As We Heard It

Centrepointe Town Centre Workshop #4

Introduction:

The fourth (4th) Workshop, on June 6th, began with FoTenn, the City’s Consultant, providing an overview of the workshop process and feedback to date:

  • Workshop #1, held on February 23rd, provided background information and allowed the participants to outline and discuss a “Vision” for the development of Centrepointe Town Centre;
  • Workshop #2, held on March 23rd, enabled participants to revisit the “Vision” and, in break-out groups, formulate seven (7) ”Design Idea Plans” that were then reviewed in the plenary to identify and discuss common themes, uses and initiatives;
  • Workshop #3, held on May 2nd, allowed participants to review the “Design Idea Plans” and a “Common Elements” Plan” that ensued as prepared by the Consultant. The Consultant then presented three (3) consolidated plans (a “Grid Plan”, a “Modified Grid Plan”, and a “Radial Plan”) to illustrate options as to how the “Common Elements Plan” could evolve into a preliminary concept plan.

Purpose of the 4th Workshop:

Consequently, the purpose of the 4th Workshop, held on June 6th, was as follows:

  • To present a preliminary concept plan, prepared by the Consultant, that incorporated the input from participants at the previous workshops regarding key uses and initiatives, and
  • To receive a final round of feedback for establishing a “Recommended Preliminary Concept Plan” that clearly sets out the consensus of the participants with respect to directing the further detailed development studies and planning for Centrepointe Town Centre.

Plans Presented:

In addition to the “Preliminary Concept Plan”, the Consultant also presented two (2) ancillary plans to graphically illustrate where the “Key Uses” and “Key Initiatives”, identified by the participants at the previous workshops, were to be incorporated.

The Consultant explained that the  “Key Uses” provide direction to consider and evaluate the potential for:

  • A piazza focal point;
  • A dynamic main street with a mix of uses (retail at grade with residential or office above);
  • Higher profile office (and perhaps limited residential) to the northeast;
  • Lower profile residential development transitioning to the south;
  • An enhanced civic/cultural complex with opportunities to consolidate and expand administrative facilities around 100 Constellation and to more fully utilize and expand Ben Franklin Place as a cultural facility and public meeting place;
  • A park that retains a portion of the woodlot and preserves the skateboard park;
  • An expansion of the Centrepointe Theatre;
  • Algonquin College and/or other public facilities fronting on Woodroffe Avenue;
  • An allowance for office and/or residential development above the transit station;
  • A recreation facility (e.g. public pool or other) on school property, to be a shared venture between the City and the School Board; and
  • A mixed-use “gateway” south of Ben Franklin Place.

The Consultants then indicated that the “Key Initiatives” provide direction to consider and evaluate the potential for:

  • A modified-grid road network, in concert with mi
  • Achieving north/south connectivity within the site;
  • Improving access to Baseline Road;
  • A westward extension of Navaho Drive;
  • Additional vehicular access points on Woodroffe Avenue;
  • Restricting access to 100 Constellation Crescent;
  • An off-set east/west connection through the site;
  • Reducing traffic and pressures on Centrepointe Drive;
  • Limiting access to Meridian Place;
  • Shifting the transit station westwards, to be more centrally located;
  • Providing an integrated “at grade” transit station to promote improved use, access and security;
  • Promoting increased transit ridership through transportation demand management (TDM) measures;
  • A pedestrian bridge from the transit station across Woodroffe Avenue to connect to Algonquin College;
  • Replacing the existing surface parking with new development and structured parking facilities on a strategically phased basis;
  • An improved pedestrian link between 100 Constellation Crescent and Ben Franklin Place;
  • Improving accessibility, pedestrian/cycling linkages and recreation paths throughout;
  • Providing proper lighting, safety and security through urban design considerations;
  • Removing/reducing fencing obstructions; and
  • Creating a “sense of place” rooted in an urban design/architectural theme for buildings, street furniture, lighting, signage and landscaping.

