50th Avenue Streetscape

50th Avenue Streetscape Public Open House Summary

50th Avenue Streetscape Open House Summary Dec 7, 2016 50 AVE STREETSCAPE OPEN HOUSE SUMMARY: On December 7, 2016, ISL Engineering hosted a Community Open House for the public to review and provide their comments on the draft recommended preliminary design for the 50th Avenue Streetscape project. The following details the logistics for the Open House as well as an engagement summary of what we heard during the event.

It is important to note that the project team has been holding one-on-one meetings with the stakeholders since the project started in June 2016, in addition to the Open House event.

OPEN HOUSE ADVERTISING Advertisement for the event included:   

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School and Parent Advisory Council Facebook accounts Stakeholder email Town website o Facebook o Twitter Hand delivered (door to door) poster to every business/property within the project area on the preceding Friday (December 3, 2016) o 66 visited Face to face interaction with key stakeholders through ongoing interviews

OPEN HOUSE LOCATION AND TIMING: The event was strategically held at the Ecole Bellevue School to garner input from the largest amount of stakeholders including parents, school staff, administration, and local business owners. Additionally, the event was held in conjunction with a Craft Fair at the school to reach as many community members as possible. In response to an early school dismissal at 2:30 PM the first session was held from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM specifically to accommodate parent pick up. The session was officially opened to the greater community at 3:00 PM and concluded at 7:00 PM. As planned the event was able to accommodate a significant number of participants, however due to the fluid nature of the Craft Fair and three potential access points, it was impossible to account for every active participant. The conservative estimate of engaged participants is a minimum of 130. The actual number is anticipated to be much higher, although not to exceed 180.

OPEN HOUSE FORM AT The event was established in the main foyer of the school to ensure all foot traffic was exposed to the project display boards and project staff. As participants entered the school they were greeted by one of the three ISL team members, provided a synopsis of the project and the event format, handed 12 stickers, and invited to participate. The event was divided into five stations or areas of focus, more specifically: Station #1: Project information and dates (two boards).

Station #2: Design Principles, represented both graphically and textually (two boards).

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50th Avenue Streetscape Open House Summary Dec 7, 2016 Station #3: 12 Design Elements (four boards, three flip sheets). Participants were encouraged to interactively provide their comments and level of support for each and every one of the 12 Design Elements. They were represented both graphically and textually along with their respective challenges and benefits. A portion of the board was divided into three columns labeled Support, Support with Conditions, and Not Support. The 12 stickers that the participants were provided with at the door were intended to be allocated one per Design Element in whichever level of support the participant felt most comfortable with. The intent was not to “vote” but to indicate their preference for the project team and other participants to see what was resonating. Additionally, and most importantly, the three flip sheets were positioned such that the participants were encouraged to provide their thoughts and comments as to why they chose the level of support they did, and to indicate what conditions (if any) they would like to see.

Station #4: One large aerial roll out map of the project area with the draft recommended design overlaid. The intent was to show the participants what the concept looked like with a combination of the applicable Design Elements. Comments were solicited to be spatially referenced and written right on the map as well as on post-it note.

Station #5: A 3D video (repeating) demonstrating a 3D flyover and a 3D drive through the project area with the draft recommended design so the viewers could get a virtual realization of what the proposed design would look like.

OPEN HOUSE EV ALUATION: Participants were offered an event evaluation form to complete to inform the project team of how the event best served their interests and what improvements could be made for future events. The following is a summary of the input received.

ENGAGEMENT SUMMARY: The following document summaries have been compiled from the notes and comments received through the various means as indicated above. In order to be as accurate as possible and to transparently reflect the participant’s comments, the notes have been transcribed as accurately as possible. Where possible, photos of the actual documents have been provided.

Some highlights noted are as follows: 

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Design Element #4 – Speed Reduction to 40 KM/h. A split between 51 and 49% - with no “Support with Conditions” tendered. It is either loved by half the participants, or disliked by the other half.

