The City of New Westminster is aiming to create a more pedestrian and cyclist friendly area on lower 12th Street.
Council recently reviewed new street design guidelines for the lower 12th Street area, which were developed using community feedback. The design guidelines will be applied to future development projects taking place in the area and in future capital project planning by the city.
Coun. Chuck Puchmayr supports having plans in place so people know what to expect in city neighbourhoods. He said the guidelines build on the planning work done for the neighbourhood in 2004.
"It's a good plan," said Coun. Chuck Puchmayr. "I am very pleased with it."
A staff report stated that the city recently received a proposal for the redevelopment of a site at the corner of 12th Street and Third Avenue, which prompted the city to prepare guidelines.
According to staff, the resulting guidelines create attractive streetscapes on 12th Street, Third Avenue, and adjoining streets and lanes. The roads are meant to be pedestrian and cyclist friendly, while also accommodating development, greenways, commercial activities, transit and utilities.
The city envisions the creation of a street with wide landscaped boulevards, green-way and gateway features, enhanced lanes known as mews, reduced through-traffic and transit-oriented development.
Mark Allison, a senior planner with the city, said the plan includes bike lanes on 12th Street between Third Avenue and Queens Avenue, as those are deemed to be good routes to connect to Columbia Street and the downtown.
"The lower 12th Street plan area is a major component of the city's growth management strategy, encouraging a mix of residential and commercial development in close proximity to frequent transit, the downtown and the waterfront," stated the report. "In support of the growth of this area, detailed street design guidelines have been prepared that provide an attractive urban environment and clarity to developers and city staff."
The lower 12th Street plan includes an area bounded by Fourth Avenue, Louellen Street, Stewardson Way and Royal Avenue.
The plan envisions the area to have a gradual transition from light industrial and automobile-oriented commercial uses to a more pedestrian-and transit-oriented neighbourhood with medium/height density housing, home business/commercial along 12th Street north of Queens Avenue and a community retail area south of Queens along 12th Street and Royal Avenue.
