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Planning and Engineering
| Spruce Avenue | Centennial Square | Active Adult Community | Trails |
Almost half of people were in support of commercial growth on Spruce Avenue with 35% undecided and 16% against. Many comments suggested misinformation about this subject which could account for some of the undecided voters. Comments like “Keep industry away from residential areas”, “Valleyview is empty most of the time; tourists can stay there” and “I wouldn’t want big commercial buildings there” indicate a misunderstanding of the type of businesses that would be involved in the rezoning. Though there were many comments that support any type of economic development in Sparwood there were also many that believe the area should stay strictly residential. Some examples of both are:
- Proceed with a transitional commercial Zone that is compatible with the neighbourhood.
- We need more commercial growth in Sparwood; we need to be able to shop HERE, not drive somewhere else
- This is the oldest residential area and should remain that way
- There is much commercial property now standing vacant- Greenwood Mall and Centennial Square perhaps something could be done with the landlord to ensure affordable rates before losing residential land use.
- If we can bring in business any commercial growth is a good thing as long as there is coexistence
- It is a quiet older area most people would not like a business next door
- Great idea turning small houses into offices.
- There are places in Centennial Square so you don’t need my house
Centennial Square revitalization should not be paid for with taxpayer’s money according to 52% of respondents with 30% undecided and 18% in favour of using taxpayer money.
The questions concerning Centennial Square generated a lot of comments, there were 278 in total. There were many ideas on how the District could revitalize downtown including fixing the exterior (through painting, awnings, masonry, etc.), bringing more flowers and landscaping to the square, creating entertainment (during the day and more evening events), replacing the fountain and creating a theme for the square (i.e. historical). Other issues and ideas that were not as popular as the previously listed but should be mentioned are: getting rid of footprints, getting rid of the mall, creating a better corridor to visitor centre, better signage to the square, allowing gardens on roofs, fixing parking, opening a McDonalds and closing the square to vehicle traffic. High rent of the buildings was also mentioned which has created an issue for potential and existing tenants.
Only 18% of people believe that the revitalization of Centennial Square should be paid for with taxpayer money, going through the comments there are 11% of respondents that think the District should partially contribute taxpayer money to revitalization. Twenty percent of the comments stated that taxpayer money should not be used at all for revitalization. Some programs that were suggested include tax incentives for renovating, finding grants for greening/renovating the buildings, business incentives to renovate, enforcing bylaws or creating building standards, implementing tax relief or other incentives to attract new businesses, fixing the buildings and then charging the owners and creating a program to partially pay for renovating the exteriors.
Some comments on Centennial Square Revitalization:
- Implement a program that will help the owners of the buildings pay for renovations to restore them. Also, rent is too high, so therefore business won’t open up there, cause it is hard for them to pay the rent. The same problem that happens in the mall also
- Let the owners revitalize their own buildings. Then we can spend our money on other items such as a skateboard park for the kids.
- Change the rules to permit higher density housing (multi-storey) with commercial on the Ground Floor.
- Lunch time entertainment - local musicians... Lunch BBQs with the business community
- The people that own those build[ing]s first of all should be ashamed of themselves for letting the building fall apart. If possible they should be paying very stiff penalties to the District until they fix those buildings.
- Tax relief when renos are completed, access to low interest loans for renos
- Tear down the majority of the mall to provide exposure to Centennial Square from the highway. My feelings are that only niche operations are going to thrive in the Square. Lowering commercial taxes within that block could encourage business development
- Enact an urban renewal bylaw to enforce the unsightly premise by law
- Replace fountain with something more attractive
- Owners should revitalize their own
- False fronts for buildings. Replace concrete fountain with grassy treed area, picnic tables
- Get rid of the footprints on the sidewalk they are faded and just look messy
- The Governments should have grants available to help towns and cities upgrade stuff like that.
- Only if careful consideration of a more successful business area is done. Painting and putting up decorations isn’t going to do the trick
- I would like our community to look clean and presentable but don’t believe an extensive amount of tax money should be spent on it
- Maybe a downtown revitalization grant. Let students repaint some of these buildings
There were 200 comments on these questions with 77% of respondents in favour of creating a 55+ community. There were three questions available for respondents: general comments, what should be included in the community and what should be excluded.
In question 54, general comments on creating this community, there were many comments on the benefits to this type of construction (keeping parents here, opens up homes to young families, easier maintenance for seniors, will provide jobs, etc.) but also many concerned about the affordability of units to seniors. Some people wondered if this would work in our small community with the lack of health care facilities.
There were lots of ideas on what to include in this type of community including: games, pool table, exercise room, gardens, communal kitchen (in addition to private ones) for larger family get-togethers, organized activities, tours, recreation facilities, covered walking/parking facilities, beer, rain barrels, pool, no mobile homes, community hall, gated community, RV parking, trails, picnic area, xeroscaping, common room, workshops and garages.
Comments about what should be excluded included pets, politics, allowing children, restricting children, cats, strata fees, mining, smoking, expensive housing, gates and pubs.
There were many comments from respondents about a lack of information about this project.
The response to paving all of the pedestrian trails in Sparwood was mixed with 35% in favour, 45% against and 19% undecided. There were 118 comments on this issue; 12% of comments were in favour of paving some of the main trails and leaving others natural, 20% were in favour of paving all and 48% against any paving. Some issues of note is that some people were in favour dependent on the cost involved, paving might encourage more people to go outside, paving is too expensive, get to other areas of town first (alleys), hard on the joints and for animals to run on hard surfaces and many comments on keeping nature natural. Some comments related to trails but not limited to the paving of them include:
- Needs to enforce bylaw preventing dirt bikes/ATVs on trails
- Good idea, but keep ATVs and motorbikes off of those paths - maybe they need an area too!
- I'd say if the trails were paved over time it would promote the usage by more people out walking.
- I would like to see more pedestrian and biking trails built mainly along the river and through forested areas. I support paving the main trails but not all trails
- More funds dedicated to improving Sparwood bike trails there is so much potential here to make Sparwood a go to mountain bike destination
- I enjoy using the trails as they are. Concrete is too hard on the joints and that’s why I choose the trails over paved areas
- One of the reasons to walk on the trails is to avoid pavement for ourselves and our pets.
- I would use them more if they were paved