Unanimous Support and/or Support with Conditions for Design Element #7 – Integrating with Future Development Design Element #11 - Gateway Features effectively tied for the strongest NOT Support of 48% versus only 30% in Support

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50th Avenue Streetscape Open House Summary Dec 7, 2016 DESIGN ELEMENTS FEEDBACK DESIGN ELEMENT #1 - WIDE SIDEWALKS:  

90% Support or Support with Conditions (55% and 35%) Comments o Timed lights would be beneficial as to give time for kids to gather & all cross at once. (x3)

DESIGN ELEMENT #2 - FREQUENT AND VISIBLE PEDESTRIAN CROSSING S:  

97% Support or Support with Conditions (67% and 30%) Comments (tied for most commented on of the 12 Design Elements) o Definitely have flashing lights at all crosswalks in front to school. Timed lights would be beneficial as to give time for kids to gather & all cross at once. o Crosswalk signal buttons on 50 Street intersections should be moved for easier access (sidewalk side, not street side). o We don’t need this – we only need lights at pedestrian crossings. o Pedestrian crosswalks:  More visible lighting. The reflective lights in the street (as on 50 th Street) are barely visible to traffic. Also reduced visibility of pedestrians (for drivers) when garbage cans/shrubbery placed at edge.  Pm/off sensor to control crossing lights. o Not too many crosswalks as it can impede traffic flow, mainly during busy time, i.e. school start and finish. (x2) o Access crossings in front of school. Agree numerous crossings safer to get kids to North side of 50th Avenue, less intersections to cross. o Street furniture well clear of crosswalks. Visibility of small kids. o Keeping pedestrian crossings to a minimum helps traffic flow better & reduces the amount of conflict points.

DESIGN ELEMENT #3 - INCORPORATING CURB BULB-OUTS AT INTERSECTION & PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS:   

79% Support or Support with Conditions (38% and 41%) Highest recorded Support with Conditions of the 12 Design Elements (41%) Comments o Street corners are not gathering spaces, to be discouraged. o Maximizing parking combined with the “bulb outs” is a great idea, gives more visibility of pedestrians.

DESIGN ELEMENT #4 - SPEED REDUCTION TO 40KM/H:    

A split between 51 and 49%.

Highest number of stickers allocated No Support with Conditions tendered - either loved by half the participants, or hated by the other half.

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50th Avenue Streetscape Open House Summary Dec 7, 2016 DESIGN ELEMENT #5 - PEDESTRIAN ORIENTED STREET LIGHTING:   

97% Support or Support with Conditions (91% and 6%) Highest number of Support (91%) Comments o Definitely have flashing lights at all crosswalks in front to school. Timed lights would be beneficial as to give time for kids to gather & all cross at once. o We only need lights at pedestrian crossings. o More visible lighting. The reflective lights in the street (as on 50th Street) are barely visible to traffic. o Pm/off sensor to control crossing lights.

DESIGN ELEMENT #6 - PLANTING TREES AND OTHER LANDSCAPING:  

97% Support or Support with Conditions (64% and 33%) Comments o Make sure plants do not obstruct views of intersections, high canopy. o If you are going to have trees/shrubs, you need to have resources enough to maintain them and clean up after them. o Cost of trees. After time, roots can cause sidewalk to shift and have over growth. o Make sure trees are far enough away from crosswalk signs so that branches won’t obscure the sign.

DESIGN ELEMENT #7 - INTEGRATING WITH FUT URE DEVELOPMENT:  

100% Support or Support with Conditions (76% and 24%) Comments o None

DESIGN ELEMENT #8 - MAXIMIZING ON-STREET PARKING:  

82% Support or Support with Conditions (55% and 27%) Comments o Make sure parking has enough room to open doors and safely get kids into the vehicle, unlike 50th street. o Getting in and out of vehicles looks dangerous for children. o Maximizing parking combined with the “bulb outs” is a great idea, gives more visibility of pedestrians.

