues that may be included within the plan include: Arts, Heritage, Public Safety, Housing, Economic Development, Environment, Community Programs and Facilities, and Health needs of the community
- The result of this process will be a strategic plan document that identifies neighbourhood opportunities, constraints, and issues, together with recommended strategies and actions to pursue the community's vision and goals for the future
- The results of ongoing surveys are being presented today.
- A draft “Vision” has been prepared by the Community and is being presented today for your input
- The Neighbourhood Plan will be completed in 2008
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What is the Wellington Street West Community Design Plan (CDP)?
 - A Community Design Plan (CDP) is an urban design and land use planning tool that guides both the physical development of private and public lands and undertakings of public works.
- The Wellington Street West CDP focuses on the “traditional main street”: its neighbourhood land uses, their activities, and their built forms and spaces.
- The study area includes lands abutting the main street, generally, within one block. Also included for some consideration, as it relates to the Wellington main street, is the area surrounded by Holland, Parkdale, Scott, and Wellington Street West, notably the Parkdale Market.
- The CDP will develop a vision for the physical environment of the Wellington Street West mainstreet corridor and design a planning framework and strategy to implement that vision in ways that will satisfy the variety of community aspirations and the relevant policies of the City's Official Plan.
- The CDP will guide changes over the next 20 years for the main street area, including the following matters:
- Urban design and zoning considerations
- Land development proposals
- Public open spaces and community linkages
- Streetscape and road corridor improvements
- Civic initiatives, including public art
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What is the Street Reconstruction Project?
 - The City is undertaking the preliminary or “Functional Design” to guide the reconstruction of the Wellington Street West right-of-way
- Ultimately, the construction work will include the introduction, rehabilitation or replacement of:
- Watermains, sanitary, storm and combined sewers and utilities
- Lateral services to the property line
- Traffic control signal system
- Road structure and pavement
- Street lighting and signage
- Transit facilities, cycling facilities, and sidewalks
- Opportunities for street amenities such as landscaping and public art
- The City has retained Delcan Corporation to lead the preparation of the Functional Design and to provide transportation planning support to the overall Neighbourhood Planning Initiative
- Design solutions will place a high priority on measures that improve the pedestrian, cycling, and transit environments
- The reconstruction project is being planned to meet the requirements of Ontario's Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA) that may apply
- A draft “Functional Design” is now available for public review
- Following the Functional Design, the project will proceed to detailed designs with construction possibly commencing in 2008
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Study Areas
Your Continuity Task Force
- The success of Neighbourhood Planning is highly dependant on the ability to engage community stakeholders
- For this study, a dedicated group of volunteers has been established to serve as a key advisory body to each of the three projects
- Members were identified through a number of selection processes and discussions with the community to ensure a broad representation of interests
- The term "Continuity Task Force" was chosen because it is intended that members will form a consistent core of individuals who will take part in all meetings and information sessions
- Each member of the CTF will serve as a liaison between the NPI projects and the constituency they represent - bringing community input to meetings and disseminating information outward.
- Members include:
Seat
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Representative
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Organization the person is Affiliated With if Applicable
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Community Association
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Rob Bowman
Paulette Dozois
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West Wellington Community Association
Hintonburg Community Association
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Ward Councillor
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Christine Leadman
Tamara Fulmes
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City Council
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Seniors Rep.
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Margaret Sullivan
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Abbeyfield, Grace Manor
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Youth / family and children rep / School Council Chair
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Catherine Henry
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parent
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Low income Rep
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Jeannette Robert
Ron Kellestine
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The Anti-Poverty Project
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NGO
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Christina Marchant
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Family Services à la famille Ottawa
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Business Association Rep.
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Chris Green
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Wellington Village Business Association
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Individual Business Reps
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-Nelson Hickey
-Ramin Gozar
-Jacques Trottier
-Rachel Russo
-Tony Hatoum
-Mike Fulba
-Vince Piazza
-Josee Aupry
-Rob Saikaley
|
|
Local developer active in the neighbourhood
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Ovidio Sbrisso
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Architect
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Somerset West Community Health Centre Rep.
