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Home My WebLink AboutEGD-13-06 ~ REPORT ENGINEERING SERVICES DEPARTMENT Meeting: GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE Date: Monday, March 27, 2006 Resolution #:~~ 0 6 Report #: EGD-13-06 File #: By-law #: Subject: COURTICE STREETSCAPE ENHANCEMENTS Recommendations: It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: 1. THAT Report EGD-13-06 be received for information. Respectfully by, o~-~, Submitted by: A. S. Cannella Director of Engineering Services Reviewed by: Franklin Wu Chief Administrative Officer ASC/PW/dv March 6, 2006 CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON 40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO L 1C 3A6 T 905-623-3379 F 905-623-9282 Report #EGD-13-QS Page 2 1.0 BACKGROUND 1.1 At the February 13 meeting of Council resolution #C-072-06 was approved; "That staff investigate and report on potential streetscape improvements along Highway 2 in Courtice from Townline Road to Courtice Road." Courtice extends along Hwy. #2 from Townline Road in the west to Hancock Road in the east. Currently the western edge of Courtice, east of Townline Road is indistinguishable from the east end of Oshawa. Commercial plazas and gas stations line both sides of Hwy 2 for the first 500-600 m of the corridor into Courtice. The Courtice Business Association has requested that the Municipality look into ways to improve the look and "announce" the entrance to Courtice from the west. In June 2001 a report entitled Highway to Mainstreet: Courtice Highway 2 Corridor and Main Central Area Study was completed. One purpose of the study was to provide urban design principles for the Highway 2 corridor to create a distinct and consistent image for Courtice. Some of the urban design improvements recommended in the study include the installation of banners on light poles, street trees, street furniture, decorative street lights, center medians, special walk surfaces, special road surfaces and planting areas. 2.0 ANALYSIS 2.1 Many of the recommended improvements in the Mainstreet: Courtice Highway 2 Corridor and Main Central Area Study are not immediately feasible for the first 500-600m of the corridor because of the narrow boulevard between the curb and the sidewalk, and the frequency of driveways into the commercial properties. This area has been identified in the study as a "transition zone from Oshawa, minor gateway, limited treatment, commercial focus". There is insufficient room to Report #EGD-13-QS Page 3 plant trees or create planting beds and the introduction of street furniture into this area is not appropriate because of the high traffic environment and lack of public land behind the sidewalk. The most effective way to visually distinguish the west entrance to Courtice would be the installation of banners on the existing light poles. Banners arms can be retrofitted onto any light poles. Banners with different graphics and themes can be installed at various times of the year if desired. They can be installed at both the east and west entrances into Courtice on as many poles as the budget permits (Attachment 1). Staff has met with the Courtice Business Association and they agree that installing banners on the existing light poles is the best immediate way to distinguish the entrance into Courtice within the constraints of the corridor. The Association is working with the Municipality to develop the graphics and they will purchase the banners and arrange for installation and removal as necessary. Additional streetscape enhancements in the corridor, such as medians, decorative street lights and special surfacing, could be considered in the future in conjunction with the reconstruction of various sections of the Hwy. #2 corridor. 