DESIGN ELEMENT #9 - MINIMIZING ACCESS CR OSSINGS WHERE POSSIB LE:  

87% Support or Support with Conditions (50% and 37%) Comments o Not too many crosswalks as it can impede traffic flow, mainly during busy time, i.e. school start and finish.

DESIGN ELEMENT #10 - STREET FURNITURE : 

88% Support or Support with Conditions (47% and 41%) 4|P a g e

50th Avenue Streetscape Open House Summary Dec 7, 2016 

Comments (tied for most commented on of the 12 Design Elements) o Love 50th Street bench placement! Very cosmopolitan and progressive. Easy to maintain sidewalks too. o Snow removal o Garbage can [be] moved back away from the roadway as kids are so small they can’t be seen. o Consider traffic safety when determining placement and height of added cosmetic items. o Benches should be placed more strategically than the ones on 50th street. o Benches should face street or install backless. Make all furniture, etc. uniform to 50th street, carry through existing 50 street design. o Street furniture well clear of crosswalks. Visibility of small kids. o Placement (& direction) should be revisited:  Too much furniture at crosswalk on 50 street (halfway between 50 & 52 Ave). (x2)  Direction & placement of benches, facing backwards (1 foot from vehicles & facing into buildings). (x3)  What is the cost?  How much will businesses lose in revenue due to this project?  Parking spots should be on the side of church.

DESIGN ELEMENT #11 - GATEWAY FEATURES:   

52% Support or Support with Conditions (30% and 22%) Effectively tied for the strongest NOT Support of 48% versus only 30% in Support Comments o Keep the town nice and rustic with a homie feel.

DESIGN ELEMENT #12 - REMOVING OVERHE AD POWER LINES:  

88% Support or Support with Conditions (66% and 22%) Comments o None

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50th Avenue Streetscape Open House Summary Dec 7, 2016 DESIGN ELEMENT FEEDB ACK BOARDS:

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17/55%

11/35%

3/10%

20/67%

9/30%

1/3%

11/38%

12/41%

6/21%

19/51%

0/0%

18/49%

30/91%

2/6%

1/3%

19/64%

10/33%

1/3%

22/76%

7/24%

0/0%

18/55%

9/27%

6/18%

15/50%

11/37%

4/13%

15/47%

13/41%

4/12%

8/30%

6/22%

13/48%

21/66%

7/22%

4/12%

50th Avenue Streetscape Open House Summary Dec 7, 2016 PRELIMINARY DESIGN CONCEPT FEEDBACK

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RESIDENTIAL / INSTITUTIONAL FRONTAGE ZONE

POTENTIAL LOCATION FOR GATEWAY FEATURES

URBAN FRONTAGE ZONE

Consider crosswalk for seniors and kids here

Concern with safety of pedestrians, consider no parking in this area

RESIDENTIAL / INSTITUTIONAL FRONTAGE ZONE

OVERHEAD POWER LINE ON 50 AVENUE TO BE RELOCATED UNDERGROUND

DEVELOPMENT

URBAN FRONTAGE ZONE

Crosswalk should be moved to support URBAN FRONTAGE ZONE school & kids crossings. Move west of intersection, less roads to cross.

Safer for target pedestrians

SCHOOL FRONTAGE ZONE

Like the additional space in the drop off area

ENHANCED PLANTING AT PARKING LOTS TO PROVIDE SCREENING

Need a no stopping zone to avoid the parking lot on the street

TIMED PARENT PICK-UP/DROP OFF WITH WIDENED STALLS IN FRONT OF SCHOOL.

BUSES TURN INTO ALLEY FROM 50 AVENUE

TIGHTENED INTERSECTION AT 51 STREET PRIORITIZES PEDESTRIAN SAFETY

Wider spaces!!

