Bradford West Gwillimbury Community Centre Revisioning Master Plan

Public Open HouseFebruary 26th, 2018

6 pm - 9 pm

Introductions

MHBC Planning

Eldon Theodore

Taylor Gascoigne

The Monarch Park Group

Karyn Dumble

Overview of the Evening

PRESENTATION AND EXERCISE – 90 minutes

• Introductions

• Participation Guidelines

• Purpose of the Study & Timeline

• Past Work to Date

• Information on Affordable Housing

• Development Concepts

• Input Exercise

• Summary & Next Steps

• Q and A

OPEN HOUSE

The Spectrum of Participation

• When it comes to consulting the public, or inviting the public to participate in decision-making, there is a spectrum of participation

ConsultInform Empower

Guiding Principles for Collaboration

• We need everyone’s insights for the best results

• Bring similar ideas together, but respect diversity and range of opinion

• “Balance the volume”

Study Purpose

• Establish a vision and masterplan for the next life for the Community Centre

• Understand the current services the Community Centre provides, and how the lands could better service the Town and residents moving forward.

• Extensive public & stakeholder input necessary

• Your input is extremely important to us

Outcome(s)

• To get your opinion on the work we have done to date, the direction we are heading,

• To get your opinion on the four (4) concept options, and specifically elements within each option

• We are not making any decisions tonight

Study Timeline

The CC

Site

• 7.28 ha (18 acres) in size

• East of Simcoe Street, north and west of the recent Marshview Boulevard

• South of Downtown Bradford

• Curling rink is not owned by the Town, it is a separate property with easement access

• Existing municipal drain along north property line

Recreational Facilities

• Existing recreational facilities include:

• The recreation centre

• The curling rink

• Two (2) tennis courts

• Two (2) baseball diamonds

• One (1) regulation soccer pitch

• Four (4) junior soccer pitches*

• One (1) skate park

• Associated parking on the northwest quadrant

Surrounding Context

• North:

– Existing residential dwellings transitioning to the Downtown Core

• East:

– Marsh Canal and existing agricultural areas of Bradford

• South:

– Existing residential dwellings

• West:

– Existing residential dwellings and apartment buildings

Work Completed to Date

Background Report

• Overall CC is a hub for events:

– Lions Club Car Draw

– Weekly sporting matches

– Holiday festivities and events

– Celebrations and ceremonies

• Sense of Community pride

Leisure Services Masterplan

• Report and discussions with Town staff indicate that the majority of key recreational functions are being addressed by other facilities in the Town

• The facilities on the CC are locally serving with the exception of the Recreation Centre and Curling Club

Opportunities and Constraints

Focus Interviews

• Held with area Councillors and the CAO

• Interviews revealed that there are a broad range of views on the future vision for the Community Centre

Online Questionnaire

• Questions similar to Focused Interviews

• 174 Responses

• Key findings:

If the centre was

redeveloped what

recreational opportunities

would you like to see

maintained?

Answered: 174 Skipped: 3

Online Questionnaire cont.

If the centre was

redeveloped what

recreational

opportunities would

you like to see

removed?

Online Questionnaire cont.

If the district site were

redeveloped for an

alternative use or

purpose,

what use or purpose

do you think would fit?

Developed Three Themes

1 2 3

Visioning Session

• Held with Stakeholders in the community - __ attendees

• Presented our findings and themes

• Obtained feedback from stakeholders

Feedback on Option 1

1

• Create more flexible multi-use rec centre

• Modernize the existing facilities

• Create natural areas for walking/trails

• Establish the CC as a social hub

• Explore year round outdoor activities

• Space for community and social services

• Barrier free accessibility

• Consider architectural history of rec centre

• Refurbish existing rec centre and curling club

Feedback on Option 2

• Relocate curling club

• Centralize administrative offices of the Town

• Obtain properties to the west

• Maintain flexible space for community and sports use in both buildings

• Space for events (farmer’s market, etc)

• Connections to the Downtown

• Consider a concert hall

• Reflect the community history

2

Feedback on Option 3

• Retail/commercial uses would impact the Downtown

• Support start-up businesses or pop-up locations

• Focus on institutional and service uses as mixed use

• Acquire properties along Simcoe Road

• Maintain recreation centre

• Minimize building heights (i.e. 3 storeys)

• Mixed opinions on affordable housing opportunities on site

3

Affordable Housing 101

• Affordable Housing sites include a healthy mix of tenants (seniors, adults, and families) and incomes, with affordable units at just a bit below Average Market Rent

• In a healthy community, including the ability for employers to attract employees, affordable housing is key.

Affordable Housing 101 cont.

Diversity in housing promotes: – Improved Health and Wellness– Increased Civic Engagement and Social Inclusion– Safety and Security– Economic Prosperity

• As part of the County’s 10-Year Affordable Housing Strategy, a County-wide target was set for 2,685 new affordable housing units to be the created by 2024

• Each municipality across the County has a target; the affordable housing target for Bradford West Gwillimbury is 202 new units to be created by 2024.

Affordable Housing 101 cont.

The County’s approach to Affordable Housing:

– Respectful of neighbourhood architectural norms– Enhances community with walking paths, lighting, landscaping – Includes a mix of both families and seniors– Creates quality green space– Drives patronage to existing retailers and local amenities– Utilizes existing infrastructure– Enhances social integration– Inclusive and/or adjacent to hub spaces for community supports

Development Concepts

Concept Option 1

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Concept Option 2

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Concept Option 3

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Concept Option 4

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Questions of Clarity

Exercise

Summary

Next Steps

Next Steps

NOW

• We are available to answer any specific questions you may have

POST-MEETING

• Take the input received today and integrate it into a preferred option

• Hold an open house with the community on the draft recommendation

• Follow our progress on our Facebook site @BWGtheCCMP

Thank you!