F.5 Reconfiguration of Ridout Street Key Urban Design Issue and Ideas: The segment of Ridout Street, between Broadway and Harvey Streets, contains a discontinuous pedestrian realm on the north side, and a large asphalt surface with angled parking and limited space for trees or street furnishings. One potential idea, to address pedestrian concerns, is to convert this segment of Ridout Street to one-way traffic. This would allow for the narrowing of asphalt and the extension of sidewalks on the north side of the street to Harvey Street. In this scenario, the angled parking on the south side of the street could be converted to parallel on-street parking, significantly expanding the pedestrian realm and providing adequate space for trees and street furnishings. Transportation Recommendation: If the parking along the south curb were converted from angled parking to parallel parking, an additional 2.5 metres could be added to the pedestrian realm abutting the Zellers (future Walmart Site). In addition, the existing pavement width is about 15 metres, which is more than required for two lanes of traffic plus parking. It is not recommended to convert the street to one-way traffic.
F.6
High Level ParkingNeeds
Assessment
Rationale: The basis of the high level parking needs assessment is to identify surplus parking space that would allow for future redevelopment. Based on the urban design analysis, it is believed that the surface parking lots located behind the Bell Building / church between Harvey Street and Lisgar Avenue may be under utilized. Findings: The high level parking needs assessment was undertaken on February 15, 2012. Please refer to the summary chart and illustration on the following pages. The results confirm the initial urban design analysis, in that the A-series lots located east of Broadway Street had 45%- 55% vacancy during the day, with several lots adjacent to Lisgar Avenue being virtually empty. In contrast, the B-series lots west of Broadway Street were 10%-20% vacant in the morning hours, and 15%-25% vacant in the afternoon hours. On-street parking spaces exhibited similar characteristics, with high occupancies near and on Broadway Street. The Town has a special levy to support off-street parking costs (By-Law 2835) for non-residential properties located in the area bounded by Bridge Street, Coon Lane, Bidwell / Bloomer Streets, and Lisgar Avenue / Stoney Creek. The levy is allocated 55% to a parking lot reserve fund and 45% to a maintenance fund. As noted in the chart on the following page, the majority of the parking is “no time limit”, and some is “2 hour time limit”. Enforcement of the 2 hour limit is conducted between Monday and Friday, by the local By-Law enforcement officer. The Town’s current parking structure is ripe for review, with the potential for introducing pay parking, weekly / monthly pay permit parking, and rescinding the special levy by-law. Measures to continue to encourage downtown residential developments with limited or no parking should continue to be encouraged.
Image of discontinuous sidewalk along the north side of Ridout Street between Broadway and Harvey Streets.
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