Streetscape Receives Mixed Reactions

Posted By CATHY PELLETIER , CHRONICLE STAFF WRITER

Posted 19 days ago

Residents gathered to peek at plans, pasting green dots on parts they agreed with, and red dots in places they didn't, during last week's public Open House unveiling Phase 3 of Haldimand's new Streetscape Plan.

Along with County officials, design partners from the Office for Urbanism firm were on hand at the Dunnville Chamber of Commerce Tuesday evening to discuss 'Big Move' and other projects that may forever change the face of Dunnville's downtown. Earlier that day, an Open House was held in Caledonia, and plans for that town - posted on easels for easy access - were covered with green dots from residents who'd attended.

Meetings were also held during the summer regarding streetscape improvements in Caledonia, Cayuga, Hagersville, and Jarvis. Vision statements and "Big Moves" were then generated based on public feedback, and incorporated into future design plans in all five communities.

"This is a process to create a draft streetscape design and urban design guidelines, primarily for Dunnville and Caledonia," said Jennifer Keesmaat of Office for Urbansim. "Six weeks ago, we presented draft visions and Big Move ideas for the five areas and today we've come back with ways of how that will translate. We're handing out green and red stickers," she added, "as a tool to facilitate discussion and based on the feedback we receive, we are preparing a final report to go to Council."

Plans from Office for Urbanism describe Dunnville as "a quaint downtown experience, enhanced by the opportunity to capitalize on the riverfront and its proximity to the lake area. Natural assists are interconnected by well-maintained bicycle and walking trails that link the waterbodies to the heart of downtown."

"We've been asked to create a streetscape plan and in looking at all the streetscapes, we've focused on recognizing that Main Street, that ties into the river, is going to bring all that energy from the river," said Keesmaat. "A relatively small investment can be beneficial by creating a gateway to the downtown."

Elaine Brunn Shaw, the County's Manager of Planning & Development, said she was "pleased to see the turnout and the comments that are being made because it will help with the final report. We've had good turnouts at all the sessions," she added. "People that come out seem to want to make things happen. There have been studies in the past that things haven't been improved. Now we are working on coming up with a plan," she said, and "we are very pleased with the level of feedback so far."

In addition to using the waterfront as an asset, Brunn Shaw said giving the downtown more visual impact and "being able to clearly identify the area -especially the Queen and Main intersection" -is a vital part of the consultants' plan. "For tourists driving along Main Street, it's easy to drive by and not realize we have a downtown."

Royal Bank Manager Andrea Easterbrook said that although "the disruption of the construction slowed down our foot traffic," the altered downtown so far "is gorgeous. It was very slow in the summertime and we normally get a lot of tourists and trucks and saw a noticeable absence of that this year. But in terms of parking," she added, "I'm from Niagara Falls and there's no free parking (there) at all. We had to pay $45 a month to park, and there are no meters here."

Frances Porter, who works at Flyers Café, and walks back and forth to work, echoed her sentiments, saying "how lucky we are to have something like this in Dunnville."

"This is phenomenal," agreed Jody Orr. "It's much more pedestrian-friendly."

Others said the new streetscape, which has resulted in the removal of parking spaces downtown due to redesigned curbing, remains a perpetual problem.

"People are complaining here about the lack of parking," said Sandy Passmore of the Dunnville Chamber of Commerce. "It's two-hour parking all along Chestnut Street," she noted, "but people are always complaining that it's not enforced by the bylaw officer."

According to Sharon Bailey, Branch Manager of the TD Bank on Lock Street, the fact that parking spaces have been removed from the area directly in front of the bank hasn't had a negative impact on clients, and any feedback she's had has been positive.

"No parking problems have been brought to my attention," she said. "People seem to be pleased with the plantings and everything. To me, it looks really nice and it's nice to have it finished," she said of construction changes. "Curbing is much improved for seniors, especially, and for people getting around in general because it's smoother."

Gary Schumacher of Art Service Office Supply hasn't experienced any hardships due to downtown improvements, either. "I haven't noticed any problems with delivery or complaints about parking," he said. "It hasn't affected my business."

John McKay of Queen St. Paint & Décor said, "We will have to be even more vigilant as drivers because people will be popping out from everywhere" with the newly designed crosswalk system. "We're going to see jaywalkers more frequently," he said, expressing displeasure with the way the planning process has been implemented so far.

"All we saw was a topographical view and that didn't show anything," he said of presentations at prior public meetings. "We never knew what we were getting until it was there and then it was too late. Parking is still a big problem. And now we have half as many drains," he said, in the road. "I had to push the snow into a drain the past three years and now I don't have one."

However, he's pleased that "the sidewalks are safer. That is certainly a positive, and the street resurfacing, but I'm certainly not the only one that has concerns about pedestrians and truck traffic," he added.

Former engineer Bob Allen said he's been working with County staff to find possible safer solutions to downtown improvements. Among his main concerns were ensuring that the new Queen/Main Street intersection could safely handle all turning vehicles, including fire trucks and tractor trailers, without encroaching onto other vehicles or pedestrians. In addition, he said the bumpouts were larger than anticipated, creating more constriction, and wondered whether snow removal will be problematic. "People don't see the value of large planters taking the place of prime parking spaces," he added.

Store owner Mike Ramsey expressed his written concern to the County that the large concrete planter in front of his store was "not the interlocking brick with benches and small planters" he was expecting. "This is a crossing area," he wrote, "not wheelchair-friendly, and snow removal is questionable."

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