Meeting summary, Traffic sub-Committee,
August 8, 2006
Attending:
5 community and committee members, 2
representatives from Bunt Associates, 1 communications specialist from Digby
Partnership, Guy St. Germain of Nearctic Group, 1 representative from City of
Edmonton Transportation Department
.
 | The intent of this
meeting is to highlight traffic issues arising from the proposed development
and discuss the Strathearn Traffic Safety Committee’s vision for 95
Avenue.
|
| Traffic
counts used for modeling take into consideration not only the additional
volume being generated by the development itself, but also from future
development at the Holyrood apartment site and 25 school busses (twice
daily) at École
Gabrielle-Roy.
|
| Contrary to what was stated in the height and density committee
meeting, the traffic consultant stated that development density is being
controlled by capacity of 95 Avenue. Preliminary estimates suggested 1750
units could possibly be supported and this number is still being used even
though no detailed modeling has yet been done.
|
| The commercial frontage on 95 Avenue will accommodate approximately
40,000 sq feet. This will replace the 30,000 sq feet of commercial
development in 13 shops (about 2300 sq ft each) at the existing strip mall.
Neither figure includes the area occupied by Ralph’s Handi Mart, which the
developer currently does not own. Parking for shoppers will be on the street
(95 Ave or inside the development site). There will be no drive-through
commercial (Tim Hortons and the like).
|
| There are no plans to allow
commercial development in the lane abutting
Strathearn Drive
(northern most edge of the site) so there was no discussion of traffic
issues on that access. Buildings in that strip are to be designated single
family dwellings. |
| Details on the number of
commercial shop fronts and trips generated by them have not been explored
too much at this time and are to be refined once the marketing consultant
has completed their study. |
| Most parking associated
with the development will be underground which will take pressure off
the surrounding streets. Parking garages will be oriented so the access is
facing south towards 95 Ave to encourage use of the main street and
discourage short cutting through the neighbourhood, particularly along
Strathearn Drive
. |
| The development includes
additional streets which can be used for visitor parking and for the
commercial strip. |
| The roundabout at
89th street
was discussed and no issues arose from the concept. Examples of roundabouts
used in the
Edmonton
area will be shown on the League website. |
| The overall plan for traffic
calming on the avenue and accommodation of a bicycle lane was discussed.
Details for the full length of the Avenue will be shown on plans presented
at the open house in September, then brought forward to City Council for
approval with the developer’s DC2 submission (now delayed for several
months, possibly into early 2007) |
COMMENTS
Traffic is not a controversial subject like building height and site density
so this meeting was productive and pleasant.
It is interesting that the developer has chosen to engage a
communications specialist to work with the committees. Let’s hope their role
is to improve communications rather than improve spin. The Traffic committee
remains hopeful that the Avenue will be redeveloped into an attractive, safe and
functional feature of the neighbourhood and the developer certainly shares that
vision. The city representative, however, is, as always, the naysayer.
