After a lengthy back and forth debate, municipal staff have some more clarity when it comes to Victoria Avenue.
Victoria Avenue from McNaughton Avenue to Thames Street is set to undergo a two-phase sewer replacement project starting in 2022. The main attributes of the project include sewer separation, installing a dedicated storm sewer with private services, water main replacement and road resurfacing.
However, staff also recommended simultaneously completing some redesign work along the roadway including placing bike lanes along the roadway and a roundabout at Stephenson Avenue and Victoria Avenue.
The proposed design work resulted in concern from residents who worried the road work would ruin the historic feel of the street.
Administration's report about the proposed work did not get the chance to go in front of council on Monday night, as it was preceded by a motion by Councillor Michael Bondy requesting that only the necessary infrastructure construction be completed and Victoria Avenue otherwise remain as is.
Bondy referred to it as one of the beautiful streets in the community.
"Victoria Avenue is a gem," he said. "It's great the way it is. For pedestrians and cyclists."
Bondy's motion eventually failed 8-10. Councillor Brock McGregor then brought forward a successful motion that listed out specific individual items for the final Victoria Avenue design to include:
-No roundabout at Stephenson Avenue and Victoria Avenue
-Maintenance of heritage light posts, including their use at the north end of Victoria Avenue
-That the Municipality of Chatham-Kent develop and implement a street tree cover policy, to maintain and encourage tree coverage by continuing active surveillance and maintenance of trees on municipal right of ways, including replacement when required
-That Chatham-Kent endeavor to reduce the impact on existing trees
-Widening of Victoria Avenue at Grand Avenue and McNaughton Avenue to include left-turn lanes
-Retain the sidewalks in their current location
Because council voted against staff's recommendations of a roundabout, Director of Engineering and Transportation Chris Thibert said there are other methods that the municipality can consider to help address traffic concerns in the area.
"Administration is coming forward to council in the very near future with a traffic calming policy," said Thibert. "This policy will speak to all of the different options available for traffic calming such as narrowing the road... it does also speak to bump-out features and curbs and a whole bunch of different solutions that we can investigate and explore as opportunities. This policy will hopefully be available to work in maybe a future decision for Victoria Avenue going forward if the traffic circle is not recommended to proceed with."
The bike lanes planned for the roadway are 1.5-metre wide on both sides of the road (within the road) along Victoria Avenue from McNaughton Avenue to Thames Street.
Only two trees will have to be removed as a result, both of which are expected to either be relocated to replaced.
McGregor spoke in favour of including the bike lanes in the project.
"I certainly understand Councillor Bondy's desire and motivation to maintain and promote Victoria Avenue, it's a marquee street and I absolutely agree with some of his comments," said McGregor. "But I don't agree with abandoning the bike lanes...If we learned that the bike lane inclusion was going to result in the removal of a number of mature, beautiful trees, I would absolutely oppose it. This isn't the case, we know we can do it without disturbing the aesthetic of the street."
A second public information centre with the updated design is set to be held in the fall of 2020.