The participants were reminded that the “Preliminary Concept Plan”, and associated “Key Uses” and “Key Initiatives” Plans, remain conceptual in nature and, although the purpose of the 4th Workshop was to reach a consensus on a “Recommended Preliminary Concept Plan”, that the subsequent detailed “Development Plan” for the initiating the development of the Centrepointe Town Centre will evolve from:

  1. An intensive seven (7) month (or more) “due diligence” process, initiated by staff and utilizing consultant expertise as required, to test the feasibility of, and undertake more detailed planning for, the various components of the “Recommended Preliminary Concept Plan” created by the workshop participants;
  2. Further public consultation, by the end of the 1st quarter of 2007, regarding the “due diligence” findings and associated detailed development planning; and
  3. Review and approval by City Committee(s) and Council of a specific “Development Plan” and “Development Implementation/Phasing Strategy” based on the due diligence findings, detailed development planning and feedback from the further public consultation.

The participants were asked to take a few minutes to consider the “Preliminary Concept Plan” together with the “Key Uses”/”Key Initiatives” Plans and then to share their comments and suggestions for improvements, if any, with the plenary.

Feedback:

Overall, the participants’ response to the “Preliminary Concept Plan” was very positive, with support and encouragement for the City to proceed with it as the “Recommended Preliminary Concept Plan” for directing further development planning for Centrepointe Town Centre.

A number of elements contained in previous plans remained popular, such as the potential for:

  • Creating a main street;
  • Protecting Centrepointe Drive and the residential area to the south;
  • Concentrating higher density to the northeast;
  • Developing a shared recreation centre;
  • Moving the transit station westward; and
  • Establishing new road connections to both Baseline Road and Woodroffe Avenue.

In addition, participants were supportive of, and in some instances pleasantly surprised about, the inclusion of other refinements such as:

  • Redirected access to 100 Constellation Crescent;
  • An offset east/west connection through the site;
  • A north/south main street spine designed in a manner to remove traffic pressures from
  • Centrepointe Drive (to the west) and from Meridian Place (to the south);
  • Improved parking at Ben Franklin Place;
  • Preservation of the skateboard park;
  • Relocating the piazza as a central focal point; and
  • An improved east/west recreational pathway extending through the piazza.

Other individual comments on the “Preliminary Concept Plan” included:

  • Provide opportunities to develop buildings along the Baseline and Woodroffe frontages to create a distinct urban edge;
  • Ensure the piazza is well-designed, not too large, and properly interfaced with transit;
  • Maintain the skateboard park in its current location and ensure that it receives added maintenance and supervision;
  • Consider options to limit traffic onto Meridian Place, being sensitive to the abutting residential community;
  • Develop a contingency plan in the event that either the Baseline, Navaho and/or Constellation intersection modifications cannot be justified or accomplished;
  • Carry out a comprehensive traffic study and ensure that the net effect of the added development will keep the total traffic and number of cars at the same level, or less;
  • Carry out a comprehensive parking study/strategy, and ensure that Centrepointe Town Centre will be self-sufficient and will not create overflow parking problems within the broader community;
  • Provide vehicular access to the north-east quadrant by a link over the transitway corridor;
  • Investigate limited access (e.g. right in/right out) at the northern intersection of Centrepointe Drive and Constellation Crescent;
  • Ensure that the pedestrian bridge above Woodroffe Avenue will be accessible for the general public, as opposed to being restricted to student use/hours;
  • Integrate cycling and pedestrian routes with care;
  • Focus on making sidewalks safe and accessible; and
  • Ensure that office and employment uses are established at appropriate densities.

Several participants asked about the City’s commitment, in terms of moving forward with the “Recommended Preliminary Concept Plan” or ensuring that any resulting “Development Plan” will, in fact, remain consistent with that conceptual planning direction. Staff reiterated that the workshop process was established, and continues, in response to Council approved directives, as set out in the Neighbourhood Agenda of the City’s Corporate Plan, for the City’s Real Property and Asset Management Branch (RPAM) to move forward with the phased development of these lands as a mixed-use town centre based on a collaborative process with the community and stakeholders. 

