City's waterfront plan will change downtown traffic patterns (updated)

In addition to a tourist-destination playground, an urban beach and floating swimming pools in the St. Marys River, a conceptual plan for the Sault's waterfront approved by city council on Monday night also calls for big changes to the way traffic moves through our downtown.

The master plan proposes $17 million in riverside improvements including upgrading the north-south streets that connect Queen Street to the waterfront, turning Foster Drive, Spring Street and East Street into 'woonerfs,' and transforming Elgin and Brock Streets into what the plan calls 'complete' streets. 

"The suite of upgrades suggested for the identified streets compliments the growing requirements for enhanced retail opportunities along shared streets, the growing need for a connected bicycle network, as well as a streetscape more focused on pedestrian experience," says the plan, developed by city staff with help from Nick Onody, principal landscape architect with Calgary-based O2 Planning and Design.

'Woonerf' is a Dutch term that literally means 'living yard' or 'residential grounds.'

It's commonly used to describe a pedestrian-friendly street.

Instead of being a mere channel for vehicles, a 'woonerf' is viewed as a social space. 

Pedestrians and cyclists share the same right of access to the road as vehicles, which are required to move at walking speed.

There are often no curbs, sidewalks, traffic signals, stop signs or lane dividers.

Everyone in a 'woonerf' needs to make eye contact with others in the space, engaging in actual human-to-human interactions.

A 'complete' street is more traditional, with segregated bicycle lanes. 

It's designed to be comfortable for pedestrians as well as drivers, cyclists, and those riding buses or making deliveries.

"We looked at Spring Street in the existing design, how that can be played out and tied into Foster Drive, and then how some of the other streets of East Street and St. Marys [River Drive] then take on potentially a different look and feel that then would be connected with bike lanes and other things to really drive that notion of active mobility and really bring people down to the waterfront and water's edge," Onody told the council meeting.

Onody referred to this as 'pedestrianizing' Spring Street, Foster Drive and a small portion of East Street near the downtown library.

A map contained in the image gallery at the top of this article shows woonerf streets in pink, while complete streets are coloured blue.

Ward 3 Coun. Angela Caputo liked the plan but wanted to talk about geese.

"I see seagulls in the presentation. I see ducks. But I don't see any geese," Caputo said.

"Have you taken this into consideration .... putting a beach in this area, have we discussed with our our friends who are putting together our geese management plan?"

Ward 5 Coun. Matthew Scott cast the only vote against the waterfront plan. 

"I think the presentation looks good and I think it was a lot of well-done work, but I think we have other priorities," Scott said.

City staff must still find funding for the conceptual plan approved on Monday, and the plans still must receive final approval from city council. 

The overall plan covers the waterfront from Queen Street to the St. Marys River, and from the International Bridge to the old hospital site.

The first phase approved tonight will redevelop Clergue and John Rowswell parks.

To help pay for it, council agreed to increase the municipal accomodation tax charged on hotel rooms from four to six per cent effective Sept. 1 of this year.

If council agrees on a plan and finds the money to implement it, Onody said the first phase could be "largely implemented by the end of 2027."