PUBLIC CONSULTATION #2: JUNE 1, 2010 – SOUTH CALGARY COMMUNITY HALL – 3130 16 ST SW – 7:00 PM

The next meeting to discuss the future of Fire Station No. 5 will occur on June 1, 2010 at 7:00 PM in the Lower Hall of the South Calgary Community Association building (3130 16 ST SW). Click here for a map.

The meeting will be an opportunity to raise concerns regarding the appropriateness of the proposed expansion of Fire Station No. 5. In the most recent Calgary Transportation Plan (CTP) and the Municipal Development Plan (MDP), the 33 AVE SW and 14 ST SW corridor was identified as a Neighbourhood Boulevard. This means that there is a long-term vision to make the corridor more pedestrian and bicycle friendly. The transition will be at the expense of motorized vehicle circulation (see the table below). Here are relevant sections of the CTP and MDP including the definition of a Neighbourhood Boulevard:

From the “Calgary Transportation Plan – Adopted by Council September 2009” (CTP, Appendix D, Map 7)

(click for larger image)

Neighbourhood Boulevard: (CTP, p.3-31)

These streets support retail and medium-density residential corridors. Pedestrians and cyclists have the highest priority on Neighbourhood Boulevards. These streets are destinations, but primarily for the local communities surrounding them. They are fully integrated with adjacent land uses and provide the highest level of connectivity of all street types. High-quality urban design and green infrastructure strategies are incorporated into Neighbourhood Boulevards. Snow clearing should be handled in such a way that it does not interfere with pedestrian and bicycle movement.

(Click for larger image)

From the “Municipal Development Plan – Adopted by Council September 2009”:

2.4.3 Enhancing the public realm (MDP, p. 2-32)

Objective: Enhance the public realm and promote pedestrian use through the coherent and collaborative design of streets, building interfaces and public spaces.

The public realm is made up of publicly accessible space both between and within buildings. The public realm includes streets and squares, special places, linkages, interfaces and pedestrian zones which are fundamental to the creation of a functional, visually attractive and safe environment for people. Pedestrians, bicycles and cars all contribute to lively and interesting streets. Good urban design will encourage and facilitate their co-existence, with pedestrian use given strong emphasis and careful consideration.

Policies

a. Design streets and sidewalks to encourage pedestrian comfort, safety and linkages between neighbourhoods, open spaces and adjacent land uses.

b. Safe pedestrian connections, transit shelters, bicycle parking, benches and clear wayfinding signage should be provided to facilitate all travel modes.

c. Provide sufficient and uniform sidewalk width to allow for comfortable and safe pedestrian traffic, the planting ofrees and additional landscaping and wayfinding elements. Sidewalks should enhance the visual character of strees, with landscaping and buffer planting used to reduce the impacts of vehicle traffic.

d. Promote a higher degree of attention to the architectural design and detailing of building edges in areas of interface with heavy pedestrian traffic, notably commercial streets such as Urban and Neighbourhood Boulevards

e. Consider seasonal factors when designing the public realm.

f. The design of buildings, open spaces, pathways and parking areas should adhere to the principles of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED).

g. Transit stations should be designed as vibrant, mixed-use areas incorporating public gathering areas and public art.

The measures proposed above will have a positive impact on our community, environment and well-being. However, they seem to contradict the current expansion plan for Fire Station No. 5. The current plan asks for the removal of shared open space which the MDP identifies as important in a Neighbourhood Boulevard context. Furthermore, the current Fire Station No. 5 structure is an important landmark and a part of our Neighbourhood Boulevard's visual and historical character.

Thank you for your continued interest in this issue. If you cannot attend the meeting on June 1, 2010, please be sure to contact John.Mar@calgary.ca (Alderman Ward 8), Greg.Wilkes@calgary.ca (CFD Deputy Chief, Logistics and Infrastructure), Vivian.Barr@calgary.ca (City of Calgary Senior Planning Technician) and Dave.Taylor@assembly.ab.ca (MLA Calgary Currie) with your concerns.

We look forward to seeing you Tuesday night!