Staff confirmed that they continue to be committed to a public consultation process that provides full opportunity for community and stakeholder input in the creation of a concept plan. Three (3) workshops were originally scheduled and a fourth workshop was added when it became clear during the 1st workshop that a broader opportunity was necessary. Staff also indicated that there will be further public consultation, before the end of the 1st quarter of 2007, regarding the due diligence findings and associated detailed development planning over the next seven (7) months. However, if the due diligence studies indicate the need for any significant change to the development direction set out in the “Recommended Preliminary Concept Plan”, further workshop sessions as necessary will be scheduled to review and address the specific issues at the earliest possible opportunity.

A question was then raised as to how the community association could continue to provide input as Staff undertakes the “due diligence” work particularly as it pertains to transportation issues. Staff indicated that the City was in the process of contracting for a transportation study with respect to the further development planning of Centrepointe Town Centre based on the “Recommended Preliminary Concept Plan” that evolves from the Workshop process.  Staff then introduced the senior transportation engineer from the consulting firm that would be undertaking this study and also indicated that the study would include traffic data to be made available to the community and for analysis of potentially viable options that are put forward by the community.

Another question related to what does the term “due diligence” mean or involve. Staff responded that “due diligence” in this case would be a comprehensive process that will include undertaking research and investigations into matters such as, but not limited to, the following:

  • Creating a revised road network;
  • Providing new or reconstructed intersections;
  • Extending Navaho Drive;
  • Establishing a phased parking strategy;
  • Relocating and reconstructing the transit station;
  • Accommodating the necessary bus routes and increased number of buses required to meet the ridership targets;
  • Providing a pedestrian bridge from the transit station to Algonquin College;
  • Establishing an improved pedestrian/cycling network;
  • Accommodating a possible east/west light rail transit (LRT) route;
  • Integrating hydro lines and easements (what segments to relocate and what segments to be above vs. below ground);
  • Coordinating development planning with key property owners and stakeholders;
  • Integrating the skateboard park;
  • Providing for the expansion of the Centrepointe Theatre;
  • Assessing the geotechnical constraints on development;
  • Identifying municipal infrastructure, including storm water management, requirements and associated implementation costs;
  • Assessing the City’s current and future program needs for additional municipal facilities at Centrepointe Town Centre;
  • Ensuring Ben Franklin Place is enhanced, and utilized primarily, as a public meeting place/cultural facility;
  • Undertaking market research on the viability of, and phasing for, residential/retail/office uses;
  • Establishing appropriate urban/architectural design guidelines specific to Centrepointe Town Centre;
  • Identifying the potential for public/private sector partnerships; and
  • Undertaking a financial pro-forma analysis.

Project Timeline:

Staff concluded by outlining the steps for establishing a “Development Plan” and Development Implementation/Phasing Strategy” for initiating the development of the Centrepointe Town Centre as follows:

  • Forward information report on workshop results - August 2006
  • Undertake due diligence and prepare detailed “Development Plan” - June to November 2006
  • Distribute information package regarding due diligence findings, proposed “Development Plan” and “Development/Implementation Strategy” for community consultation meeting - December 2006
  • Hold community consultation meeting - January 2007
  • Distribute minutes of community consultation meeting - February 2007
  • Forward “Development Plan” and “Development Implementation/Phasing Strategy” report to City Committee(s) and Council for review and approval - March 2007
  • Initiate process for Phase I of the Centrepointe Town Centre Development Project  - Summer 2007

For further information on this project please feel free to contact the City’s Real Estate Services Division staff, responsible for managing this project, as follows:

Dave Donaldson
Senior Real Estate Officer
613-580-2424 ext.28308
613-560-6051 (fax)
dave.donaldson@ottawa.ca

Robert MacNeil
Real Estate Consultant
613-580-2424 ext. 17923
613-560-6051 (fax)
robert.macNeil@ottawa.ca

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