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Catharine Vanderlinde (mat leave)
Jyoti Singh
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SWCHC
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Schools
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Irene Cameron
|
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Community Resource Centre
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Monique Lachapelle
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Hintonburg CRC
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Accessibility
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Ellen Lougheed
|
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Arts and Heritage
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Charles Reynolds
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Cultural community
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Creative Business Design Communications
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Bob Herrera
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Great Cdn. Theatre Company
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Annie Hillis
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GCTC
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Newcomers Organization
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JP Melville
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OCISO
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Mechanicsville
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Marion Lalonde
Yolande Lamothe
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|
Greening / Trees
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Debra Ironside
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Ottawa Forests and Greenspace advisory Committee
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New to the Neighbourhood
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Jennifer Baker
|
|
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Our Community Vision
Our community has taken up the challenge to set out an ambitious and essential long-term plan to build a strong, unified, healthy, caring, creative, and truly sustainable community that we are all proud to call home. We refer to this as our vision. The strength of our vision is founded on eight pillars that together form the structure of our common future.
Our Community Pillars of Strength – Pillar 1
- WE ARE PRO-ACTIVE. We are our own shepherds and managers of change. Focusing on shared values, we organize to plan for the future. We work toward consensus and embrace partnerships. We take an active role in civic life and find home-grown solutions.
Our Community Pillars of Strength – Pillar 2
- WE BELIEVE IN A SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY. We are committed to a sustainable, healthy urban environment. We express this commitment through informed choices. This includes the planning and design of our neighbourhoods, buildings and our urban forest
Our Community Pillars of Strength – Pillar 3
- WE ARE STRONG AND UNITED. The strength of our community comes from it’s unique diversity. Wellington Street West is the backbone of our ongoing community development. The combined strength of our varied neighbourhoods creates a uniquely diverse community within the City of Ottawa.
Our Community Pillars of Strength – Pillar 4
- WE ARE TIGHTLY KNIT. Our human-scale inner-city neighbourhoods promote a sustainable lifestyle. The land uses and densities along the main street and in our neighbourhoods promote a pedestrian-friendly, cycling-focused and transit-oriented community.
Our Community Pillars of Strength – Pillar 5
- WE ARE WELCOMING, CARING AND INCLUSIVE. We are a community of diverse peoples continually seeking to understand each other’s values and to find ways to live in harmony.
Our Community Pillars of Strength – Pillar 6
- WE ARE PROSPEROUS AND INNOVATIVE. With our entrepreneurial spirit and vibrant local economy, our historic main street is the focus of commercial activity, along with the Parkdale Market adjoining area. Together with our flourishing home-based businesses, these sectors enable us to live and work in our own prosperous and self-sufficient community.
Our Community Pillars of Strength – Pillar 7
- WE EMBRACE CULTURE. Our cultural resources are recognized as important economic drivers for the area and key assets for the community’s identity. We are recognized as Ottawa’s Arts District, a favoured location for artists and cultural entrepreneurs of all kinds. Festivals and cultural events are a welcome part of our community life.
Our Community Pillars of Strength – Pillar 8
- WE RESPECT OUR PAST. The Village of Hintonburg, 1893-1907 – celebrating the centenary of its amalgamation with the City of Ottawa this year – had as its boundaries the current O-Train tracks to the east, Western Avenue to the west, Scott Street on its north and the present Queensway as its southern boundary – the same boundaries as this current study with the addition of the community of Mechanicsville. The eighth pillar is the strength of our combined history and built heritage. This community has a rich story to tell and we will seek ways to share our past with others. We value our heritage resources and encourage new buildings and street infrastructure that bolsters our heritage image but we also accept distinctive design that successfully marries old with new.
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Our Community Themes to Build On
Our Place in the City Building - Block 1
How our community is viewed by others and the role it plays in the City
Our Community Physical Characteristics - Building Block 2
How our community views itself
Our Community History & Heritage - Building Block 3
Recognizing and maintaining our heritage
Our Diverse Peoples - Building Block 4
A multicultural and diverse community
Our Arts Tradition - Building Block 5
A community that embraces the Arts.
Our Community Facilities & Services - Building Block 6
A complete community offering a full range of services
Our Open Space, Greenspace and Recreation - Building Block 7
A green community
Our Community Safety - Building Block 8
A safe community for all
Our Housing - Building Block 9
A range of quality housing
Our Business Development - Building Block 10
An urban village made up of businesses of all types and sizes.