2.2 Another good opportunity to enhance the western entrance into Clarington and Courtice would be the construction of a 'Welcome to Courtice" gateway feature. One potential location for such a feature would be where the Black Creek valley meets Hwy #2. Until that point there is no location along the corridor wide enough to install a sign within a large planting bed. The north side of Hwy #2, just west of the Hilltop Restaurant, is ideally suited to construct a terraced planting bed and sign into the existing bank (Attachment 2). It would be very visible to eastbound traffic along Hwy #2. The feature would be located on the Municipal property adjacent to the valley, but it may also encroach slightly on the Regional road allowance, so approval from the Region will be required. This project is included in Engineering's 2006 Capital Budget. Report #EGD-13-oS Page 4 The Municipality also owns the property at the NIW corner of Trulls Road and Hwy #2 (Attachment 3). This high traffic, high visibility location was purchased by the Municipality to create an eastern gateway feature into Courtice. The Courtice Horticultural Club planted a small garden on the corner in 2005 with funding from a Municipal grant. They will continue to expand the garden with the knowledge that the final plans for the site may require the gardens to be relocated in the future. Other clubs have also inquired about this corner as a potential project site. Any permanent project proposed by a service club on this corner must fulfill the need for an appropriate gateway feature. 3.0 CONCLUSION 3.1 Unlike the main business areas in Bowmanville, Newcastle and Orono, the business core of Courtice appears to be merely an extension of the commercial uses along the Highway 2 corridor from Oshawa. Creating a distinct entrance into Courtice is further constrained by the lack of space at grade to create an entrance feature, install street furniture, or plant street trees. The best immediate opportunity to create a visual feature to announce the entrance into Courtice is the installation of banners on the existing light poles close to Townline Road. The money to purchase and install the banners would be raised privately through the Courtice Business Association. To complement the banners, gateway/entrance features located on public land will be constructed. Features such as these typically include rocks, trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals and a lighted sign. The two best potential sites in Courtice for a gateway feature are; Hwy 2 at the Black Creek Valley; and at the NIW corner of Trulls and Hwy 2. Either location will provide an excellent opportunity to create a civic beatification feature in a highly visible location. The location at Black Creek and Hwy 2 will also serve to "announce" the entrance into Courtice/Clarington from the west. The project is included in the 2006 Capital Budget. Report #EGD-13-oS Page 5 The gateway feature at Trulls Road and Highway 2 could be part of a future capital budget and perhaps developed in conjunction with the commercial development on the South East corner of the intersection. Attachments: Attachment 1 - Banners Attachment 2 - West Gateway location Attachment 3 - East Gateway location ATTACHMENT NO.: 1 REPORT NO.: EGD-13-06 -- FecE';1 i , ... . . ~ ~'i . . .. !ji ~ ."",g,,,,,,,--~,,,,,<,,,,,,,,>,<,g,,,-,,=,\,,,,..,,..:j Um b-- l:3.4m Trwftlc t..-. --l~~N stdewaf( . .t2.Om ' ... 3.5m -~Obl_ TrlfleL.8no I. 3.5m .I. 325m . l.TIlnl 1"ratftc: Lane LAft Tum une MMtIan 3.5m Trifle I.ono ......__.~M"!.___.. Figure 29 - Highway 2 at Townline Rood looking east Figure 30. 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N.f,l~ltrnlI '- I l1ITnTmm~B:[@I~~'1 -~ar- l~L.~~~~~~!;l[~~\I~g: - ~ I~:~":T'/ ,_J~- -- ~ ~ ~ n\-I~ - -,I ~ _~:~~~rt~tr;L _ r~'a~ i ",- Hai . ___ ~~ ~ ' --1\("-- _ ~I r1T I ~ r- t.--; I/~ Ji1J~. -; 8."o_~~' ~_ II~-::j (:~~~ ~ G11 ~v ~ g![! --'100' !~ 1= ,'~J~t~w~ll~ ~I '~-, ; ~ ~ .. _____ ~ -:~ _ ~ ~ f~ L- ~ -~~ r - 'i!.'!'i.B~mN; ~ m.J KpC.OURTICE :-7j._I1i:$.[f:~~.J~b:d~g KEY MAP I (/ r'~~J I ,J]J/;~ht->0:-'Y & ~.Y=f ~ ~ ... -u- ~-~- -lll_ ----- -g- ~ - >. ___ ...J- ---- -- ---- - N W4 ~e s DRAWN BY E.L. DATE: Mar. 6, 2006 REPORT EGD-13-06 ATTACHMENT NO.2 \ v' ~ ~ I I - ~ 7 - I -- ~~ ...---- I--- IT~. ~ East Gateway ~........ I 8 I I Feati. I~- 'aeke"'ek - '^" Highway NO.2 \", - - -r------ r I I--- - ----- ~ '~ - I------.. f--- - ~i'-.- - f--- IT/ /= ~~~ 0 ~= i ==~,..-... >--- j- '< S? ;::=:= I ~ \ I l:::::= 3:_ n 3: r-- ~ '-- ::l r--- (') .., - - ~ I-- - .1-1-- CJl Strathallan Dr -I -r- ~ I I ;::=:= I--- " ~ J....-.!- ;;0 to;;o ~ I / /= ~ ~ ~ c.. 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