Parking stops along path 49 STREET

MID-BLOCK CROSSINGS WITH BULB-OUTS, VISIBLE MARKINGS, AND FLASHING YELLOW SIGN

CCBCC

Move pedestrian crossing to Spa building to accommodate truck going to Depot ACCESS FOR FUTURE

50 STREET

55 STREET

ALL CROSSINGS HAVE BULB-OUTS, VISIBLE MARKINGS, AND FLASHING YELLOW SIGN

ST. VITAL SENIORS CLUB

POTENTIAL LOCATION FOR GATEWAY FEATURES

URBAN FRONTAGE ZONE

Trees really add to the space DECORATIVE FENCE AT ST. VITAL CEMETARY

ENHANCED PLANTING AT PARKING LOTS TO PROVIDE SCREENING

Prefer angle parking

ECOLE BELLEVUE SCHOOL BUS PICK-UP/DROP OFF FROM ALLEY

1.85 LANDSCAPED BOULEVARD

RESIDENTIAL/INSTITUTIONAL FRONTAGE ZONE CROSS SECTION

1.80 1 80 PEDESTRIAN ZONE (WALK)

N O RT H

2.15 PEDESTRIAN ZONE (WALK)

1.50 FURNISHING ZONE

2.50 PARKING

TREES PLANTED IN STRUCTURAL SOIL CELLS

3.50 TRAVEL LANE

3.50 TRAVEL LANE

3.90 PARENT PICK-UP/ DROP-OFF

SCHOOL FRONTAGE ZONE CROSS SECTION

2.65 PEDESTRIAN ZONE (WALK)

2.00 FUTURE BUILDING SETBACK

FUTURE BUILDING FACE

EXISTING PROPERTY LINE E

EXISTING PROPERTY LINE E

FUTURE BUILDING FACE

EXISTING PROPERTY LINE

I would like to see a form of a community vote in regards to this project. No closed door meetings

TREES PLANTED IN STRUCTURAL SOIL CELLS 2.15 PEDESTRIAN ZONE (WALK)

1.50 FURNISHING ZONE

2.50 PARKING

3.50 TRAVEL LANE

3.50 TRAVEL LANE

2.50 PARKING

0.35 CURB

2.50 PARKING

49 AVENUE

0.35 CURB

3.50 TRAVEL LANE

Difficulty when lots of vehicles parked on 49 Ave & parents cars

0.35 CURB

3.50 TRAVEL LANE

BUSES EXIT ALLEY ONTO 49 AVENUE

TREES PLANTED IN STRUCTURAL SOIL CELLS 0.35 CURB

2.50 PARKING

Consider the grade slope of this access.

Might need to adjust slope to safety

EXISTING PROPERTY LINE E

NE N E EXISTING PROPERTY LINE 1.85 LANDSCAPED BOULEVARD

URB UR RB 0.35 CURB

1 80 1.80 PEDESTRIAN ZONE (WALK)

URB UR RB 0.35 CURB

INE NE N E EXISTING PROPERTY LINE

How much revenue will businesses lose during the completion of this project

51 STREET (RUE LAVIGNE)

ST. VITAL PARISH

1.50 FURNISHING ZONE

2.15 PEDESTRIAN ZONE (WALK)

2.00 FUTURE BUILDING SETBACK

URBAN FRONTAGE ZONE CROSS SECTION

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50th Avenue Streetscape Open House Summary Dec 7, 2016 OPEN HOUSE EVALUATION: Participants were offered an event evaluation form to complete to inform the project team of how the event best served their interests and what improvements could be made for future events. Due to the high traffic volumes and intercept format of the open house, the return rate of evaluation forms is significantly lower than if the session was a stand-alone event. However, a stand-alone event would likely not have garnered such strong participation.

The following is a summary of the input received: Total Attendance: Well Over 130 People # of forms returned: 11

Please circle

Are you a Town of Beaumont resident?

