HomeMy WebLinkAboutPSD-034-16 Clarington
Planning Services
Report
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Municipal Clerk at 905-623-3379 ext. 2102.
Report To: Planning and Development Committee
Date of Meeting: April 25, 2016
Report Number: PSD-034-16 Resolution: -- J
File Number: PLN 23.6.2, R75.12.01 By-law Number:
Report Subject: Region Road Rationalization Study: Implications for Historic
Downtowns
Recommendations:
1. That Report PSD-034-16 be received for information;
Municipality of Clarington
Report PSD -034-16 Page 2
Report Overview
The Region has initiated a Road Rationalization Study to assign ownership and responsibility
for certain roads to the most appropriate municipal authority. This will see some regional roads
transferred to local municipalities and certain municipal roads uploaded to the Region. This
report is to alert Council of this process and address some initial concerns from a community
land use perspective with respect to historic downtowns.
1. Background
1.1 The Region of Durham has pursued road rationalization as a priority for many years as it
relates to municipal service delivery, network usage, growth trends, the Highway 407
extension, and alignment with transit initiatives. Regional staff have been directed to work
with area municipalities to identify and transfer road segments to the most appropriate
municipal authority. Much work has been done to develop a list of proposed road
candidates for both near-term and longer term transfers and in January of 2016 the
Region included a Road Rationalization Study as part of their 2016 Transportation
Servicing and Financing Study.
1.2 On April 7, 2016 The Municipality of Clarington was advised that Regional Council had
authorized staff to retain a third party consultant to work with local and regional staff in
pursuing an aggressive schedule to further this initiative. HDR Consultants have been
directed to work with area municipalities to review and confirm road rationalization criteria,
identify current and future capital maintenance needs of transfer candidates, confirm road
condition of candidate roads, establish a conditional schedule for transfers and facilitate
discussions on proposed transfers. We have been advised that they intend to report to
Regional Council with the results of this review in June of this year which imposes some
very tight timelines.
1.3 Road Rationalization is primarily is under the responsibility of Engineering Services, with
input from Operations, Finance and the Planning Services Department. Engineering
Services will be looking at the following road segments (please see attachment 1):
Local to Regional:
Pebblestone Road — Townline Road to Courtice Road
Holt Road — Highway 401 to Highway 2
Highway 2 Corridor
o King Street — Reg. Rd. 57 to Haines Road
o King Avenue — Baldwin St. to East of Library
Municipality of Clarington
Report PSD -034-16 Page 3
Regional to Local:
Main Street (Reg. Rd. 17) — Taunton Rd. to Hwy. 35/115
1.4 Road Rationalization is an engineering exercise looking at road conditions, current and
future capital and maintenance needs, transfer schedules and other technically oriented
activities. In some instances however, such as is the case of King Street from Reg. Rd.
57 to Haines St., and King Street from Baldwin St. to east of the Newcastle Branch
Library, there are larger issues at hand and it will be important to look beyond technical
matter. Historic downtown cores need to be treated differently and both the business
community and the community at large will need to have a say in how or if these transfers
take place. Where there may be land use planning implications or impacts to our historic
downtown cores, Engineering Services has requested our assistance to look at the
potential transfers outlined above. Due to the aggressive schedule of the Region's study
process, the Director of Engineering Services has requested that the Planning Director
alert members of Council to these issues prior to the discussions with Regional staff on
the week of April 25th.
2. Discussion
2.1 The Clarington Official Plan has the objective of developing Town and Village Centres as
the focal points of economic, social, and cultural activities. The plan seeks to protect and
enhance the vitality and character of historic downtowns. Throughout the Official Plan
there are policies that recognize that historic downtowns have special significance to the
community.
2.2 Clarington's historic downtowns and surrounding commercial areas are located along
King Street in Bowmanville and King Avenue in Newcastle that are proposed to be
transferred.
