It's decision day for what to do with a historic street in Chatham that has been a cause of debate among its residents.
On Monday night, municipal staff will be presenting council with a report that outlines the proposed Victoria Avenue Infrastructure Renewal Project.
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, administration is also suggesting that while the street is ripped up, several other jobs get completed along the street to address additional concerns in the area. The concerns include a lack of bike lanes, lack of Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act sidewalk compliance and excessive speeding.
"In an effort to achieve optimal cost savings by grouping everything together under one project, administration and the consultant proceeded with design and options that addressed all of these concerns under one project."
However, the initial design proposals quickly drew outrage and concern from residents living along the street. In March, a Facebook group named Save Victoria Ave- Voices for Victoria was created. In addition, the report states that municipal staff received over 100 comments on the project at a public information centre that was held and a large volume of comments through social media and phone calls.
Some of the most common concerns that staff heard were that the project would negatively impact trees along the roadway and diminish the heritage of the street.
According to the report, there are some trees along Victoria Avenue that will need to be removed but not as a direct result of the construction.
"As a requirement of the project, the consultant retained a third party professional arborist to review all of the trees within the project limits and within the municipal right-of-way," the report stated. "The purpose of this investigation was to provide the municipality with a report that summarizes recommendations for tree preservation and maintenance, independent of this project. The report identified the future removal of 19 trees due to safety concerns, in addition to a number of trees requiring maintenance such as trimmings and brushings."
The report added that only three trees are proposed to be removed as a result of the infrastructure renewal project, two of which can be relocated or easily replaced after construction is finished. Staff are adamant that the unique heritage and design of the street are being strongly considered.
"It is one of the main goals of the project to protect and preserve the trees as much as possible and to maintain the natural coverage and characteristics of the corridor... As part of the consultant’s design team, a professional natural heritage specialist was hired to ensure features such as the street lights, as well as any other heritage/historical features, are preserved and maintained throughout the project," reads the report.
An off-road multi-use trail was originally presented as a safety proposal designed to keep bicycle traffic and motorized wheelchairs off the arterial road. However, staff heard concerns that a multiuse trail would be too close to traffic and present safety issues for pedestrians who would now have to share the path with bicycles.
As a result, the idea of the multi-use trail is being tweaked.
"Taking into consideration both sides of the argument, administration recommends proceeding with 1.5-metre wide bike lanes on both sides of the road (within the road) along Victoria Avenue from McNaughton Avenue to Thames Street," states the report. "This will connect to the existing bike lanes north of McNaughton Avenue and provide connectivity to downtown Chatham. With this recommendation to include bike lanes within the roadway, the existing sidewalk is to remain in its current location."
Proposed changes to Victoria Ave. in Chatham. (Photo from www.chatham-kent.ca)
The initial proposal also recommended that a roundabout be put in at the intersection with Stephenson Avenue and Gladstone Avenue to slow down traffic. Residents were vocal about wanting the municipality to find a better traffic calming solution however, the report states that administration is continuing to recommend the roundabout be included in the project.
Besides residents, the bulk of the project is already being objected by at least one councillor.
Councillor Michael Bondy will put forward a motion on Monday night, requesting that staff proceed with the project in a simpler form, only doing the necessary underground infrastructure work.
"Victoria Avenue's original design, including original sidewalks, boulevards, two-direction street traffic and original lampposts be maintained. The area from McNaughton Avenue to Thames Street [does] not incorporate a multi-use asphalt path," reads Bondy's motion. "Victoria Avenue would not appear any differently after construction than it is today, as has been for almost 200 years, aside from perhaps road narrowing and speed humps to calm traffic."
Bondy's motion also asks that any money that the municipality saves by not redesigning Victoria Avenue be directed to the emergency needs of Erie Shore Drive and its residents.
According to the report, funding for the Victoria Avenue Infrastructure Renewal Project will come from a combination of the capital budget, various life cycle reserves in addition to any available provincial or federal grants if applicable.
Project cost estimates will be calculated once the project design is finalized.