YES (10)

NO (1)

Are you a Town of Beaumont business owner?

YES (2)

NO (9)

Do you have children at the Ecole Bellevue School?

YES (2)

NO (9)

This engagement session allowed me to….

Strongly Agree

Agree

Disagree

Strongly Disagree

Better understand the who, what, how and why of the streetscape project

(1) 9%

(7) 64%

(2) 18%

(1) 9%

Understand opportunities and challenges faced by the project design

(1) 9%

(5) 46%

(4) 36%

(1) 9%

Provide my thoughts and comments for consideration by the project team

(1) 10%

(7) 70%

I felt that….

Strongly Agree

Agree

The content was presented in a well-structured and easy to understand manner

(3) 30%

(5) 50%

(2) 20%

The facilitation approach was appropriate

(3) 30%

(5) 50%

(2) 20%

(2) 20%

Disagree

Strongly Disagree

Rate your overall satisfaction with this open house.

Very Satisfied 10

9

Satisfied 8

7.4

Disappointed 7

6

5

4

Very Unsatisfied 3

2

1

Was this useful? Anything we can do to make it better in the future? 

Satisfying to see results of the consultation process and workshops. Thanks for the opportunity to provide input.

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50th Avenue Streetscape Open House Summary Dec 7, 2016 

It was well presented and the facilitators were knowledgeable and very helpful.

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We hope that black benches are not used. Spend the money for better use.

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Nobody from town council there. I don’t want this project to happen. Again we are not asked if we want this.

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Yes, I believe resident have been very well informed in the whole planning process and the ones that think otherwise, well it was their own decision not to come to any open houses, etc. Yes, this has taken years in the planning, “Get er done”!

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Be more knowledge of what is avenue and what is street.

Do you have any additional comments/feedback regarding the design of the 50th Avenue that you would like the project team to consider? 

As a resident on 50 Ave (Beauvilla Estates) I welcome the planned improvements.

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The placement of benches along 50 Ave. It would be a much better idea to put the benches facing the road and placed against the building. Benches close to the road and facing backwards are not ideal. Strongly agree that flashing lights are installed at all crosswalks.

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Make sure there is enough room to open doors to safely get your kids in the vehicle for street parking. (50th street does not have enough room).

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Plants and bushes are fantastic, but make sure they do not obstruct views of intersections and entrances.

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Gateway features currently block the intersection views for pedestrians and vehicles.

They are also a waste of money.

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Hopefully all goes well as presented. As far as the truck and business that is involved, do something!!

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The original 50 St. was not designed for trucks, etc. We did not want wide streets and 4 lanes, remember?

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I was really disappointed with the parking lot (temporary) at the CCBCC. Not once in the planning had I seen that there. From all the previous open houses etc. I saw a park and walking paths back there.

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This project should be stopped and left for the people of Beaumont to decide in the next municipal election. You are allowing developments without adequate parking. Street parking is not abundant, you are making it difficult for the Bottle Depot to remain as the plan restricts the trucks that can access the area. You have also restricted access to 49 Ave. The cost of this project should be publicized so that we know not only what is being done but the cost. Overall not a good idea.

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Overall this is not a good idea. The cost should be made public and it should be left to be determined at the next Municipal Election.

Why waste so much money?

Lots will change with new council.

The trucks do turn on 50th Avenue & 51 Street, there are no accommodations for the trucks going in to the bottle depot.

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If you move the pedestrian crossing from Beaumont Credit Union to the spa building the truck will be able to turn in.

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The 50th Avenue modification will make the residents east and west heading to 50th Street slower and frustrated.

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All the development near the Aquatic Centre and residents will have challenges to support businesses on 50th Street.

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50th Avenue Streetscape Open House Summary Dec 7, 2016 

Waste of tax payers dollars.

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Does the business consultations really matter? Nothing has changed.

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What works in summer does not work the same in the winter & that we are living mostly in winter.

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