Our Mainstreet Built Form - Building Block 11
A tightly knit, sustainable, transit and pedestrian friendly community
Our Mainstreet Streetscape - Building Block 12
A community linked by a unified main street design connecting distinct sectors.
Our Mobility - Building Block 13
A community that places an emphasis on walking and cycling as preferred modes of travel.
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Demographics - All NPI Surveys
What is your age?
What languages are spoken at your home?
Relationship with Neighbourhood
Gender
Counts (Completed)
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Survey 1: Neighbourhood and Mainstreet Character
Objective: To hear the public’s ideas about the strengths, the challenges, and their vision for the neighbourhoods along Wellington St. West.
Respondents: 159
Legend:
+ Need more
|
= Have right amount
|
Need less
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Zone
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Issue
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
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Shopping, restaurants and services
|
=
|
=
|
+
|
+
|
+
|
+
|
Lighting
|
+
|
+
|
+
|
+
|
+
|
+
|
Width of sidewalks
|
=
|
=
|
=
|
+
|
+
|
+
|
Public gathering places with seating
|
+
|
+
|
+
|
+
|
+
|
+
|
Parks, greenspace, greenery, etc
|
+
|
+
|
+
|
+
|
+
|
+
|
Art/landmarks
|
+
|
+
|
+
|
+
|
+
|
+
|
Heritage/ older building styles
|
=
|
=
|
+/=
|
+
|
+
|
+
|
Contemporary/ newer building styles
|
=
|
=
|
+/=
|
+
|
+
|
+/=
|
Illegal activities
|
=
|
=
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
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Access by car
|
=
|
=
|
=
|
=
|
=
|
=
|
Access for pedestrians/cyclists
|
+
|
+
|
+
|
+
|
+
|
+
|
Advertising on signs, benches, bike racks
|
=
|
=
|
-
|
-
|
-/=
|
=
|
Welcoming to diverse groups
|
=
|
=
|
+
|
+
|
+
|
+
|
Property maintenance
|
=
|
=/+
|
+
|
+
|
+
|
+
|
Distinct signage and markers
|
=
|
=
|
+
|
+
|
+
|
+
|
Rental/Real estate affordability
|
+/=
|
=
|
=
|
=
|
=
|
=
|
Low scale residential buildings
|
+
|
+/=
|
+
|
+
|
+
|
+
|
Mid scale residential buildings
|
=
|
=
|
=
|
=
|
=
|
+/=
|
High scale residential buildings
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
How Can We Improve the Community?
(1) Addition of green spaces, (2) supporting community economic development, (3) encourage shops and restaurants to improve the frontage of their stores, (4) use arts and heritage as a mechanism to revitalize the neighbourhood, (5) more street lighting, and (6) reduce traffic to improve street safety.
Comments:
“Somerset/Wellington junction/park is embarrassing…needs a revamp.”
“What about an outdoor space where live concerts could be held? Maybe somewhere near the Parkdale market?”
“I would like to see Wellington St. take on more of a “Village” feel.
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Survey 2: Urban Design, Zoning and Re-development
Objective: To hear your ideas about particular locations along Wellington Street West, as well as your ideas about “Urban form”
Respondents: 88
Degree of respondent agreement with the following statements
Statement
|
Total Agree
|
Total Neutral
/ Unsure
|
Total Disagree
|
Too much 'visual clutter': newspaper boxes and signs are distracting and get in the way of people walking
|
36%
|
27%
|
36%
|
Plan for the existing, general building height limit permitting up to a maximum of six-storeys along the main street
|
79%
|
10%
|
10%
|
New, taller, 'mixed use' (combination commercial-and-residential) buildings should be permitted at key locations
|
52%
|
23%
|
25%
|
Promote special architectural design and features at important intersections and gateway sites
|
84%
|
14%
|
2%
|
'Infill' development (between and around existing properties) should be 'mixed use'
|
63%
|
28%
|
9%
|
New infill development along Wellington corridor should be designed to reflect the characteristics similar to the traditional built form; for example, building façade and lot widths
|
80%
|
16%
|
5%
|
Development should provide a sense of 'continuous' storefronts / building façades, rather than be set back from the sidewalk, or leave large spaces between buildings
|
69%
|
24%
|
7%
|
On-street parking on and just off Wellington St. West is working satisfactorily.