2.3 Our understanding is that the Region's interest in securing jurisdiction over King
Street/King Avenue relates to their long term interest in bus rapid transit along Highway 2.
The Region also has a strong interest in efficiency of vehicular transportation. When
looking at a complete system of transportation modes, the historic downtowns give a very
high priority to pedestrian travel. It also recognizes that there are on -street parking needs
that help to keep downtown businesses competitive with other shopping facilities. Under
the Region's jurisdiction, the long term plan would see bus rapid transit lanes along
Highway 2. With the Region's jurisdiction over King Street/King Avenue, parking spaces
could be removed either for additional vehicular lanes or for bus rapid transit lanes. The
issue of on -street parking and a comfortable pedestrian environment is closely linked to
the ongoing vitality of downtown businesses.
2.4 The transfer of King Street/King Avenue to the Region's ownership and jurisdiction has
the following implications:
The Region is the owner of the street and controls street design, signalization and use
of the road allowance;
Municipality of Clarington
Report PSD -034-16 Page 4
• Streetscape enhancements, entrance features, establishing outdoor cafes or parklets,
public art and similar street animation activities would all be subject to Regional
approval;
• Road closure permits for BIA or other events would be obtained from the Region;
• The Regional sign by-law would apply having many implications, such as overhanging
signs, sandwich board signs, and across -the -street banners etc.
• Encroachment agreements would be obtained from the Region;
• Region would be requesting street widenings with from development application;
• The Region tends to strictly enforce entrance requirements.
Figure 1 and 2: Parklets
Potential street animation
enhancements like these
summertime parklets in
parking spaces may not
be possible under
Regional jurisdiction
Municipality of Clarington
Report PSD -034-16 Page 5
Business Improvement Areas
2.5 The general functions of a traditional BIA are to:
Oversee the improvement, beautification and maintenance of municipally -owned land,
buildings and structures in the area beyond that provided at the expense of the
municipality generally.
• Promote the area as a business or shopping area.
2.6 The transfer of King Street/King Avenue to the Region's ownership and jurisdiction
fundamentally changes the relationship of the BIAs from dealing strictly with the
Municipality to dealing with both the Region and the Municipality. While Clarington is free
to develop its own initiatives and policies with the BIAs, the Region would have a Region -
wide perspective with much less flexibility as they would have to treat every area
municipality and every BIA equally.
2.7 Staff consulted with the BIA's and Community Improvement Groups whom had the
following comments:
The Bowmanville BIA is very concerned with the potential transfer of King Street to the
Region's jurisdiction. Specifically, they have worked very hard for decades in
partnership with the Municipality to fulfill the objectives put historic Downtown
Bowmanville. They would be very concerned to lose their relationship with local
government and their ability to continue with street festivals.
• The Newcastle CIP committee and representative BIA members on the committee are
not in favour of King Avenue being transferred over to the Region. There is concern
that transfer to the Region would hamper community events (for which King Ave. is
closed) and streetscape developments.
3. Concurrence
This report has been prepared in concert with the Engineering Services Department and
the Director of Engineering concurs
4. Conclusion
The transfer of portions of King Street in Bowmanville and King Avenue in Newcastle
raises many concerns. It is not simply a transportation issue. Downtowns are significant
economic, social and cultural elements of the community. There is a concern that with
the transfer of these roads to the Region's jurisdiction, there were be less flexibility for the
community to control its destiny in the most important areas of the municipality. While
being supportive of future transit improvements, regional jurisdiction is not necessary,
particularly when balancing the many other community objectives.
5. Strategic Plan Application
Not applicable
Municipality of Ciarington
PSD -034-16 Page 6
Submitted by: f
David come, MCiP, RPP
Director of Planning Services
Reviewed by:�
Franklin Wu,
Chief Administrative Officer
Staff Contact: David Crome Director of Planning, 905-623-3379 ext. 2402 or
dcrome@clarington.net
Attachment:
Attachment 1: Road Rationalization
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