|
38%
|
28%
|
34%
|
Parking behind main street buildings is working satisfactorily
|
23%
|
51%
|
26%
|
Service lanes are visually appealing and function satisfactorily
|
18%
|
51%
|
31%
|
Parking associated with new residential or commercial development must be integrated within the development
|
82%
|
14%
|
5%
|
With community consultation, some developments may be exempted from certain guidelines or regulations, as long as the developer provides something to the community in exchange (eg. accessible parks or pedestrian paths across the property, affordable housing or affordable, retail space within the development, public art, etc.)
|
64%
|
19%
|
17%
|
Comments:
“It is pretty hard to rank one single intersection or building as medium vs. highly important, because really everything on the street is interconnected”
“Denser development is good but it will require more municipal parking’
“I don’t mind the newspaper boxes. Worst visual clutter is from the power lines”
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Survey 3: Safety and Security
Objective: To gauge responses and hear opinions about safety and security issues in each “zone” as well as general perceptions of safety and security in the entire area.
Respondents: 218
Top Unsafe Intersections (in order) identified by respondents:
- Parkdale Avenue and Wellington Street West
- Holland Avenue and Wellington Street West
- Island Park Drive and Wellington Street West
- Somerset Street and Wellington Street West
Reporting rates
The survey indicates that respondents report seeing property infractions and / or criminal or suspected criminal activity in the neighbourhood, yet very little is reported for a variety of reasons
|
|
|
|
|
|
Witnessed
|
Reported
|
Prostitution
|
n = 98
|
14
|
Building Standard issues
|
n = 76
|
16
|
Drug Use
|
n = 73
|
19
|
Comments:
“Why is there no police office in Mechanicsville???”
“The OC Transpo buses in the area also need to follow the traffic rules (running red lights!)”
“We do not go out at night unless absolutely necessary”
“It’s a great neighbourhood. I love living in it. But it does need to be cleaned up…”
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Survey 4: Human Services and Facilities
Objective: To find out about the use and quality of health and community services in the neighbourhoods around Wellington Street West as well as the facilities and businesses.
Number of respondents: 110
What have we heard so far?
This chart demonstrates that the community wants more opportunities for recreation activities and green space including bike paths, parks and swimming pools. It was also indicated that more social programs, medical services such as walk-in clinics, and small business investment would be beneficial to the community.
Question 4: Where do you do your shopping?
|
Inside Community
|
Outside Community
|
Both
|
Groceries
|
41
|
52
|
44
|
Home furniture and decor
|
9
|
62
|
65
|
Clothing
|
4
|
10
|
33
|
Hardware
|
35
|
14
|
3
|
Pharmacy
|
63
|
6
|
0
|
Comments:
“Pretty great community already with respect to human services – that’s why we moved here.”
“There isn’t an affordable grocery store”.
“In need of walk-in family medical centre for local residents”.
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Survey 5: Arts and Heritage
Survey Objective: To gauge the attitude toward the arts in the neighbourhoods around Wellington Street West as well as the thirst for cultural endeavours.
Number of Respondents: 83
What have we heard so far?
Respondents were asked to choose their top 6 priorities from a list 26 to complete the sentence “To build a sustainable, creative community we need more…”
The top 6 responses to-date include:
- Live Music Venues
- Heritage Properties used for cultural purposes
- Cinemas and film societies
- Zoning that encourages the preservation of heritage environments
- Zoning that encourages the development of arts space
- Outdoor sculpture or other public art
Next 6 responses to-date include:
- Arts festivals day camps for children
- Sidewalk craft and art vendors
- Live / work space that is affordable for artists
- Outdoor murals
- Places for controlled grafitti art
- Officially designated heritage properties
Respondent comments:
“Let’s make sure that the arts get a fair shake in this town”
“…an arts community will grow because the people in the area want it; NOT because city planners want to create one.”
“I think the Heritage of the Hintonburg area should be a primary focus”
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Distribution of Survey Respondents
Residential Responses
Business Owner Responses
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Survey Outreach
- Total Number of Online surveys completed to date: 1078
- Total Number of 2 page paper surveys completed to date: 685
- Online survey invitations distributed electronically: approximately 900 recipients of local organization and association e-lists.
- 2 page paper surveys distributed: 600 to Connaught and Fisher Park schools
- Outreach also included: 50 Posters in the neighbourhood to publicize the online surveys
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Survey Zones
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